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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
billstevenson
477 posts
 

In 1986 I bought a VPI HW-17 in part because it is the unit the Smithsonian uses and I figured if it is suitable for them it must be pretty good and in part because I had worked at a hifi store that had a Monks machine that I found to be difficult and time consuming to use.  But work it did.  Anyway, I still have the HW-17 and it has cleaned literally thousands upon thousands of records.  New brushes and new hoses and new pickup tubes once every few years.  It is now headed for my second home because last month I bought a new MW-1 Cyclone, which I will be reporting on here shortly.  Oh, I also have an HW-16 that works great at my second home and I will probably find a new home for.  These things work, are reliable, VPI has parts and technical support.  It is all good.  One thing though:  They sound like a vacuum cleaner.  You can't have everything.

lewm
13,462 posts
 

Ditto on the HW17. I've had mine since the early 90s. No problems ever except periodically replacing the wand that does the suction and the brushes.  Both of which are sold by VPI at very reasonable prices. It's not quiet, but I have never understood why that matters; I clean my LPs in my basement workshop.  I don't try to listen to music or TV or to my wife while I am cleaning LPs.

dogberry
748 posts
 

My Loricraft PRC-4 Deluxe has lasted 13 years so far and has never gone wrong. Before that I had a VPI 16.5 and found the plastic wands kept cracking and breaking where they plug into the tower. It was a lot noisier too.

drrsutliff
883 posts
 

I used at VPI 16.5 for 9 years with only replacing the tube seals and employing some different brushes.  It is rugged and reliable, but I would not say it is quiet. 

oberoniaomnia OP
155 posts
 

Thanks everybody. VPI gets a solid recommendation. I see one problem: when I take record out of ultrasonic, it is wet on both sides. The VPI has a platter that supports the entire record (12") not just the label. So the platter will get wet every time I put a new record on.

Or is it possible to get a label-size platter? @joenies How do you deal with that as you also do Ultrasonic followed by vacuum?

Re noise, yes, it is a vacuum cleaner. Well understood. What I am experiencing with the PJ is well beyond a vacuum cleaner.

The Loricraft is a bit over the top, IMHO. The point suction arm is of no concern to me after ultrasonic cleaning. And price is also a bit steep.

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