Ghetto Nitty-Gritty/VPI cleaning machine

[onwardjames]

After getting an MRI on my skull (more to come) this morning, my girl and I went to a consignment shop, where I found this tiny hoover vacuum. Thought I might try to build one of those record cleaning machines like all you guys do.

Got this thing for 3.50, and went home to tear it apart.

The little wheels that it glides on were simply threaded on a slender axle, so I removed those. Then, after washing the head inside and out, dried it, and attached the guide on the front. It is a strip of the "loop" portion of the velcro strip(which I know, probably causes some static, but all I had at the time).

Lathered up the record, applied the head and hit the switch. A few revolutions on my crapped-out Sony tt, and it's nearly dry. Rinse with distilled, then air-dry with a hair dryer (on cool/warm).

I have to say, the results are shocking to my ears, although I ruined a few albums learning how to do this...

 

[sleddogman]

Cool. Looks like it'll work on your pets too...

 

[op135]

If this is your permanent solution, you may want to buy replacement nitty gritty vac-sweeps (the velvet pads). Glue one of those on the vacuum and that should be better than Velcro--that may be too course. Just my two cents.

 

[Arkay]

I agree that the velcro loops are way too coarse for this application: you may risk scratching dirt particles against the vinyl with enough force to scratch it. I'd replace those, ASAP, with something softer, like velvet.

You said after a couple revolutions, the disk still wasn't dry enough, and you still needed to use a hair dryer to finish drying the LPs. This strongly suggests to me that the vacuum you are getting isn't strong enough, or else perhaps you aren't getting close-and-even-enough contact with the disk surface. My VPI gets the record surface clean-and-dry within 2 (maximum 3, if I accidentally use too much fluid) revolutions. If you still have visible water on the surface, it's almost a certainty that there is still some dust and dissolved contamination in that water which hasn't been removed when you are drying it. This means that you could further improve the results with a better vacuum job.

Of course, repeating the process a few times and finishing with a distilled water rinse would probably be as effective as a single cycle with "better" gear, so you can still "get there" with what you have.

Nice to hear that you are enjoying the benefits a good wet vacuum cleaning can give to an LP. Congratulations on your DIY initiative and your improved audio! :thmbsp:

 

[scootchu]

Do you also use that in conjuction with the Colon Cleanser? :sigh:

 

[onwardjames]

I agree that the velcro loops are way too coarse for this application: you may risk scratching dirt particles against the vinyl with enough force to scratch it. I'd replace those, ASAP, with something softer, like velvet.

You said after a couple revolutions, the disk still wasn't dry enough, and you still needed to use a hair dryer to finish drying the LPs. This strongly suggests to me that the vacuum you are getting isn't strong enough, or else perhaps you aren't getting close-and-even-enough contact with the disk surface. My VPI gets the record surface clean-and-dry within 2 (maximum 3, if I accidentally use too much fluid) revolutions. If you still have visible water on the surface, it's almost a certainty that there is still some dust and dissolved contamination in that water which hasn't been removed when you are drying it. This means that you could further improve the results with a better vacuum job.

Of course, repeating the process a few times and finishing with a distilled water rinse would probably be as effective as a single cycle with "better" gear, so you can still "get there" with what you have.

Nice to hear that you are enjoying the benefits a good wet vacuum cleaning can give to an LP. Congratulations on your DIY initiative and your improved audio! :thmbsp:

Nope, scootchu, the colon cleanser is for my grooves.

Thanks, arkay, I too, think the suction isn't good enough, but it was only 3.50, and doesn't do too bad a job. I'm gonna can that nylon/loop velcro stuff and get some velvet or felt or something from a hobby shop, or perhaps what others have suggested.

It's not permanent, but the results I've achieved thus far exceed anything I'd done before that. Appreciate the feedback, as I really didn't know much about wet-cleaning.

 

[jcmjrt]

I agree that the velcro loops are way too coarse for this application: you may risk scratching dirt particles against the vinyl with enough force to scratch it. I'd replace those, ASAP, with something softer, like velvet.

