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VPI 16.5 Record Cleaner

Fair replies all of them.Washing with soapy water did clean them aided using very light application of soft sponge.But due to the delicate operation and regular use of the records made this system less user friendly in the long term.A lot depended on the sort of dirt in the grooves probably anyway.I dont clean my records now with anything.What cleans off pops or spots ? With the soapy water sponged them away delicatley best as possible,the pops,I think there is more than 1 kind of pop for example a scratch or fault in the vinyl ? You cant clean that out bud, and I have seen VIP cleaned records.The dealers stated that in their description "VIP cleaned".They were shiny and un natural looking.Hence they just didnt look right.Record specialists often make it a point to compare a record in correct natural condition as opposed to specially cleaned/polished copies.Not un naturally,their prices reflect the intensive demand.Its called "phones ringing off the hook"....!I was not knocking anyones claims about cleaning apparatus but questioning what was the use and pointing out a side that people perhaps dont generally know very much about.No offense meant to VIP ! :no:If you want to clean them like that-then do so !
 
Have you ever seen a new record ? They are pretty damn shiny. So are you saying they are bad from the factory because they are shiny and "unnatural looking' ?

A VPI does nothing except vacuum off the dirt in the grooves. It does not make a record more or less shiny.
 
a clean record is a happy record...

just like a butt... :naughty:


has nothing to do wiff natural....


use 'em...clean 'em....keep 'em happy...

Peace, Pogue
 
cool

that looks cool to me. same concept, i assume you could put a nice kit together if one was willing to put more than 50 bucks into it....
 
Punker built and uses one of those.
 
In my limited experience, nothing quiets vinyl down better than a good vacuum cleaning. I have nothing but good things to say about the 16.5 in particular and vacuum cleaning in general.

I thought about a DIY unit and with a little thought they would probably work very well.
 
Currently, all I use is an old D4 brush from back in the day, and some homebrew fluid. Where does the old Discwasher brush rank in comparison? I'm guessing it's a good 'every time you play the record, general maintenance' tool, whereas the "Suck-O-Matic K-9000 Vinyl Vortex" models are for getting deep spooge unseated and removed? Or does the D4 do well just on it's own?
 
I have used D4 brushes for years, but after demo-ing a VPI 16.5, and resurrecting albums that were almost unplayable (30+ years old), the 16.5 will be my next acquisition.
 
Received the LPs back from jpchleapas and Grumpy (MannyE is still missing in action) and have given them a good listening. You can read about the original condition of the LPs being cleaned in an earlier post to this thread.

First, John's work: The MoFi "Dark Side of the Moon" is an original pressing (thanks for not keeping it, John) and sounds terrific. Just a minor hint of surface noise, but I didn't give it as good a blasting with the ZeroStat as I could have. What a change!! Almost like a new record compared to what I was hearing. Wow!! Same thing for the MHS pressing of Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 2. What a change. John - please tell us what you used and the magic potion involved. Is a terrific change. I am convinced!!

Next is Grumpy's cleaning of a MoFi of Cat Steven's "Tea For the Tillerman". Just as good as the cleaning from John. Almost no surface noise at all. These cleaning machines are magic. Truly magic. However, the London ffrr release of Pavoratti's arias did not fare nearly so well. I suspect it is simply beyond redemption. Still on the verge of unlistenable. Oh, well. Can't win them all.

I will edit this post with feedback from MannyE's work, once it arrives. But from what I've heard thus far there is an LP cleaning machine in my near future. Thanks a lot, guys. A real "eye (ear?) opener" for me.
 
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Since I had just make a complete system change I was kind of hesitant to try this test. Rather then just clean them and send em back I figured what the hell

The Cat Stevens ( not really my thing ) was played several times to familiarize myself with it. One thing i did notice was a fair amount of surface noise and a few pops and clicks. After cleaning it the surface noise was dramatically quieter. After a second cleaning and playing I noticed a little less Pops and click. Over all I feel it made a very listen-able LP to begin with much better.
 
gpdavis2 said:
Received the LPs back from jpchleapas and Grumpy (MannyE is still missing in action) and have given them a good listening. You can read about the original condition of the LPs being cleaned in an earlier post to this thread.

First, John's work: The MoFi "Dark Side of the Moon" is an original pressing (thanks for not keeping it, John) and sounds terrific. Just a minor hint of surface noise, but I didn't give it as good a blasting with the ZeroStat as I could have. What a change!! Almost like a new record compared to what I was hearing. Wow!! Same thing for the MHS pressing of Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 2. What a change. John - please tell us what you used and the magic potion involved. Is a terrific change. I am convinced!!

Next is Grumpy's cleaning of a MoFi of Cat Steven's "Tea For the Tillerman". Just as good as the cleaning from John. Almost no surface noise at all. These cleaning machines are magic. Truly magic. However, the London ffrr release of Pavoratti's arias did not fare nearly so well. I suspect it is simply beyond redemption. Still on the verge of unlistenable. Oh, well. Can't win them all.

