Record cleaning machines

[baron]

As I am getting most of my records from charity shops I'm thinking of getting a record-cleaning machine. A Keith Monks would be great but is a bit pricey I feel. Has any one used the Okki Nokki or the Moth machines? Or is there another machine I should be considering?

[Sand Dancin Donkey Walker]

Hi Philip

I have and use a VPI 17.5 Had this machine for quite a few years now, always been reliable and gets quite a bit of use. It's one of the bits of kit I wouldn't sell. Works very well on used records and always worth running new records throught it too, you will be surprised at the results.

The one thing you don't see to many of, is 2nd hand record cleaning machines. Is that because there are not too many sold or people tend to keep hold of them once bought?

Wouldn't be without mine, so depending on budget, I suppose something would be better than nothing.

Andy - SDDW

[Sgt.Pepper]

The Okki Nokki is a very basic machine and a bit noisey but the results speak for themselves :

[baron]

Thanks Andy & Paul for the replies.

[The Grand Wazoo]

I've got a Moth.
I'd echo everything said by others.
A machine at first seems expensive, but it opens up a situation where you can buy 2nd vinyl pretty much with impunity. Suspect it may also extend the life of your cartridge (not least because you'll be cleaning it less & therefore risking an accident less frequently).

The subject has been covered a couple of times on AoS to my knowledge. I can only find one of them.

On this one, we finally got round to machines.............
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2286

[baron]

Thanks for the link Chris, I missed that one.

[twelvebears]

All this talk of record cleaning has now got me pondering....

Records owned by me from new are completely mint (not withstanding the fact that even these would probably be worth cleaning), however most of my 'new' discs are now sourced from either eBay, the closing down stock of Beanos (famous s/h record store from my old stomping grounds, though now 60+ miles away) or other s/h sources, all of which mean generally grubby records.

Basically a cleaning solution is essential and I can't decide what to do. Realistically, I don't own enough vinyl to justify a serious investment in an expensive machine (or rather I'd like to but it doesn't have the required WAF) and I have been using, and getting pretty good results from, an old fashioned Discostat washing system.

I suppose what I'm wondering is, whether it's worth paying £2 per disc to get them cleaned properly, as there are several companies which use a Keith Monks machine, and at £2 per disc, the records I currently own wouldn't even run to the cost of a basic Moth at the moment.

Anyone got any views/suggestions?

[Sand Dancin Donkey Walker]

Hi Steve

Forgot about the Disco anti-stat. I started off with one of those. Very good indeed, well worth keeping to use.

I'm sure someone in the London area would volunteer to clean your records at nominal cost.

An alternative would be to share the cost of a machine between, say 2 or 3 of your mates or forum colleagues. This would be a cost effective way of getting good results from a cleaning machine.

If you are stuck, and wish to see how good a VPI machine is and you supply new inner sleeves, I would clean a few for you, all you need to do is cover the postage costs.

Does that help?

Andy - SDDW

[twelvebears]

I think I may take you up on that offer, or Marco if he's feeling kind. ;-)

All my records end up in new Nagaoka inner sleeves, but I'd be very interested to see the difference it makes to both a particularly grubby example (one I've bought, not one of my own!) and one which I consider to already be clean.

I must confess that given the fuss involved with using the Disco Anti-stat (it works well but is only worth bothering with to clean a rack full of discs), plus the thought that gunge could be left drying in the groves, the Okki Nokki is starting to look tempting.....

[Marco]

I think I may take you up on that offer, or Marco if he's feeling kind. ;-)

Hi Steve,

I'm sure Andy or I could help. I'm currently cleaning some for Dave ('Dave & Sue'), so a few more for you wouldn't be a problem. Just PM me if you're interested

Philip,

I see Chris has linked to the record cleaner thread which I contributed to in some detail. If you feel that there's anything else you'd like to know just ask!

Marco.