This manual record cleaning/vacuuming system works great. (with pics!)
- Thread starter Brett a
- Start date
ARJohn
Super Member
That is the one I am using , the little red one $25 , bloody screaming banshee ! I have it inside a large cardboard box to help deaden the noise . It is very powerful but you just need to leave a hole in the end of the nozzle to relieve some of the vacum . My nozzles are blocked at the end with duct tape and I make a small hole in the end and increase in size until I get the right amount of suck vs spin force . The lp is dry after 1 slow revolution , but I give it 2 or so to be sure . And after reading on here I added the rinse with di water using a 2nd nozzle also , I think the rinse is worth the extra effort just to be 100% sure you got all the solution off .
All together was a very cheap way to get going and was a BIG improvement in sound and I have no fear shopping for used vinyl now . :tresbon:
rjoseph
Active Member
Thanks. Thats exactly the one. I just bought it and will give it a try. Hopefully I will be able to get my LPs to sound at a different level.
ARJohn
Super Member
wear ear protection
I used the crevice tool that came with it , cut a slot in the wide side of the tool and used duct tape of electrical tape to cover the end , then used a pen to make a small hole in the tape to let air in the end . I also purchased the nitty gritty stick on pads but there are many materials that you can use with double sided tape I guess . I bought some velvet but then went with the NG ones instead . Also you can buy a 2nd crevice tool at most hardware stores to fit the Shopvac brand for like $4 . Most expensive part of mine was the record clamp , that I use on my TT's when not doing cleaning . Get ready for a nice time with your old favorites 
ricohman
Adventure Rider
Great thread.
As I am washing in the sink with two pails of soapy water (clean and dirty) then applying my "cleaning" solution, rinsing and drying with a lint-free towel. Obviously very time consuming.
I need to make me an RCM. I have old TT's and shop vacs. This thread has inspired me.
As I am washing in the sink with two pails of soapy water (clean and dirty) then applying my "cleaning" solution, rinsing and drying with a lint-free towel. Obviously very time consuming.
I need to make me an RCM. I have old TT's and shop vacs. This thread has inspired me.
I've made a home-made RCM similar to this. I use an old (it was in a cheap tube-based '60's console) Garrard turntable and don't care how much water or fluid gets on/in it, but I keep a plastic garbage bag UNDER it. I made my own nozzle by cutting a slot in 1 inch PVC pipe, sealing the end and the opposite-side slot. I used to worry about putting it directly on an LP, but I've not had any problem.
I do a rinse too, though the water beads up so much it's hard to get full coverage - it takes a lot more plain water in the rinsing step than fluid in the cleaning step. Does your water also bead up on the LP in the rinse? I'm wondering, as it might vary with what fluid is used (I use 1 percent Alconox powder in distilled water).
I've never feared shopping for used vinyl, but before making my own vacuum RCM I feared PLAYING it!
Brett a
~◦●○o0o○●◦~
Mine does. I figure it's the surface tension thing. Still, I brush it around with the natural bristle brush and give it a vacuum. I figure it's doing something.
Bob_in_OKC
Addicted Member
Any sort of surfactant in your cleaning solution?
jeeves
Active Member
I built mine about 2 years ago and have cleaned several hundred records with it since then. It works great.
It's a jewelry box with a cheap sony platter mounted on top. The nice thing is that it gives me plenty of room to store the brushes and other stuff inside. I added a switch on the side so that I could turn off the vacuum without having to reach for its switch. I added the rubbery drawer liner to keep the record from slipping. It does not have any motor because I find it easier to turn it myself.
I did basically the same thing with the crevace tool. I capped the end, cut a slot and used fabric from a lint brush to cover it (I like the fact that it is soft enough but doesn't shed). As you can tell from the photo, I've worn out the fabric and need to replace it.
As far as brushes, I use a KAB discsweep to clean and one of those wood handled velvet brushes for a rinse. I don't really use the gummy lint roller thing.
I make my own cleaning solution with isopropyl alcohol, distilled water, and a surfectant. Then I rinse with distilled water.
It's very cheap, but I have been very happy with it. I have used a KAB EV-1 that my brother has and I actually prefer to use mine. I think it does a better job (and for way less $).
It's a jewelry box with a cheap sony platter mounted on top. The nice thing is that it gives me plenty of room to store the brushes and other stuff inside. I added a switch on the side so that I could turn off the vacuum without having to reach for its switch. I added the rubbery drawer liner to keep the record from slipping. It does not have any motor because I find it easier to turn it myself.
I did basically the same thing with the crevace tool. I capped the end, cut a slot and used fabric from a lint brush to cover it (I like the fact that it is soft enough but doesn't shed). As you can tell from the photo, I've worn out the fabric and need to replace it.
As far as brushes, I use a KAB discsweep to clean and one of those wood handled velvet brushes for a rinse. I don't really use the gummy lint roller thing.
I make my own cleaning solution with isopropyl alcohol, distilled water, and a surfectant. Then I rinse with distilled water.
It's very cheap, but I have been very happy with it. I have used a KAB EV-1 that my brother has and I actually prefer to use mine. I think it does a better job (and for way less $).
Brett a
~◦●○o0o○●◦~
It's just the standard 1 part Iso-Alcohol, 2 water, w/~3 drops dish soap per quart.
So I actually forget; is it the dish soap that's added to release the surface tension, or does the alcohol take care of that? It definitely relaxes into the grooves unlike the str8 distilled water rinse which just stands up on the surface.
That's gorgeous! It's basically the same set-up as mine, but in a handy and attractive box. you're an inspiration.
ARJohn
Super Member
The DI water does bead on mine too , I use one of those paint pads to spread it while spinning to get the water all over the surface . But as soon as you remove the pad the water beads . And yes I use more water than my cleaning fluid also , but the drugstore water is cheap .
spideyjack
Addicted Member
Ok Brett a, I bought a small shop vac today. I already have two platters, cleaning potion, distilled h2o, paint pads and double sided tape. All I need is a DIY record clamp and I am ready.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks for the inspiration!
spideyjack
Addicted Member
I cleaned a bunch of LPs yesterday using my new set-up. It is a vast improvement over my old method. Once I tweek the process in a bit, I am sure it will yield even better results.
Brett a
~◦●○o0o○●◦~
Nice to hear. And glad my thread could serve as a help. :thmbsp:
I still use my set-up as described here. The only improvement i could see making to it would be to make it more convenient; having to pull everything out and set it up, then put it away makes record cleaning an event---a project.
That's OK enough, but I'd like to be able to have it always ready so i can do single LPs on the fly. That would mean taking the step of putting it together as a self-contained record cleaning machine that could live in the living room, tucked out of the way but still accessible. I know a few folks here have done just that. May I'll make that a winter project.
:scratch2:
Vintagegeek
Well-Known Member
Currently using a mix of washing in sink with Dawn then a thorough rinse. Followed by a micrfiber wipe to the dish rack. After some drying time I do a rinse with a natural bristle brush and distilled water then vacuum dry, to a second rack. Intial wash is done with a trim brush and I let the solution sit on the surface for 30 seconds. I made a turntable from some scraps in the garage and a lazy susan hardware assembly ($5 home depot). On the platter I fixed 56 .375"x 10mm high rubber buttons ($2.34/24), eliminnates the need for seperate mats due to minimal surface contact. Only challenge is completely removing the embedded crud, maybe wash and apply an mix of alcohol and scrub with some pads? Then rinse well and do the second rinse and vacuum? Still working the best method and at some point am going to redo the table but for now it is adequate.