My DIY RCM Experiment

[GPJeff]

I'm confused.

Does this mean the wand does not touch or 'scrub' the record?

Typical for almost all RCMs, you scrub the record with a record brush or pad with the cleaning solution(s). The wand's only purpose is to pull off the solution & dirt from the record. The slot in the wand is the inlet for the suction side of the vacuum. You rotate the platter, turn the vacuum on and in 2-3 LP rotations almost all of the solution is sucked off the record.

 

[micksf]

Now, after all your hard work and excellent write up with the parts list, someone is going to derail the thread by stating that by using an external vacuum your design is crap because it's just recirculating the dust. I've seen it happen!

ha, well what can I say. I'm quite certain there are better systems out there either purchased or as in many of the examples of the DIY versions I've seen here, but it was a fun project. I guess I could always vent the output of the vacuum with a hose out the window or something. As it is it's working much better than the drying system I had before, which it too embarrassing to mention at this point. So, I'm happy with it.

Thank you to all the DIY creators here before me, you inspired me.

 

[DC]

Nice! Got you added to the pile, of course.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=318672

 

[yzzaj]

Typical for almost all RCMs, you scrub the record with a record brush or pad with the cleaning solution(s). The wand's only purpose is to pull off the solution & dirt from the record. The slot in the wand is the inlet for the suction side of the vacuum. You rotate the platter, turn the vacuum on and in 2-3 LP rotations almost all of the solution is sucked off the record.

I've had a Nitty Gritty for 15 years, and have cleaned hundreds of records with it.

It scrubs the record (not me), and also pulls off the solution and dirt afterwards.

I don't rotate the platter - the Nitty Gritty does.

Not sure if the statement "almost all RCMs, you scrub the record" is correct (but I could be wrong). "Almost all" sounds like "vast majority", which sounds like there are hardly any sold that scrub the record for you. I would be willing to state that many RCMs do the/some scrubbing for you. I believe that's why they are called Record Cleaning Machines - they clean the record. Otherwise, they'd be called "Record Vacuum Machines" - ones that simply vacuum the record.

Even the very inexpensive Spin Clean (less than $150) cleans/scrubs/brushes the record.

But, of course, I could be wrong, as I don't have current sales statistics of all RCM sales worldwide, and the function of all models sold.