Thumbs up for ultrasonic record cleaning

@jollytinker

 The one's you mentioned in your previous post.

@slaw - not sure what you mean about "options." can you clarify?

@lwal22

Thanks! Something more to look forward to! As I was hoping for... yummm!

@jollytinker,

You obviously haven’t listened to the options that are readily available to you.?

Despite being submerged, vinyl rejects pure water. Particularly deep in the grooves.  Hence the Library of Congress reccommending surfactant in record cleaning formulas. 
And lots of audiophiles getting good results with a wee bit of Photoflo in the US baths.
does lead to a need for rinsing, but that’s advisable anyway. 

Thumbs up on this - I've been using the Audio Desk Pro myself and I swear by it. It's easy to underestimate the value of convenience IMO. I'm always happy to spend time fooling around with a new toy, but what about a year later? The fact that I can press a button and come back to a sparkling clean record with the Glass cleaner is no small thing. It means I can realistically keep LPs clean and preserve expensive styli over the long term. 

Two caveats though - the expense really is crazy with the high-end cleaners like the Glass and KL. I lucked out on a used model but I can see why many users would opt for having more fuss and less money spent on something DIY.  

Also - and this may sound heretical - but I'm not convinced that ultrasonic is necessarily better than a vacuum cleaner with a top notch fluid. I use Audio Intelligent fluid with a VPI cleaner as a backup or for 10" LPs etc. I have to say the effects of the Audio Intelligent fluid stop me in my tracks more often than the ultrasonic. I haven't done a back to back test so I don't have anything more than anecdotal evidence. but still. 

..just not sure how much the "surface tension " aspect matters while the lp is under water, where the actual cleaning takes place?

@strongarm

I’m not sure what you mean by "broke off some vinyl pieces"? Could you be more specific?

I can only assume by your post that you previously had an earlier version of the AD and now compare that one to the (PRO)? Did they change the khz cycling?

Yes, the "set it and leave " function of the AD is compelling but all of the benefits of a more manual option are more effective and much, much less expensive...and may I say more logical.

I agree that ultrasonic helps, but there is a limit to how strong it should be. I had one that broke off some vinyl pieces.

I am now using the Audio Desk Pro that uses better parts than the first version. It works perfectly and shows no vibration damage as the cleaning water has no black particles. I love it because you put the record in and can leave and return later for a clean and dry record.  

I have no doubt that technically speaking the above post is most likely correct regarding the effectiveness of (spacing). I just go by my ears. As we all know, this hobby is a lot of times based on one's personal, subjective, hearing.

Cheers!

At some point I'll try fluids/cleaners...I'm in no hurry.

Amazing ultrasound!  I’ve rescued 40 year old records from unplayable to like new. 
And, in that I’ve just recently learned the effective way to use my Zerostat, I’m a happy vinyl lover to be sure. 

The bath formula offered by Rushton is very effective, much more so than plain distilled water —which is subject to surface tension problems at the vinyl surface. 

Btw. 40mhz, as most tanks in diy US setups are, results in a wavelength well under 1/2 inch. Mounting records at 1 inch spacing is plenty.  Also it’s important to remember that some of the debris is loosened by the resonant US movement of the vinyl not just the fluid. 

Happy listening, all.

Yes, the Rushton thread. I copied exactly, his recommendations. I only have a different pump in my filtering system as his original one is no longer available. On the DIY Audio thread, he recommends another RV pump that I have. I just got all of these parts in house now for the filtering system and am planning on getting it up and running this weekend?

@williewonka

I do a 30 minute cycle with the heat setting @ 45C, with the Vinyl Stack set at 12volts.

One question - how long do you leave the album in the cleaner?

Thanks

Perhaps referring to the Rushton thread?

Slaw, what is the "Rushton copy"?

@terry9

I’m sure the 1&1/5" spacing is optimal. No doubt. The Vinyl Stack unit that I own and is quite an excellent unit doesn’t allow for this if you use more than two lps. (I happen to most times, clean while I listen, and spacing out two lps on my Vinyl Stack achieves this goal and is more conducive to the listening day in that I can vacuum dry the two previously cleaned lps, in a timely manner in order to go forward to the next two without any (build up) of cleaned lps.

This was a long way in saying, that in spite of my regimen, I’ve tried 4 lps in my 10 liter tank/Vinyl Stack, and I really prefer cleaning two lps at a time, spaced appropriately. I'm taking an extremely long way to say, I agree.

I own an Audio Desk and my Rushton copy is superior in every way even with using plain distilled water.

Good choice! I completely agree with your conclusions. May I make the following suggestions, based on my experience?

1.  Make sure that there is enough space for the ultrasonic wave to develop. That means spacing between the tank and the record, and record to record, must exceed 1.5 inches at all points, even when records are warped (assumes a 40KHz machine operating at full frequency spec).
2.  Keep your cleaning chemistry between 40 and 50 C.
3.  Finish by rinsing off the cleaning chemistry.

When I failed to do one or more of the above, records came out looking clean, but further cleaning revealed that much more gunk had been left behind. Had to re-clean 2000 records, which I do not recommend.

Enjoy!

Come to the dark side.....we have cookies!

@lewm

In my experience, the positive effects are clear and easily heard.

Come on over....there's plenty of room in the fold.

Hi Phil,

Which model did you get? How many records can you clean at one time? Did you get the dryer option? How many records have you cleaned, so far?

Enquiring minds want to know.......

Your ultrasonic cleaner arrived TODAY?  And you're already convinced?  Or maybe I'm a "winer".

Welcome to the fold.

Phil - Thanks for this post - finally a cleaning system that looks like it's a winer!

I've looked at the brush/fluid/vacuum varieties and read countless reviews and still could not decide.

After seeing this video - I was sold!
http://www.soundmattersblog.com/ultrasonic-cleaning-vinyl-records/

If ultrasonics can remove graphite from a ceramic ring (granted the tank is industrial) - then a "personal sized" variant should be able to handle some groove crud.

I got some pressing from the 50's and 60's that should spring back to life

SOLD! - I'm gonna get me one :-)

Cheers - Steve

Absolutely agreed. Once you've cleaned an LP with an ultrasonic cleaner, you realize no other method even comes close.