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My DIY automatic record cleaner

Final version. The ARK is complete!!!

Today I finished tweaking the record cleaner and added a few new features. I believe that what I have now is a unit that will give the VPI's a run for their money - easy! For startes, I filled in the vacuum wand so that the suction air is concentrated only on the slit, also I streamlined the vacuum hose taking all tight bends out. This increased suction considerably. I also added a fluid control knob to the fluid motor so that I can control the amount and speed of cleaning fluid going to the record. This is very handy. I also streamlined the fluid hose to remove any tight bends thus giving it a more pridictable flow. All in all this unit SUCKS - literally! It sprays a nice stream of cleaner on the LP, scrubs it down into the grooves gently, then vacuum the dirt, grime, finger prints, and fluid away in about 3 passes. I am mightily impressed. Here are the final pics.

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Ok Jimmy, I picked up a vacuum today. I know there is a TT with no cart shell at the Goodwill, I'll grab that tomorrow. I'll have to keep a look out for a motor to turn it, but I know I see Ice Cream makers from time to time. Maybe I'll find one of those.

Can you give me any more details on this "fine haired cleaning pad"? What department did you find that in, and what's it's intended use?

What a fantastic project. I've been listening to records again lately and I'd love to do this. Don't know if mine will turn out nearly as nice as yours though!

Thanks for the inspiration!

Ed
 
Eddie, I'm glad you found it useful. It was a little tough figureing out the details and mechanics of the cleaner, but once I got going it went pretty smooth. An ice cream motor would be the best because they are powerful and are made to turn continuously for up to 30 minutes. But I think you may make do even with an old electric can opener. Those motors are strong and turn at about 33 rpm. You'll find plenty of ice cream makers at Goodwill though. As for the brush, I got it at Home Depot in the paint department. It's for painting edges and it comes in a 4x4 inch pad. I cut mine to the length I need and saved the rest. I've found the the pad works great and won't be a burdon on the vinyl grooves, but I think I'm going to look for a pad with stiffer bristles and see how that works.

Have fun with your project, and don't forget to post some pics!

Jimmy
 
Wish I'd built that myself. One very small comment -- I'm a little leery of having the power switches on top where there's a chance of liquid getting into them.
 
Where does the fluid go once it's sucked up by the vacuum? As far as I can tell, you have the vacuum connected directly to the hose. What keeps the fluid from shorting out the motor?
 
chadd said:
Where does the fluid go once it's sucked up by the vacuum? As far as I can tell, you have the vacuum connected directly to the hose. What keeps the fluid from shorting out the motor?
Click to expand...

Hello chadd,

I can't speak for Jimmy, but I built a similar DIY RCM. As far as I can tell, the fluid simply evaporates. I've cleaned over 5,000 records with my machine and I've never had a problem with waste fluid shorting out the vacuum motor or causing other problems. I live in a very arid high desert climate, so that may be a factor.
 
Looks great, Jim... congratulations. I'd want to build one if I had a bigger record collection. Maybe someday.
 
chadd said:
Where does the fluid go once it's sucked up by the vacuum? As far as I can tell, you have the vacuum connected directly to the hose. What keeps the fluid from shorting out the motor?
Click to expand...

It goes into a hydraulic line to shut off the light inside the refrigerator.
 
Along with every 10th sock from the clothes dryer.

I found this DIY record cleaning project which uses a jar to collect the fluid before it gets to the vacuum motor (watch the movie).
 
chadd said:
Along with every 10th sock from the clothes dryer.

I found this DIY record cleaning project which uses a jar to collect the fluid before it gets to the vacuum motor (watch the movie).
Click to expand...

Well, that's a pretty good idea and would be easy to incorporate into the design. Crap, I've had the big bits for this project lying around for two years. I really wish I had more free time. Thanks for reviving this thread. Maybe I'll get off my butt and do this.
 
Wow... that is friggin awesome! I have been wondering how the heck I am supposed to afford a store bought RCM but... now I know I don't have to.

This is probably a pipe dream, but it'd be super sweet to be able to figure out a way to use a microcontroller to fully automate the machine -- going thru a particular cycle of events and monitoring / controlling amount of water delivered (if not fixed, which would be easier). Basically, would allow you to fill with water, press button, wait, done. :D

Dick Schneiders said:
... for the past 10 years or so I have been using ethanol, in the form of Everclear, a commercial grain alcohol purchased at any liquor store, instead of the IPA. It is probably my imagination, but it seems to work better.
Click to expand...

Especially if also used to simultaneously clean out one's self... ? :D

Michael
 
Very nice looking :thmbsp:.

If my beast of a DIY rig looked half that good, I might bring it out of the basement.
 
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