Vinyl Care

I believe that Spin Clean makes a good, manual wet system. You will need to dry the vinyl after cleaning. Also needed will be a anti-static brush and a stylus cleaner. I clean all albums before playing with a wet system and then use the brush for the next 5 or so play before using wet again. You should be able to get all this for under $ 200.00. Nitty Gritty makes a very good wet vacuum, manual system for higher $.

 

You can get a Record Doctor V vacuum LP cleaning machine from Audio Advisor for $199.37. The best two hundred bucks you’ll ever spend! Far superior to the Spin Clean.

 

Mention must be made that VPI makes the most long lived record cleaning machines.  While new ones start in $600 range they often turn up used for reasonable money.  I have a VPI 16 which is old, but works great that I paid $75 for a couple of years ago.  Things like that show up here on Audiogon if you are patient.  

audition__audio

Thanks for the info.

bdp24

I will look into one of these when I get a chance.

Thank you

    
billstevenson
 

Thanks I will look to see if I can find one.

Are you originally from IL?

I started with a VPI. Does a good job, although sounds like a 747 taking off. I now have a German Nessie... expensive, but small and quiet and very automatic. 

An initial cleaning, whether new or use vinyl typically is all you need. Then a quick removal of dust before playing... I use Last General purpose so the applicator picks up the dust. 

If I play an album lots of times (seldom happens to me since I have 2,000) and starts getting pops, I’ll clean on the machine. 

I also use Last preservative after a machine cleaning. But this is reserved for serious vinylists. 

ghdprentice

I only have aprox 120 albums left and about 50% are pretty worn.

I guess the VPI would work for me.

Not clear on the Last General purpose.is this a brand name?

Thanks

twangy57,

I am originally from IL, but left there many moons ago.  Why do you ask?  ghdprentice makes a good point, VPI machines sound like very noisy vacuum cleaners.  That is because they use very big blowers and motors.  That is also why they work so well and last forever.  My first one, bought new in 1986, is an HW17, still works like a champ and I'm taking it up to our home in NH in June.  When it gets there I'll be looking for a new home for my HW16.  Let me know if you still need one then and we'll work something out.  My new one is the very awesome MW1 Cyclone, which I am using daily as I sort thru an 8,000 estate collection.  It is being used to do the heavy lifting and a HumminGuru Nova is being used for the final rinse.  Currently I am cleaning maybe 5, 6, 7, or 8 records a day.  Whatever I find that interests me.  ghdprentice mentioned Last products.  He and I share enthusiasm for them as well.  I use their StyLast and Last Record Preservative.  They are a good company. 

twangy57,

You might want to visit discogs.com some time for used records.  

I also use Last record preservative after cleaning. In fact, treated records even sound a touch better, I did compare a few,

And I use Last tape head preservative with my Nakamichi deck. This is a great stuff, but you have to apply it frequently.

billstevenson

I might be interested in your VPH16.Let me know how much your looking to get for it.,when your ready to sell.

Did you attend Thornwood High School,or work at  Advanced Structural Steel?

I knew a person with same name as you,at school and at the steel co.

Thanks for all the helpful info.

inna

Is there a place you would recommend to buy the Last products?

Thanks

I second the recommendation of a VPI 16.5 cleaning machine.

I had one for almost 15 years and thousands of LP's.

I sold it last year for as much as I paid for it way back when.

The only reason I sold it was to upgrade to something more automated as I've  aged and my arthritis has increased. I now have a Clearaudio Double Matrix Pro Sonic. Yes, it's vastly more expensive, but it works very well.

Different Bill Stevenson.  Common name.  Mine is a VPI 16.  It can be converted to a 16.5, but I never bothered.  The difference is that the latter has the ability to drain the waste fluid from the tank, whereas the 16 just relies on the waste fluid evaporating.  If the machine is used to clean records all the time, draining the tank is a good idea, but if you are only cleaning a few records a week (maybe at the rate of 1 or 2/day) evaporation is ok.  When I reach my home in NH in June it will be available.  $75 plus shipping at cost.

billstevenson

I will probably take it for 75.00.

Please let me know when your ready.

I figured you weren't the same Bill,but you never know.

Back in the early 2000's I used to pick up paper loads in Maine and drive through ME,NH,and VT up into QB and all the way across ON into MI and then down to WI to deliver.

I love that whole area,(although the winters can be ruff)

Thanks,look forward to hearing from you.

awise1961

Thanks for the info.

I guess for now I will be able to get by with a VPI.

I don't have many albums left and will just clean them as I go.

