2. analog
  3. 193897-192353

Durable record vacuum cleaner recommendation?

I am looking for a durable record vacuum machine. Any recommendations?

Ideally will also do 10" and 7", and be on the quieter side. Should be able to handle some volume without breaking.

Background: my Project VC-S is busted; vacuum motor got noisy to 95dB at 1 m, a bit much, IMHO. ~$250 motor part with no returns and no guaranteed compatibility is a non-starter. This is already a replacement unit for one with bad gears for the platter. So Pro-ject is out of the running.

In the last couple of months, I used the unit quite a bit (around 1K records vacuumed) as I got an ultrasonic and go through my entire collection.

Thanks for any leads and recommendations, particularly if you have run a few thousand records through your unit with no issues.

oberoniaomnia

Showing 2 responses by bdp24

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,208 posts
 

 

There's a real nice VPI HW-17 for sale right now on USAM, priced at $475.00. The HW-17 weighs a ton, so shipping won't be cheap.

 

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,208 posts
 

 

I have used a VPI HW-17 for many years. Yes it’s quite noisy, but it works splendidly. If you are looking for a vacuum machine only to remove any cleaning (or rinsing) fluid from your LPs, the Pro-Ject line of vacuum machines may be a better choice. That is because they have a support platform only as big as the paper center label on the LP, not the entire LP. That platform does not provide support to the entire LP as one scrubs the LP using a cleaning brush.

I see @lewm has advised against supporting only the center label area of the LP whilst (a British term I love smiley) cleaning or drying, and I agree with him about supporting the entire LP during cleaning. However, for vacuuming the LP dry I don’t see why an LP can’t be supported only in the area of the center label. That’s how the Pro-Ject vacuum machines operate 

 

If you want a vacuum machine that supports the entire LP---both the VPI HW-16.5 and HW-17 do, you can buy a cork mat from VPI or any number of other companies and use it thusly:

Place the second mat (no pun intended wink) on the HW-16.5 or HW-17, then clean & vacuum dry the first side of the LP. Remove the LP and second mat (that mat may now be considered dirty) and place the cleaned side of the LP directly onto the HW-16.5/17’s stock cork mat. Scrub and dry the second side, and Eureka!, you have a clean LP!

 

The HW-17 features two capabilities not found on the HW-16.5:

- The 17 provides both clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of the platter, the 16.5 spinning only clockwise. Some people like to clean and/or dry the LP in both directions, not one.

- The 17 features a nice brush which swings out over the platter, dispensing onto the LP any fluid you have poured into it’s internal reservoir, the 16.5 does not. You can fill the 17’s reservoir with distilled water if you so choose, using the brush only to dispense rinsing water and spread it around the LP. You can do so after having used a separate handheld brush to apply any cleaning fluid you wish. Cleaning fluids may be dispensed from a bottle, the HW-17’s reservoir reserved for distilled water.

 

More to discover