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VPI 16.5 Cleaning Machine - Drying Question

Not sure if this is the right forum to pose this question so moderator, feel free to move to appropriate forum if I'm wrong.
I have a question about the drying of the VPI 16.5 machine. I will try to be brief, but that is not a strong suit of mine. :)
So i have a 16.5 and have had one for about 5 years. I started out using one step cleaning solution and didn't really have any issues other than hearing that multi-step solutions did a better job of cleaning records. I recently bought Disc Doctor Miracle Wash and have been using that in my cleaning process. I normally clean multiple records in one session (2-6 per cleaning session usually).I start by using a small amount of distilled water and use the VPI brush to lightly cover the record and vacuum with wand.Then I use the disc doctor cleaning solution and spread it using a disc doctor brush. Then I vacuum that with a different VPI wand.Then I apply another round of distilled water and vacuum with the original VPI wand and the VPI brush.

I've read to not be sparing when using water for the final rinse I use enough to fully cover the record in water.
After about the 2nd or 3rd lp, I start having some moisture still on the record after the final pass with the wand. I vacuum for two cycles and not more because of the static that can happen for longer vacuuming. The pads on the wand are usually pretty damp to the touch by this point which leads me to believe that is why there is still moisture on the record surface.
I've read other posts that say it should be completely dry and that leaving them out to dry invites dust and whatever to attract to the vinyl, defeating the purpose of the cleaning.
So my question is, am I using too much water? Do I need to alter my process? How much water should be used in that final stage? HELP!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
fitzzy72

Showing 1 response by whart

whart's avatar
whart
3,162 posts
 
When I used a VPI with multi step fluids, I was unsparing in the amount of liquid I used; I suspect the problem is, as @sevs alluded to, the position of the vacuum tube in the upright post. Look up the VPI instructions and experiment a bit; the vacuum slot should be at a slight angle, not perpendicular, to the record surface. (frankly I forget which direction i think the slot should be slightly facing the record, but may be wrong).
I also kept a fresh tooth brush and some purified water by the machine to clean off the vacuum lips during a cleaning session. This also had the effect of stripping off any excess moisture off the wand.
The timing of when you kill the vacuum motor in the process is also a bit of a trick- so that it naturally lifts due to lack of vacuum by the end of the rotation, rather than leaving a line on the record surface where the vacuum lip "stopped" when shut off. It’s been a while since I used the VPI, but I got very good results from it using a two step process- AIVS No 15 and some high grade water, along with two sets of brushes and vacuum wands pre-mounted in the upright posts.
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