Record cleaning machine....4 choices.. which one??

richamor

richamor

amateur house husband
Okki Nokki - $499.00

SOTA - $1050 ($1150 with a cooling fan)

VPI MW-1 Cyclone - $1100

VPI 16.5 - $699

Or something I haven't mentioned?????

Each has advantages. I like the SOTA but the price!!! Same with the MW-1. The Okki seems like the budget priced piece here but it seems to have a good reputation. The VPI 16.5 seems to have a reputation for overheating but other than that VPI units have a devoted following.

Since this is a first for me I eagerly await opinions from the group. I have about 150-200 lps that need cleaning now and more than that that have been hand washed but maybe could be cleaned again. Thanks to all that help.
 
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Just got a Nokki Okki a few weeks ago. Been going through my collection and cleaning every one. I love it so far and have done about 100 records. Some make a huge difference and others help a lot .
I highly recommend it. I also hand washed many before the O-N , and those went on the O-N and it did a much better job than my hand washing.

I also don't rinse them after wards Just use the Vacuum of the O-N and so far no issues.

Athanasios
 
I'v had a VPI 16.5 and no problems with over heating, I quit before the machine does usually after about a dozen records. I'v had a fan ready to install but so far never found the real need to do it. Might also want to consider a preowned well cared for 16.5, can be had for $400 or less.
 
Thanks folks.

Nashou66-How loud would you say the O-N is?

majick47-Thanks for that vote of confidence. Sadly, pre-owned and well cared for, are not always inclusive. Too often it's well used and abused. I'd love to find a nice used unit local but think I'd prefer new with a warranty.
 
The VPI HW-16.5 RCM is an excellent machine. It may be a little loud,and maybe it gets a little warm but cleaning records is a chore,so how many will you clean at a time? I haven't had any problems with mine and it does a fantastic job....
 
I bought my vpi hw16.5 in 1993 and it is still going strong to this day. They were around 1/2 the current price then. Even at todays price well worth the expense, it is a tank built to last obviously if cared for.
 
richamor said:
Thanks folks.

Nashou66-How loud would you say the O-N is?

majick47-Thanks for that vote of confidence. Sadly, pre-owned and well cared for, are not always inclusive. Too often it's well used and abused. I'd love to find a nice used unit local but think I'd prefer new with a warranty.
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I don't find it that loud, its quieter than a Shop vac for sure and also than a upright vac.

Athanasios
 
My father always said to buy the best you can afford, and you'll never second-guess yourself. Not sure if that's always true.

My FREE advice? Click the link in my sig. Good luck.
 
I'm with ETLS. NOS and just old records that physically looked perfect to me, always seem to play with lots of pops and crackles, no matter how well they were cleaned. I just thought it was static, but it's not. I think what happens is that the old mold release substance that resides in the bottom of the groove harden over time like old wax, and no amount of physical cleaning or vacuuming will shift it. Playing these records just pushes the crud deeper into the grooves where the heat from the stylus sets it even harder like a glue.

I could not understand how, after so much cleaning, even with new records, that my line stylus was still accumulating an incredible amount of fluff, even after 1 track in some cases! I worked out that the stylus is actually cutting through the hardened crud and turning it into fluff which just balls up and lifts the stylus from the groove. Since building my system, these old records have gone absolutely quiet and I'm hearing much more detail with nary a pop or crackle.

It's based on a commonly available ultrasonic machine and a 1rpm motor from eBay. I just used some scrap metal to make the brackets and spindle.

Solution is 4L demineralised water, 100ml methylated spirits and a tablespoon of Finish Rinse Aid (wetting agent). New records get 15mins and old dirty records get 20mins. I just let them dry naturally after draining the solution and letting them turn for for a bit longer, but I may set up a computer fan to speed up the drying in the future. The rinse aid helps with the drying process as well, and they finish up looking nice and shiny. The solution does about 20 cycles or 140 records, so is cheap to run.
 

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oztayls said:
I think what happens is that the old mold release substance that resides in the bottom of the groove harden over time like old wax,
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Welcome to AK

They don't use a mold release between the stamper and vinyl, it's a chemical that's mixed and blended into the vinyl. Their is no such thing as washing it off as it's part of the record at all depths.

oztayls said:
I could not understand how, after so much cleaning, even with new records, that my line stylus was still accumulating an incredible amount of fluff, even after 1 track in some cases! I worked out that the stylus is actually cutting through the hardened crud and turning it into fluff which just balls up and lifts the stylus from the groove.
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This happens when you plat damp records after cleaning then, a good long drying and that will not happen
 
I have a Oki Noki that I use for when only one record needs to be cleaned quick.

I have a ultrasonic cleaner that does 8 at a time for cleaning lots of record, with a lot less hands on and more peace and quiet.
 
I can only comment on the HW 16.5 verse the Cyclone... if you plan on cleaning 100 - 500 records a week go for the HW 16.5 and use the savings to... you guessed it, BUY MORE RECORDS :rockon:

If you plan on cleaning 100 - 500 records A DAY than step it up to the Cyclone, the Cyclone was made to take a beating and extensive record cleaning. It is bi-directional/more robust motor, all metal housing.

Our cleaning machines are made to taking a beating in general and just need maintenance on the tubes/felt. We have serviced cleaning machines form before I was born, clean them up and send them back out into the field.

All of that being said, all of the brands you mentioned (non VPI) are great options for cleaning your records. A clean, regardless of brand, is better than no clean at all and your stylus will appreciate you giving those records a bath! :jump:
 
I have considered a DIY ultrasonic and I do like the idea. Even if I bought a Spin Clean for a rinse wash it would be cheaper. But I like the simplicity of an all in one machine. And I'm not convinced an ultrasonic will do as good a job as a good scrub. It's just me and not trying to start an argument.:bigok:
 
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