 

@twangy57: You’ll "probably" take @billstevenson’s VPI HW-16 for $75? Don’t just think about it, do it! That’s one hell of a bargain.

 

My first vacuum-style LP cleaner was a Nitty Gritty, which I found to be lacking (too many revolutions to completely remove the cleaning liquid, and water drops left on the edge of the LP and in the area near the paper center label). I replaced it with a VPI HW-17, which I found to be quite a bit better. Two revolutions on a VPI and the LP is bone-dry, in some instances only one being necessary. More than two revolutions may create a static charge on the LP.

The major difference between the HW-16 and 16.5 is that the 16 has the suction "wand" built into its plexi-glass dust cover, while the 16.5 has the wand attached to a spring-loaded tube separate from the cover. I believe VPI sells a 16-to-16.5 conversion kit.

 

The Last brand products may be purchased on the Last Factory website. They sell a Stylus Cleaner in addition to their Stylus Treatment product. The brush is like that in nail polish bottles, with long soft bristles attached to the end of a handle. I prefer the "pad"-style brushes (with short dense bristles), offered by a number of other companies.

 

Yeah, I bought Last directly from them, and even talked to the owner - he was a big tape fan. I didn't try his Stylus cleaner, I use Lyra with seemingly excellent results.

bdp24

I will buy it,but he's not going to sell it until he moves in June.

thanks.

New Stylus Shapes contact areas of the grooves of old worn LPs that prior spherical and elliptical shapes did not contact, thus the content is there!.

It is important to get all the gunk out of the bottom of the grooves of old LPs, like mine from high school and college days (I'm 76 now). 

I use a strong mix, manual vigorous scrub with baby scalp brush, rinse with distilled water, batches of 10 at a time

It is amazing how much better they sound. IOW, Vigorously clean them before you buy new versions.

 

elliottbnewcombjr

I have done this in the past.

I had a keg party back in the 70’s and a bunch of records got a pitcher of beer spilled on them,which I didn’t discover until the next day.

Unfortunately I was young and dumb and used dishwashing detergent,which left a haze all over them.

When you say a strong mix,what ingredients are you using?

Oh,I also recently purchased a McIntosh MX110,I believe that’s what you have there in the background.

One other question,where can I go to read reviews on good vinyl recordings,I might want to purchase?

Thanks

 

Welcome to the madness! 

Record cleaning is almost a religion onto it's self. You will learn fast, that records are the cheapest part of this hobby. 

Keeping the needle clean is the most important thing. Nothing sounds worse then a dirty needle. Also it's very easy to destroy a needle cleaning it. Done it twice already myself. Generally, you get a brush, pull the brush towards you from the back of the turntable. Or you can get a little ultrasonic needle cleaner, or the sticky goo cleaners. Picked up a ultrasonic myself, it works wonderfull! Just needs a bit of distilled water. Use the same source as my ultrasonic record cleaner.

On to records. Usually, first you dry brush all the surface stuff off. Then do a wet clean, or dump into a ultrasonic/vacuum cleaner. For used records, they get dry brushed, then a manual wet wash, then go into the ultrasonic. After that get put into nice new clean rice paper sleeves. 

Chemicals for me I use all Groovewasher stuff. I trust it, not overly expensive. In my ultrasonic cleaner, I use like 6 drops of US cleaner per gallon of distilled water. 

Usually clean records in batches, it takes over my kitchen with brush, wet clean, UC clean, re-sleeve. Usually do around 6-8 records per hour. 

On my setup, there are no pops, hisses, static, very dark background. When they do start to make any noise, they get cleaned again in the US. 

@mswale said, "Record cleaning is almost a religion onto it’s self."

I’ll never make cleaning records a hobby!

@twangy57 

If you don't want to wait until you can get a VPI, you might consider a Nitty Gritty or Record Doctor vacuum record cleaner.  My Nitty Gritty 1.0 still works like new after over 30 years.  It does take 3 manual turns to remove all the cleaner.  I'm currently using MoFi liquid cleaners, but I've never been convinced that one cleaner is better than another.  But perhaps the MoFi have an edge in that they leave less residue.  You can test this by placing a drop of cleaner on a horizontal mirror and see how much residue is left after it evaporates.

