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Rushton's DIY approach to ultrasonic record cleaning published by Positive Feedback

Over the past several months I’ve invested a fair amount of time exploring ultrasonic cleaning because I’ve fallen way too far behind in my record cleaning. With over 6000 LPs, I needed a faster way to clean than my trusted multi-step manual wet/vac cleaning process. That manual process got the best results I’ve ever found, but I was not keeping up with my collection and it is just painful to me to play a record that I’ve not cleaned.

In exploring ultrasonic cleaning, my hope was to find that I could complete multiple LPs in a single US cleaning cycle and greatly speed up my rate of cleaning records. My goals were to FIRST do no harm and then SECOND see how close I could get to the results of my manual cleaning regimen.

My past experiences with ultrasonic cleaning demonstrations were completely underwhelming. What I heard did not approach the excellence I was achieving with my multi-step wet/vac cleaning regimen.

What I’ve learned, and now apply in my new ultrasonic cleaning regimen, are multiple elements to the cleaning process that must be used in combination to achieve the best possible results. And these results have far exceeded my expectations.

I’d thought of posting here on Audiogon the summary of what I’ve learned and am now applying as my new record cleaning regimen, but the inability to post images and to apply formatting here caused me to send my summary to David Robinson at Positive Feedback who has graciously published my comments as a guest essay. Please read that essay, and then come back here to Audiogon with comments and to share your experiences:

http://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/rushton-paul-diy-approach-ultrasonic-cleaning-lps/


I look forward to some further discussion and sharing of experiences.

.


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rushton OP
2,445 posts
 
Very innovative rinse and vacuum drying solution, Spencer! Great to hear of your success with the US cleaning process. Happy New Year!
bcowen
68 posts
 
Agreed.  Pretty clever, Spencer!  If I didn't have a 16.5, I'd be blatantly copying your system for myself. :)
astro58go
542 posts
 
This thread has really evolved....

nkonor,

Does the VPI delrin pickup tube have better performance vs the standard tube?


Regarding the "ole school method" of a lp between to glass plates... I tried it once except I used the sun instead of an oven. Last time I'll use this method. Not willing to sacrifice my vinyl for these sort of tests. I love my Vinyl Flat.

Any Audio Intelligent users out there?

I bought a "Down With Dirty Concentrate" kit recently. I had been using the standard Enzymatic fluid for years along with my method I described early in this thread. I'm getting better results and a much better feel. By feel, I mean, when spreading the fluid with my nylon bristle brush, I get a smoother action, a noticeably improved feeling (visual too) that the fluid is working on all levels. You know, the feel of a quality piece of vinyl, how it looks, how it feels in your hands when you're handling it? Yes, this (new) concentrate is that equivalent. it seems to cling better and have an improved surface interaction.

I had cleaned my Cars "Shake It Up" MFSL a while back using my former AI fluid and my steam, VPI, Audio Desk regimen. I played it again recently and it had several "pops". This is not normal for a MFSL/clean lp. I put it through my same regimen but used the new Down With Dirty Concentrate. The newly cleaned lp was totally silent. It actually looked cleaner. ( I now put a new/newly cleaned lp through a 5 minute cycle on my AD cleaner).

I'm using 15 ml per 16oz. of distilled water. This system can make up to 6 gallons of fluid. For me, with my personal method, this is a no brainer!

Happy Listening!
nkonor
635 posts
 
astro58go,

The delrin tube vacuums the RO water w/o a suffacant at the inner groves and Dead Vinyl better than the stock tube. Definitely quieter now.

My records have been given the best care that I knew how from the beginning.

Most only need the AD and RO rinse.
For Prized Recordings; My method is.
- L' Art du Son spread using VPI and brush; let sit for 4-5 minutes.
vacuum off; Give a rinse with RO and vacuum with delrin tube.
- Cycle through Audiodesk.
- Rinse with RO and vacuum with delrin tube.

I have a Patricia Barber " Live in Paris" that had Nasty tics and pops. Sent to Dave Burton "Record Genie" for a double cleaning with AD and KL machines. Reduced them but did not eliminate them.

My new method has removed the tics and turned the Nasty pops into slight tics. I am happy. Other prized recordings that had slight tics are CD quality quiet now including the runout grooves.

I admit that this method takes time. 20 minutes if I stay focused.Well Worth It for my prized recordings .

Thanks to Rushton for starting this post and to All that have contributed to this thread.

Best Wishes to All on this Journey.
Norb

PS - Dave has a record Flatner now and can provide this service.


nkonor
635 posts
 
astro58go,

Where do you acquire the Down with Dirty concentrate? The L' Art du Son is spendy. Also, I did not keep it refrigerated the first time I mixed it and it grew moldy in the bottle.
Thanks,
Norb
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