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Vacuum record cleaning machine

markd51 said:
Sure, I'd suspect after smearing Peanut Butter on a record, greases, and other contaminants, the US will easily come out the winner due to being submersed in a US bath buzzing away and perhaps a longer soak time versus a regular-standard cleaning attempt on any RCM.
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Peanut butter was only used because one of my colleague's son got peanut butter on some of his records and he was interested to see which method would clean off all the dried on peanut butter. For this test a small amount of peanut butter was applied and wiped off with a clean room cloth so what remained was only a very thin layer in the grooves.

The VPI belonged to a colleague and he just used the method that he found to work best to clean his records. His method used multiple passes which took about 5 minutes as I recall. The time in the ultrasonic bath was 6 min which translates to an exposure time of 2 min because only 1/3 of the record is in the bath at a given time.

markd51 said:
Too many variables involved, time, cleaners used to give a proper evaluation.
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Of course cleaning time and solution are variables but for this comparison we used the time and solutions that my colleagues and myself found to be ideal or were recommended by the manufacturer of the RCMs.
 
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Lou G said:
Peanut butter was only used because one of my colleague's son got peanut butter on some of his records and he was interested to see which method would clean off all the dried on peanut butter. For this test a small amount of peanut butter was applied and wiped off with a clean room cloth so what remained was only a very thin layer in the grooves.

The VPI belonged to a colleague and he just used the method that he found to work best to clean his records. His method used multiple passes which took about 5 minutes as I recall. The time in the ultrasonic bath was 6 min which translates to an exposure time of 2 min because only 1/3 of the record is in the bath at a given time.


Of course cleaning time and solution are variables but for this comparison we used the time and solutions that my colleagues and myself found to be ideal or were recommended by the manufacturer of the RCMs.
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Understood.
 
Your friend let kids play with his records and peanut butter, and he didn't find it until it dried? I'd say that's a serious cleaning challenge. Back when Netflix and Blockbuster mailed you DVDs I recall getting one with a big pizza fingerprint.
 
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par4ken said:
While I'm very pleased with my Nitty Gritty machine and swear by the Parastat for a quick pre-play wipe this thread has got me thinking about US cleaning. Is it really that much better?

Looking on Amazon I see an "Uargd" Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaning Machine for less than $200 CAD. Is it any good? The price certainly seems right! The HumminGuru Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner is also available on Amazon but prices are in the 1K range! Too rich for my blood!

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The Uargd looks identical to the Vevor, a popular choice here in NA. Can't tell just by looks, mind you, but the price is right.

As you already have the Nitty Gritty I suggest you keep using it, but add the US to your routine, either before or after the NG. I suggest before, as a warm soak will loosen up more soils than a cold scrub on the NG alone, and you have the convenience of vacuuming when it's time to dry.

Is US better? In some cases, yes, but not always. Using both systems in tandem will ensure the best of both capabilities.
 
Searching Amazon for Vevor, machines pop up that do look just like the Uargd but they are priced in the $500 to $800 range. I wonder why the huge price discrepancy? Is the Uargd a bargain or just a cheap knock off?
 
par4ken said:
Searching Amazon for Vevor, machines pop up that do look just like the Uargd but they are priced in the $500 to $800 range. I wonder why the huge price discrepancy? Is the Uargd a bargain or just a cheap knock off?
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I wouldn't pay that much for it. It's more reasonable direct from Vevor:

VEVOR Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner 6L 40kHz Vinyl Ultrasonic Cleaning Machine 304 Stainless Steel Record Ultrasonic Cleaner 6 Records with Drying Rack Vinyl Sonic Cleaner with Adjustable Heater & T | VEVOR CA
 
Earlier, I had come across a quite old essay about vinyl cleaning which was/is the the undisputed essay about vinyl, Albert Einstein stuff.

It seems in a nuthshell all the variables off the chart, waters, cleaners, chemicals, brands, types, waters, quite a myriad quagmire of Guano. Yeah, that's right, Bat Sh&t! LOL

I'm sure we all try to treat ourselves right, and not buy records with Guano, or Peanut Butter-Lou Malnati Pizzas on board. LOL

I moved to the dusty Southwest New Mexico in the 2000s with about 400 Records in tow. Then I crazily found a local Antique Shop with about 8000 records on hand! I hit paydirt like a tin pan in Clint Eastwood's "Pale Rider". LOL They were located at the old Post Office in Alamogordo, Great people, what a place!

Many joyous hours spent going though everything! And they had it! Everything from Andy Williams, Perry Como to jazz, rock, classic, movie scores-soundtracks, on and on, "The Hills Are Alive! LOL
I scored like a bandit over a number of months and years being their customer I quickly doubled my collection in short time. I had to custom fabricate a Steel Rack from a commercial Steel Rack Display Shelf to hold the collection. Low down!

Because of my examinatory "Professor Barnhard" discriminations, I did find that 99% of what I bought were wisely bought keepers. Yay!