I use a Zerostat anti-static gun and then an Oracle carbon-fiber brush to clean each record before play.  (The Oracle may be unobtainium, but many use a Hunt Decca carbon-fiber brush or other brands.) It's also helpful if you use rice-paper sleeves to lower static charge on the record. Whatever sleeve you use, if you cut open two sides so it can be opened like a book, that will also reduce static.  I use LAST preservative on my LPs, and I think this also reduces the static charge on some.  (Static charge increases dust adherence to the vinyl, so it's very important to reduce it, especially if the humidity is low in your listening room.)  Many of my records play so quietly, you'd be hard pressed to tell they're vinyl.  Unfortunately, a lot of US '70s vinyl was of inferior quality, so they may never be that quiet.

The good thing about many rock LPs is that the music is so uniformly loud, that surface noise is less audible during the music.

I use a vinyl vac (wand attachment for a vacuum cleaner) and a lazy susan after i wet clean with Audio Intelligent Premium One Step.  all in like $80.

mswale

Wow,that's a lot of steps.

I will only be doing the few albums I still listen too.

I do want to take care of my stylus and cartridge though.

Is there a place I can get all theses supply's?

I want to start with the brush and stylus cleaner.

Thanks

drmuso

I'am just going to wait for the VPI,as I don;t have many albums that I listen too.

Where can I get a anti static gun,that is something I need?

I was just wondering last night,why a album that I was playing that is almost new,starts out sounding good and ends up with a lot of crackling by the end of the album.

Thanks

leemaze

So this wand attachment,is something made for this purpose?

Where would I find one?

Thanks

Had the original Record Doctor years ago and kept it for 20 years and sold it with all the Accessories for it. If you don't mind the noise and spinning manually, and once you become comfortable using it, it's a value performer.

 

 

 

slaw

Thanks,I'll give it a look.

I ended up buying a Hunninguru ultrasonic cleaner (400-500).  If cleanes and drys a record in 5-7 minutes depending on how dirty it is.  I can take a record cleaned by hand and play it and it still has noise.  Run it through the ultrasonic and it plays like new.  I am very pleased.  It is slower than the VPI 16 if you’re cleaning lots of records but I just clean the next record in the cue and all is good.

From what I understand from so called experts is for ultimate clean you need ultrasonic and the VPI

Perhaps I should weigh in again.  It is HumminGuru.  I have one of their 2nd generation Nova machines and I use it in conjunction with my new VPI MW-1 Cyclone.  The VPI does the heavy cleaning and the HG does the final touches.  This is way beyond the scope of what twangy57 needs.  He has a bunch of old records that might have beer, coke, peanut butter and jelly, cobwebs, dust and grit, and what not on them.  He needs scrub-a-dub, not a nuanced for precious new audiophile records approach.  Finally, for those who really want to really learn all there is to know at the current time about cleaning vinyl records, google Neil Antin and get his book on cleaning vinyl records, now in the 3rd edition.  It is free.  It has all the information, based on science, not the opinion of some nut case wallowing in delusions caused by sniffing the fumes of his misbegotten alchemy.

@twangy57 

It's not as bad as it sounds. But once you start listening to clean records, you will never be able to enjoy a dirty one! 

https://www.groovewasher.com 

Just get the big kit with all the stuff. It will handle all your needs. 

triton20trx

Are you saying the Hunninguru cost between 4-500$?

Thanks

billstevenson

Thanks Bill,I will look for that book when I get serious about it.

I don't think I will bother cleaning most of my old records because a lot of them were giving to me in bad shape(scratches and such),and I really wouldn’t listen to most of them anymore just because of the music it self.

I will clean the newer albums I have bought the last few years,these are in almost new condition because my turntable went out just after I bought them.

Just let me know if and when you want to sell me your old VPI.

Thanks again,

Yes, that is a McIntosh mx110z tube tuner preamp. I designed a ventilated equipment surround/stand to stack a heavy amp independently over it. Here the preamp slides out without disrupting the amp above.

photos of the stand here

I bought it used and had it renewed by Audio Classics, I would get another in an instant if it died. I get remote volume and remote balance from a Chase Remote Line Controller RLC-1. My Cayin Integrated Amp also has remote volume but not balance.

I love the sound of mx110z’s MM Phono, so I use a SUT with 3 inputs for my MC Cartridges, PASS for MM, and just changed two of my 3 tonearms and acquired 4 vintage cartridges with line contact profiles on beryllium cantilevers.

Former, only 1 removable headshell

Just installed repaired JVC Victor 11-1/8" ua-7082 on right side and Jelco SA-250 on left side, now 3 removable headshells, involved USA, Japan, Australia, Germany, Canada

 

 

 

manual scrub of dirty records, once, then just wipe the paper dust off each play. Amazing how much better they sound.

