Distilled water rinse after ultrasonic cleaning

I can't believe this is even a question. You have a record spinning is a tepid pool of it's own filth and then gets air dry by a fan and people are wondering if they should rinse the record with clean distilled water. Really, I mean you really can't figure this out?  RINSE the record.

My ultrasonic fluid contains some things other than water, so I definitely want to get all that stuff off.  After the US cleaning, I give each record a spin on my Keith Monks-style vacuum machine and do a three part rinse with MFSL Wash, MFSL rinse, followed by HPLC water, vacing between each step.  After a cleaning session, I pump the fluid through a filter and into a gallon jug for storage.

Thom & miller,

I disagree and have always enjoyed the process.

@antinn

I failed to mention that I don't use pleated filters.

Anyway, the next time I change water and filters, I'll rearrange per your recommendation.

I appreciate it!

Steve

I have a Degritter US cleaner and a VPI 16.5, the VPI was bought some years ago now. The US is automatic but for the really dirty discs you can’t beat an enzyme cleaner and the VPI is good for that. I’ve not noticed much benefit from a post US water wash if the US has done the job but sometimes it doesn’t so the vacuum gives another option.

I have the Audiodesk and the answer is simply NO. Unless you plug into the RV as mentioned. You have distilled water with 70% alcohol already, or if you still have their cleaning agent.

I’m not sure I understand the above reference, but be aware that using alcohol in your Audiodesk Vinyl Cleaner Pro will void your warranty. Do so at your own risk.

Audiophilia nervosa is a psychological disorder. There is no vaccine. There is however a foolproof cure. Its called: relax. Realize your system sucks, always has, always will, and there simply is nothing you can do about it, because nothing ever is perfect. That’s just the way things are. Situation normal. So: relax.

Wise words from @millercarbon. The biggest impediment to clean records is a complicated cleaning system that you soon grow tired of, and stop using after the new wears off.

We use the recommended method with our Vinyl Cleaner Pro, don’t think twice about it, and enjoy clean records that easily match the cleaning quality of the three-step (A-I fluid) process we used with our Loricraft machine (excellent, results with the A-I fluids, but labor intensive).

On our Audiodesk page (where I survey cleaning methods), I quote Wayne Gretzky: “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take".

Photographers with the ideal, full-frame Nikon or Canon rig with (of course) the holy trinity of zoom lenses soon grow tired of lugging a 20 pound rig with them. The camera you don’t have is the photo you don’t take.

In the same way, the perfect cleaning protocol that is too laborious to use is the record you don’t clean.

You get to choose ...

...Thom @ Galibier Design

I have the Audiodesk and the answer is simply NO. Unless you plug into the RV as mentioned. You have distilled water with 70% alcohol already, or if you still have their cleaning agent. 

@slaw,

Steve,

Installing a fine filter at the suction does keep the fluid clean to the pump - but this a positive displacement pump and its uses a diaphragm to control valves to draw-in/discharge-out water and they are not as sensitive to debris as a centrifugal pump. The general recommendation for a pump suction strainer is one of 50 mesh - but that is equal to 300 microns - that is a pretty big particle. Small pump suction strainers have low pressure drop and are widely available - Amazon.com: SHURFLO (255-313) 1/2" Twist-On Pipe Strainer: Automotive if you wanted to install one - for raw water usage they are recommended. FYI - If you plumbed a centrifugal pump with those fine filters at the suction, the centrifugal pump would have cavitated and pretty much destroyed its self. Centrifugal pumps do not have much suction lift.

For others who may be reading this post - the Pentair Shurflo SLV Series Diaphragm Pumps | Pentair model SLV10-AA40 12V DC Pump (Flow 3.78 LPM) is widely available such as ShurFlo SLV10-AA40 12VDC Low Volume Automatic Demand Diaphragm Pump For Low Flow Spraying and Transfer, 1.0 GPM, 40 PSI, Pressure Switch, Self-Priming: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific. It’s a bit more expensive than the Bayite, but It is a commercial standard pump with good support and only has a 40 psi pressure head so limited risk of collapsing filters and has a ON/OFF switch. Like the Bayite, it is 12VDC so a 120VAC/12VDC power supply 40-50W would be required. Standard desk top style 120VAC/12VDC power supplies are relatively cheap and easily sourced. There is a Shurflo 120AC pump wire with a 3-prong plug (Shurflo model 8020-513-236), but is about $150 .

Hope this is of some help,

Neil

@antinn,

Thanks for your critique.

I installed this way to save pump life,(dirty water going through filters before seeing the pump).

I’ll reread your post several times as it’s a lot to take in.

