?? on DIY record cleaner TT speed

outlawmws

outlawmws

On the Run
OK, I have close to 1000 records, so it’s time for a DIY Cleaning record cleaning machine.

I think I have all the “Necessaries” to start this project.

• Bodine Gear reduction AC/DC motor and pulley

• Spindle bearing assy and platter from a donor Akai BCP belt drive TT, new belt for the platter.

• One gallon wet or dry Shop Vac

• Scrap melamine MDF

The rest seems easy to make or modify


I was going to use the complete Akia, but the motor was far too weak to spin the platter with any sort of load on it. :thumbsdn:

I doubt I have $20 actual outlay in all of this, (After spending $8 on the belt) so the rest should be very doable on a small budget.

Question:

The motor has a primary speed of 5000 rpm and a 10:1 reduction, so it’s 500 RPM out on the shaft.

The pulley and platter diameters further reduce the speed to, get this, 78.1xx RPM. :D

Is 78 rpm too fast for a cleaner? I can further reduce the platter speed by turning the brass pulley down smaller. (I have a lathe, so this is no problem) Should I? If so, what is a good target speed?

Pics to follow as I get further along.
 
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78 rpm is definitely too fast for a record cleaner IMHO.
I believe most commercial models , ( VPI, Nitty Gritty, Moth, etc ) run at just about 16 / 20 rpm.
Jorge
 
I just spin the platter by hand as I clean. At least you can do this in the meantime until you find something slower than that 78rpm machine.
 
rulerboyz said:
I just spin the platter by hand as I clean. At least you can do this in the meantime until you find something slower than that 78rpm machine.
Click to expand...

Finding something slower isn't needed. I just need a realistic speed to use, and I cut the pulley to the Diameter needed to make the speed work. Lathe, remember?

Jorge, thanks for the info. I'll have to do some cutting to make it happen I guess. Too dang cold out there so I'll have to bundle up...
 
Close to 33 1/3 speed is more than adequate and about what the commercial ones spin at. Slower and you'll just scrub the dirt deeper into the grooves, faster and you won't pull the grunge out. Search the forum as many members have built their own record cleaners.

Jimmy
 
What am I talking about!! Of course you know about searching the forum (I'm going bonkers here, Outlaw!!:saywhat: ).

IMO, stick with about 33 rpm, or thereabouts.

Jimmy
 
The Loricraft does 80 rpm. Link So, I would think that your 78 rpm should be ok.

I don't have any personal experience, though, as I use the manual EV1 vac cleaner.
 
from the owner's manual for my VPI 16.5

Turntable motor:
RPM: 18(115 volt unit)
166:1 gear ratio

Hope this helps some.

Best
John
 
WOW how to complicate a simple question

The VPI runs at 18 RPM

Mine I built to run at 25 RPM

target those speeds at 25 RPM I can have the surface of my LP's wet and no fluid comes off.

Is it my understanding you plan on using a belt drive? If so I see big problems with having enough torque to keep the platter spinning while the vacuum is on.

Mine uses a DC 3.6V rechargable screwdriver motor that has a built in gear reduction to 180 RPM

My drive hub is 8.25" D and my drive tire is approx 1.5" D I think my machine could screw a 2" dry wall screw into a 2X4 if I mounted a chuck to hold the bit to the spindle.

My machine will run pretty much all day with no heat problems and my vacuum is strong enough to completely dry the record in three rotations.
 
The Loricraft cleaner is a point source vacuum (small vacuum nozzle that moves across the record) this allows the 80RPM speeds. The VPI/Nitty Gritty type have a long slotted stationary arm that vacuums the entire record at the slower speed under 20RPM. Different designs allow the variance in speed.
 
I use a small 4 pole synchronous blower motor that runs about 1800 rpm and a rim drive system. Motor spindle tire/platter diameter ratio gives me roughly 90 rpm and enough torque to work comfortably.

Used to use 33 rpm and found cleaning was better at higher speed, makes sense in that my brush covers three times the distance in the same amount of time. Cleaning fluid isn't affected by increased centrifical force and vacuuming works fine, three times the coverage for it too.
 
Dennis Gardner said:
The Loricraft cleaner is a point source vacuum (small vacuum nozzle that moves across the record) this allows the 80RPM speeds. The VPI/Nitty Gritty type have a long slotted stationary arm that vacuums the entire record at the slower speed under 20RPM. Different designs allow the variance in speed.
Click to expand...

I noticed that when I visited the loricraft site. Have to admit, I'm not sure I care for the idea that a small section of thread is used to scrub an entire LP side. Seems like it would be pretty grungy by the time it got to the end. :scratch2:
 
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