I will edit this post with feedback from MannyE's work, once it arrives. But from what I've heard thus far there is an LP cleaning machine in my near future. Thanks a lot, guys. A real "eye (ear?) opener" for me.
Click to expand...



Interesting stuff there GPDavis. I just ordered a Moth RCM mk.II which is basically a british hybrid version of the VPI and Nitty Gritty Machines.

As you were, I'm looking forward to hearing my vinyl LPs after being cleaned with this.

Re the surface noise that you mentioned. Is it possible that what you are hearing is just the wear and tear from the 30 or so years? As good as Record Cleaning Machines are they cannot fix vinyl that has been damaged (however small that may be.) It's fair to say that not everybody looks/ed after their vinyl as we do.
 
Trawlerman said:
Interesting stuff there GPDavis.

Re the surface noise that you mentioned. Is it possible that what you are hearing is just the wear and tear from the 30 or so years? As good as Record Cleaning Machines are they cannot fix vinyl that has been damaged (however small that may be.) It's fair to say that not everybody looks/ed after their vinyl as we do.
Click to expand...

Am sure the Pavoratti LP is damaged. However, the other three, especially the high quality MoFi LPs cleaned up an amazing amount. Approaching new in their performance. And all are about 30 years old. So is definitley ~30 years worth of dirt and grunge that was removed to get them sounding so "clean". Without a doubt, I am now a believer. Now if I can just find those $3,500 dollar interconnects I'll be in business (just kidding on the interconnects).
 
Honestly I did not play the classical LP. Between being sick and dealing with sick kids I just have not had much time.

I did clean it but only once per side.

Grumpy
 
>First, John's work: The MoFi "Dark Side of the Moon" is an original pressing(thanks for not keeping it, John) and sounds terrific. Just a minor hint of surface noise, but I didn't give it as good a blasting with the ZeroStat as I could have. What a change!! Almost like a new record compared to what I was hearing. Wow!! Same thing for the MHS pressing of Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 2. What a change. John - please tell us what you used and the magic potion involved. Is a terrific change. I am convinced!!>

No magic potion. I used Nitty Gritty fluid to clean your two records on my VPI HW-17. My NG 3.5Fi works as well cleaning to be sure. Both machines are nice but the HW-17 is just a bit easier to use is all. I have had equally good luck using the VPI concentrate that cost me $17 and made a gallon of cleaner. I tend to apply a lot more cleaning fluid to clean really dirty albums, and the cheaper concenrate works very well to be sure. What gets the cleaner residue off your vinyl and the "final" step is an immeidate rinse with distilled water. I use a VERY soft natural bristle paint brush to do this. I use a small bottle to apply the distilled water. I then give it about 3 revolutions using the brush gently to help get into the grooves to rinse out the residue. Then I just give it one spin around the platter to dry them on my machines. Anyone who cleans records with a machine, or maybe especially if cleaning vinly by hand should do the distilled water rinse after you clean your record. You will be rewarded with less surface noise. I do want to try record research products to clean a future batch of vinyl..
 
Now for the last two LPs. MannyE kindly cleaned Jim Croce's "Time In A Bottle" MoFi pressing and an original CSN&Y. The MoFi came as clean and soundless as the other two MoFi albums on the VPI 16 and 17. They are just simply great albums and when properly cleaned cannot be faulted, IMHO. However, the CSN&Y did not fare so well. Is a 'little' better than I recall prior to cleaning, but not a great deal. Still lots of surface noise. Not so much that I won't listen. But still noticeable. I may take this and the Pavarotti and have a VPI 17 demo'd using them to see if a second cleaning on the newer machine might help.

My verdict is that the cleaning works wonders on an LP that is just dirty. However, I am not so sure on older LPs that are standard pressings. They simply may be damaged beyond repair, so no 'cleaning' will make them whole, again.

If you have any particular questions we have not answered, do not hesitate to ask. I will be purchasing a VPI 16.5 or something like it in the not too distant future. Happy listening, all.
 
I should have added that I used Nitty Fluid as well but for a final rinse I used Buggtusel vinylzyme.

Grumpy
 
It's all a matter of how much you are willing to put into the cleaning sessions. I have never "lived with" a VPI or similar vacuum machine, so I don;t know how much upkeep and cleaning is involved in the care and feeding of one of those (grumpy..maybe you can chime in on this one) but I find the SC very easy to use.

There are those who keep it full for days or weeks, but I usually do marathon sessions and just dump the fluid after each session, and rinse with some RO water. So far the brushes have cleaned a couple hundred or so records and still look great. I don't know how they would fare if left submerged for weeks at a time.

This was an interesting and fun project! Thanks for letting me play!
 
MannyE - Thanks for your help and input (and John and Dave)!!!

Could you post a link to the SC machine you use for those of us who are not familiar with?
 
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