Thanks,

Steve

@slaw,

After looking at your photos they appear to show the filters mounted on the suction side of the pump Bayite . If this is correct - If I might offer a suggestion - install the filter(s) at the pump discharge side. The filters will present a pressure drop and the pump suction side only has about 7-ft of suction head. Check the filter cartridge max differential pressure rating - most will be >15 psid (>35-ft head equivalent) so to get maximum use, fine filters are generally installed at the pump discharge - and your pump has an maximum discharge head of 80 psi.

Since you are pumping relative clean water (no stones & pebbles) you do not need a suction strainer. If you do replumb, since you do not have a differential pressure gauge on the filter or pump - keep an eye on the filter and pump noise and the power supply temp, As the filter loads and water flow pressure drop increases - the pump discharge head (being a positive displacement pump) will increase to maintain flow until it reaches its maximum. But its maximum (80 psid) can collapse most disposable filters. But as the pump discharge increases so will its noise and the 120VAC/12VDC power supply will heat up because the pump is drawing more current.

Just some thoughts for you.

Added a couple pictures on my systems page.

l give it a few turns in my SpinClean after the US

I do too. My US is a cheap $100 one. I guess it does it’s job. I see residues even after cleaning about 50 brand new records. (I had bought about 100 sealed classical albums mostly from late 70s and 80s). I feel new records made recently are worse. They are dirtier and also sound terrible especially those selling at around $20.

FWIW, the thread, Thumbs up for Ultrasonic Cleaning , has good info.

The second filter isn’t necessary. I was experimenting and tried it this way. What’s more important is filter surface area. The 10" filter provides this. I like the clear filter housing because you can see what’s going on.I change water about every 6 weeks. I pull the tank drain hose off, take the tank to the sink and empty it. Tank back in place now.
Put the hose into a new gallon of distilled water, hold the hose into the tank at the other end, turn on the pump and this washes the line/filter out. This pumping process takes 30 seconds. Empty the tank into the sink again. Reinstall everything and add fresh water. I use Versa-Clean at 2oz. per gallon.

@noromance,

I connect the tank drain to some hose that travels to filter "1 then another length of hose to filter #2, then another length of hose to the RV pump, then a long length of hose that I manually hold inside the tank when the pump is running.

Thanks but how do you use the filter? Isn't there just a drain on the unit, so how do you pump it out > filter > back into tank?

Hi @noromance. I use brass fittings that are barbed on one end then flexible hose rated for high heat.

Hey @slaw I see you use an in line filter with your Vibrato US. How have you got it plumbed?

I have had my ADS about 3 yrs now and what I have been doing is changing fluid mix about every 50 albums. I figure it is cheap and keeps the solution at a premium level and cleaner. I have not seen any signs of residue and feel confident they are clean. I do use a Furutech de-stat on each side each time I play along with a the anti static brush.
so far much happier than I was with the VPI 16.5 which in itself is a great machine.

Huh?

I give it a few turns in my SpinClean after the US. 

Audiophilia nervosa is a psychological disorder. There is no vaccine. There is however a foolproof cure. Its called: relax. Realize your system sucks, always has, always will, and there simply is nothing you can do about it, because nothing ever is perfect. That's just the way things are. Situation normal. So: relax.

Distilled water after US cleaning is always a good idea

I use distilled water after a manual scrub, not ultrasonic.

If you are not hearing clicks, static, just enjoyable music, and the stylus is not digging anything out of the grooves, I would not do anything else.

AD is a $4500 machine...

I'm not an owner, but have used it several times, on a few of my "stampers"
I think it's fantastic.

Apparently, it doesn't cure AV(audio nervosa) besides cleaning an LP? Sigh.
Guess I'll wait a little longer for the model that does.

Why hasn't anyone developed an AV vaccine yet? Who's holding back funding for research on this?

If your cleaning solution is anything but pure distilled water, I would rinse with distilled water after cleaning.

No. It works great used according to the instructions.

I've never used an Audio Desk but I do have a Klaudio US machine, which I think is terrific. As an FYI, Klaudio recommends that its machine be used only with distilled water. That has worked very well for me and I've never seen a need for using any additives. My records tend to be reasonably clean to start with, so that may make a difference. YMMV.

Don't forget that there are different grades of purity in distilled waters. The kind you buy at Walmart is not as pure as "laboratory grade" DW. Do some research...

I no longer own an Audio Desk, but when I did I used far less than the full bottle of fluid for each tankful of distilled water. Not to save money, but some people were complaining about foaming as I recall and I figured less is better if it still does the job (reduce surface tension to enhance cavitation effect). 
Records that had been cleaned in the Audio Desk showed water clinging to the surface in way that was different than other records, which suggested to me that some residue of the surfactant from the AD remained. I couldn't hear a sonic signature from the AD fluid, particularly at reduced amounts, but the idea of leaving some chemical on the record did cause me to change my process. On the other hand, I know plenty of people who are very happy with their ADs and I have played records that came from them without a problem. I currently do a rinse cycle using different equipment, but part of that is due to how I prefer to dry the records after an ultrasonic cleaning.