I now clean records for other vinyl friends from Spin a group of people who meet on Sundays to listen to music. I would have no issues with cleaning records for people in the Boston area if they were interested. There would be a cost but low. This would also be a way to meet new people into the same hobby and that's a good thing. Meeting other people in to this hobby around the Boston area seems more difficult. There are no groups other than Spin that I know of like I see in other states.
As stated earlier shipped records I would not be interested. |
That's a great idea Hevac1. We're down to only one high end audio store in the area and it's 45 miles away.. Used to have several nice ones years ago. |
Now I want to try and make an ultrasonic cleaner, lol.....and it starts.....Also noticed a Sota for a great deal. Sota vs 16.5????? OUCH, lol. |
Ctsooner:
You can buy bench top ultrasonic cleaners large enough to dip LP's into for a few hundred dollars instead of paying several thousand. No automatic rotation of the LP but you could rig up something or just turn them by hand.
Just make sure you take into account the size of the LP, the width and distance up to the label (because you don't want or need to dunk past the label) and how deep the tank's max limit of liquid is to make sure an LP will fit before you buy.
There are no such things as magical ultrasonic bubbles made just for LPs. No matter what the marketing dept. of the LP cleaners say.. Ultrasonics are ultrasonics. I have one in my shop and keep meaning to clean it out and try it out with some distilled water and will one of these days. I use it to clean tools, parts, etc. and wouldn't want to dunk an LP in that stuff.. I'm using a cheap $20 clothes steamer on my LPs right now and it does a great job. |
thanks. I have seen the DYI sites and the 6.5L tank seems best so far. I also saw a 30 motor to use to turn it at the correct times. I read where a 60hz is better than the 40hz. Not sure about that, but the 40 is a lot less money. My wife is teh endorsed insurance agent for the CT State Dental Association so I will ask a few dentists to see if they have the right size and want to sell to upgrade, lol. You never know. I love that idea to clean though. Big believer in ultrasonic cleaning. thanks. |
I own a KL Audio ultrasonic and a Loricraft
I will encourage my local audio club members to bring lps over the next audio club meeting at my house
I am not letting someone take it home however |
I have a slightly used ultrasonic tank that will fit 1/2 an LP which I would be willing to part with for $50 bucks. I think it cost me a few hundred new but I found it did no better job than my Loricraft and was more work because I still had to suck the liquid off with the Loricraft.
I clean my records before every play. I guess that might be a little anal but I don't mind and it gives me peace of mid to know that an almost irreplaceable original issue Blue Note from the 1950's is in the best shape it can be. |
I go back and forth as it's what I do, lol. Interesting take on the ultrasonic tank. I wondered about letting them air dry and thought that would be a pain eventually. Does repeated cleanings harm the vinyl over time? Do you need to put anything on them like Last or products like that? What's funny is that no one talks about cleaning the stylus. I still have a discwasher stylus cleaner in the basement I think. Are these good or will they harm the cartridge? I'm thinking I'll probably just go with a vacuum cleaner.
I hope folks aren't upset that I've hijacked this thread as it wasn't my intent, but it's all kind of related. VPI 16.5 or Sota or Nitty Gritty? Let's pretend they are all the same price. Which Nitty Gritty if you go that route? Thanks. |
Jyprez I would be interest in purchasing that from you.
I have some ideas but need what you have to see is they will work.
Now to try to figure out how to but. |
Ctsooner:
After I clean mine with steam I have them hanging in front of a fan to dry. They dry quickly. Just make sure you don't stir up any dust behind the fan. You can do a visual inspection when they dry.
As far as stylus cleaning, if the stylus gets a tiny fuzz ball on it it will effect the sound of course. Things can happen even with good cleaning practices. I will use the dry stylus brush occasionally. |
Ctsooner:
As far as how often to clean, I'd say as long as the method you use doesn't cause undue wear itself it's up to you how often you want to clean them. Jyprez says he cleans his every time and that's his choice. I don't clean mine that often but that's just how I do it.. As far as coatings and such I don't like to add stuff that can possibly build up down inside the grooves. That's why I favor steam and ultrasonics for cleaning. And again, that's my choice.
Always keep in the back of your mind when you see a new product that in marketing, the number one rule is to create a need for your product. So many times manufacturers will turn a non-issue into a seemingly plausible theoretical solution to a 'problem' you didn't know you had, just to sell you their products.. Just try to maintain a little common sense as you navigate through the world of hype we're inundated with daily.. |
Oh, I used to teach sales, lol. I'm fully aware. I still use the advise of John at Audio Connection and a couple of other friends whom I trust. Most are still into vinyl, but their systems are out of my reach, lol. |
I will post my ultrasonic cleaner on A'gon this weekend for sale with photos. |
Were I to have a robot who would ask me each listening session "What LPs will you be listening to?" and then check them as to whether they need cleaning and, if so, do it, I would be one happy man. Presently as close as I can get is to use the Audio Deck Vinyl Cleaner on each new or used LP that comes in and to visually check LPs as I select them. Those that need it are put into my adjacent bathroom on the Vinyl Cleaner and started, the door close to the bathroom and I start playing the clean selected LPs. At some point, I fetch and play the now clean LP. |
Screw record cleaners.. I've got to have one of those robots Tbg is talking about! |
Fantastic idea. I'm in Toledo, Ohio: 43606, near university. |
Using Kl Ultrasonic its the best but nobody can use it but me. |
The best results I have gotten, to date, using various machines, fluids, etc is pre-cleaning a record, then wash in KL, and vac dry on the Monks. The only 'issue' is that KL cautions against removing a wet record from its machine, b/c water can drip into its electronics; thus, using a DIY US makes sense here, combined with a cheaper point nozzle- perhaps a used Loricraft. |