 

fluid: I use the fluid they send you in the kit, add alcohol, add a few drops of jet dry dishwasher rinse stuff, then only distilled water in the spinner, batches of 10.

 

 

baby scalp brush for vigorous scrub.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Scrubbie-Sterile-Cradle-Sponge/dp/B005EJ7YH4/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2ZKWP8JJ0IMDH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6wYccsJXCZ1Ezmiyx0LsZoTh5epi_GQk7K8B06w4Hvh3UHEKQOBOOSmg3Cg0kc-ONX935g6rwv0GJRAr-_plgx9ypsSwqo69FkH-lnDDlixdfEtBCop5zRUarglyif-rK9sA73hg-FFu4XW0JXqmLClCzBmwdSxuQqjHoAtlKNeRIowReK_1ft5DBRINHwCPNWDTvBd3y72-pqzM3vzmtGpDtCtvWMre8pyOkQUsX3ZfipHpqZxMODPJr8_ZpM8_eLC19KpeUEj0tRud5eZgPdNZzyloOODACJ1bUJUuRUM.t0VdV2uK2orOlo__chGBs7HOLGlOd9zaSrabP-Li1Eo&dib_tag=se&keywords=baby+scalp+brush&qid=1715170666&sprefix=baby+scalp+brush%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

 

lid from Chinese soup container to protect paper label

 

rinse with distilled water only in the spinner.

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MP88FX6/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07MP88FX6&pd_rd_w=TM5sF&content-id=amzn1.sym.d81b167d-1f9e-48b6-87d8-8aa5e473ea8c&pf_rd_p=d81b167d-1f9e-48b6-87d8-8aa5e473ea8c&pf_rd_r=QQY9TH2BPDCN34XCQKQ3&pd_rd_wg=kIRI8&pd_rd_r=a96d94d1-5eae-4ac1-a9f8-75a5638b6910&s=electronics&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM

 

 

 

 

I don’t like pushing down into the grooves with microfiber brushes after they are thoroughly clean, so I use this type brush to simply move surface dust over to the edge and off each play.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRJPDY19?ref_=ppx_hzod_title_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1_0

LP recommendations

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/building-a-100-album-vinyl-collection-3-must-have-albums-are

 

Some great recommendations so far. 
 

I tried the RD, and found it lacking. 
I ended with a Pro-Ject vacuum unit. 
Wet application with stock brush is lacking, but I got a stuffer brush form another big brand (can’t remember), and feel I can dislodge even heavy dirt. 
I use a carbon fiber brush before and after each play for daily maintenance. 
one rescues some messy used records with this system. 
 

@twangy57 

tI think Music Direct may stock anti-static guns, maybe even the Zerostat.  You might also look on eBay--there may be used ones there.  Just make sure there's a return privilege in case it doesn't work.  You can hear, feel and even smell (ions) when they do work.  Also, they used to come with a little attachment with a small light that would light in response to pulling the trigger of a working gun.  You can test static easily by taping a bit of styrofoam to a thread and watch if it is attracted to the vinyl.

@twangy57 

Both MusicDirect.com and AudioAdvisor.com have good selections of cleaning solutions, brushes, stylus cleaners, etc.

And MusicDirect.com has the Zerostat for $99 on sale now.  

- Jeff

elliottbnewcombjr

Cool system,I love the beautiful bright room too.

I have a question,I did not see did you give a link for that volume control device,I would love one of those.

Another question,are you using more than one tone arm at the same time on the same record,if so why?

Thanks

jwillox

Thank you,I will use the discussion as a reference when proceeding.

drmuso

Thanks ,great info.I could use it on my noisy guitar pick guards too.

I use unscented dryer sheets now.

jeffbij

thank you,I will make a list after I go over everything.

Peter Lederman from Soundsmith told me how to clean stylus. He said do not use a dry brush. Pick up that blue clay type product that is used to hold poster board to walls and comes off clean. 

I found it at hardware store, Loctite Fun Tak.

Form a small column about 1 inch high and stick it to a quarter.

Place next to headshell and dip stylus onto top of column a few times before each use. After several "dips" of stylus, remold the Fun Tak so a clean surface is formed.

His carts cost in the thousands so I follow his advice.

Consider using the Last Record Cleaning system.  I started using it on my records in the late '60's (55-60 yrs ago..wow) and those records still sound as new.  Use the preservative before first play, then use the cleaning fluid every 3-5th time you play the record.  No expensive machinery required, either.

 

bikefi10

Very interesting approach,I like it.

Thank you 

theaudiohiffle

I will look into to that one also.

Thank you