You said after a couple revolutions, the disk still wasn't dry enough, and you still needed to use a hair dryer to finish drying the LPs. This strongly suggests to me that the vacuum you are getting isn't strong enough, or else perhaps you aren't getting close-and-even-enough contact with the disk surface.

I agree with Op and Arkay. Lose the velcro. Replace with velvet ribbon.

It should get the record dry so you need to get a closer suction...perhaps the velvet all the way around would do it.

A DIY RCM can clean records very well but you may need to do a little fiddling to get it dialed in.

 

[DaWoofer]

You say the results were "shocking", what was your previous method. Cause I use the most basic of cleaners, the Spin-Clean and really can't tell much difference in before and after except the vinyl looks clean. Although I've been using tap water for a rinse and I suppose that is the problem. All I can say is it "must be the problem" cause I spin the crap out of it, then scrub by hand, re-spin and dry with clean microfiber cloths. I have a Rainbow vacume cleaner that I think I will try with distilled water v.s. the Spin clean with distilled with microfiber and see what the differences are.

 

[onwardjames]

There's a little brush on the underside I'm thinking of removing, because after you suds the lp down, then rinse, that brush is still scrubbing, leaving more suds.

Gonna pull the brush, velvet all the way around, which should lower the height and improve suction.

Thanks again for the help, gentlemen. Wet-cleaning is definitely the way I'm doing this from now on. My problem in the past has always been leaving lint from my microfibers (you REALLY gotta be choosy on those things) and static. Using this method, which jcmjrt pointed out, WILL take some fiddling, but I'm thinking I won't need to use a microfiber cloth at all. :scratch2:

Off to find velvet......

 

[Strawman]

Check out the paint section for painting pads, they're soft and will get down into the grooves.

 

[onwardjames]

DaWoofer, I wouldn't have believed that rinsing with distilled would be that big a difference.

It is, at least to me.

The high end just leaps out from old vinyl.

Also, I could be wrong, but distilled leaves no residue, so I avoid those microfibers as much as possible, per my previous post.

Let us know.

 

[onwardjames]

Strawman, you are correct. Boy HOWDY, have I seen my paint pad filthy up in the last few hours!:yes:

 

[Strawman]

They're cheap too. :thmbsp:

 

[onwardjames]

Okay, an update...

Took off the little brush in back, and the velcro crap in front. I taped the front with electrical tape, because it took that height to actually get the water out of the grooves. I put two pieces of foamy stuff from walmart on back, and as I clean, I tilt it slightly forward. NOW the water is mostly coming off, and a previously cleaned Rod Stewart (never a dull moment) is much cleaner, with absolutely no surface noise.

It seems my records put off a "rainbow" shine after the cleaning..

Is this only in my head?? They sure sound clean, and LOOK clean!

I'm probably gonna try another thrift shop-vac thing. This one doesn't have great suction, but it's doing a pretty good job.

 

[meggy]

Glad it works.

 

[cubby01]

One can't argue with results but I'm wondering if you have too much soap in your solution. That's a lot of foaming action. I'm no expert and would like to hear others opinions on that.

 

[onwardjames]

cubby, I don't know. I just use a paint pad, put a drop or two of Dawn on the pad and some water, scrub, then suck. After that, a rinse with the sink's sprayer, then, most importantly, a rinse with distilled water.

So far, so good. I'm just floored at the results.

Perhaps I am using too much Dawn.......

 

[onwardjames]

Recent update!!

Just thought I'd give you guys the latest on this ghetto cleaning machine...

Purchased a steamer, and used about a half ounce of rubbing alcohol + water, scrub with a paint pad, steam AFTER the scrubbing (I've found if you have lots of water already on the record, it helps prevent warping, which can happen if you blast for too long/too close), then use the mini Shop Vac (wallyworld, 20 bucks) plus the $3.00 extra upholstery attachment. I had experimented with using felt/velvet, etc, but found it always came unglued.

Anyway, here are the results with a recent find....Ray Charles, live, and man was it in bad shape.:sigh:

Bought it anyway, and after multiple cleanings, it is not only listenable, it is very enjoyable. Of course, those scratches are still there....

Some pretty photos for your pleasure.