I wanted records that had also been unmolested by any weird cleaning attempts by previous owners.

But I graded everything right there. I would weed out all non hackers by eyeball. I did well!
Booyah!

You folks know what I'm talking about when buying Vinyl.

Such helps cut down on dealing with major caca, who needs it?

I highly respect a person trying to revive/restore a very rare bird to listen to and enjoy.

I own a very old Regina Music Box, 15.5" Metal Discs. Ever listen to one?
 
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Looks like a horizontal version of a 'player-piano scroll'.
Question which table are you using smaller inset foto? I can see a SME Improved, another looks like a Jelco but, what's the third?
I loved that series of Micro-Seiki DDX tables and when it first debuted, it had to blow every thing else out of the water.
Coupled to its ability to allow for multiple arms it was very desirable and expensive.
Which arms arms are you using on yours pictured?
FM
 
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frankmarsi said:
Looks like a horizontal version of a Edison cylinder.
Question which table are you using smaller inset foto? I can see a SME Improved, another looks like a Jelco but, what's the third?
I loved that series of Micro-Seiki DDX tables and when it first debuted, it had to blow every thing else out of the water.
Coupled to its ability to allow for multiple arms it was very desirable and expensive.
Which arms arms are you using on yours pictured?
FM
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I'll let @markd51 describe the music box, my pic is from a museum and I got to hear it play that disk. My table is a DDX-1000 with an SME S2 improved, a Jelco SA370H, and a VPI JMW9 Memorial Signature with Nordost wire. The arm boards are OEM. Pickups vary, currently a Sumiko HOMC, Pickering XSV-3000 (a fav) and a ZYX RS-30-02. In my opinion, the VPI arm stands alone. People ask why three arms, and I tell them it can't accommodate any more :rflmao:
 
frankmarsi said:
Nice set-up, I'd love to own one of the same though they're so rare.
FM
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Not so rare but going up in price. I don't buy gear as an investment but it is nice if I can recover the investment or make a little to compensate for my work and parts.

At some point I'll have to offer several vintage restored consoles for free to a good home. Solid mahogany will break your back getting it out of the house.
 
This has probably already been answered but it depends on the rcm. Some have support platters the size of the label so no issue. Of course that means a dished lp might not be fully vacuumed. Clearaudio & Nitty Gritty offer machines that do both sides at the same time and have label size platters.
 
Aerobat said:
Like this? View attachment 3673249
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Yes, mine is exactly like this Music Box you picture here!

Mahogany Case with Ivory Pinstripe. This particular Music Box plays 15.5" Discs, and is referred to as a "Single Comb".

Regina did make Music Boxes with Double Combs, and also larger Boxes, often upright models that played much larger 24" Discs. Those are really big money.

Some of those old upright players would be in Saloons, and had provision to accept money, commonly a Nickel.

The one I have was professionally restored in the early 70's when my Mother bought it. I inherited it after her death. It was me who always cleaned, lubed and waxed the Case for her every Christmas.

I also have the correct Table-Stand for this Music Box which has a circular lower shelf to place the Discs. I have about 70 original Discs. These usually cost about $100 apiece at current day.

I understand there are modern re-issue Discs made, and are no less expensive.
 
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markd51 said:
Yes, mine is exactly like this Music Box you picture here!

Mahogany Case with Ivory Pinstripe. This particular Music Box plays 15.5" Discs, and is referred to as a "Single Comb".

Regina did make Music Boxes with Double Combs, and also larger Boxes, often upright models that played much larger 24" Discs. Those are really big money.

Some of those old upright players would be in Saloons, and had provision to accept money, commonly a Nickel.

The one I have was professionally restored in the early 70's when my Mother bought it. I inherited it after her death. It was me who always cleaned, lubed and waxed the Case for her every Christmas.

I also have the correct Table-Stand for this Music Box which has a circular lower shelf to place the Discs. I have about 70 original Discs. These usually cost about $100 apiece at current day.

I understand there are modern re-issue Discs made, and are no less expensive.
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Wow.
 
Aerobat said:
Your friend let kids play with his records and peanut butter, and he didn't find it until it dried? I'd say that's a serious cleaning challenge.
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LOL, his son got into a couple of his records before his wife noticed while he was at work. She saw the smudges on the records and proceeded to wipe them off and put the records away. He didn't find out until some time later when he pulled out one of those records to play and noticed the residual smudges. He said he tried several cleaning methods on those records but the areas with the smudges never sounded right until I cleaned those 2 records with my ultrasonic cleaner. That episode convinced him to assemble his own ultrasonic record cleaner.
 
I picked up a vevor on the cheap and it works great out of the box to me. I have a few I am going to record dr and VV after the ultrasonic to see if I can remove finger prints. I guess I am a lazy cleaner and did the vevor first. I works really well. My record collection is almost all cleaned and I am having a blast listening to really good sounding vinyl.
 
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