Suggestions for a Record Cleaning Machine

[Wakefield Turntables]

Guys,

Can you recommend a sub £1k RCM ??

many thanks

[BTH K10A]

Not quite sub £1k but Lorricraft do specials on ex dem machines.

http://loricraftinternetshop.co.uk/page2.html

I use a PR4 and I cannot fault it's ability to remove all the liquid and dirt.

Other than that a couple of friends use Moth machines but they are quite noisy.

Andy

[colinB]

i use an okki nokki, the older model. Does the job well and has a reverse gear but like the Moths its bloody noisy

[hifi_dave]

Moth.

I've used one in a shop environment for over 20 years, it's very effective and never put a foot wrong.

[vinylspinner]

Also Moth,

I use the pro version, noisy, yes, but does the job well at a fair price IMHO.

I tend to clean several albums at one go and then listen to them in the following days. Some good deals from Moth at the moment.

Nigel

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

Guys,

Can you recommend a sub £1k RCM ??

many thanks

I can recommend a method that will cost you very little. It require two record cleaning brushes, WD40 and PVA glue. Put the record on the turntable and lightly spray with WD40, work into the grooves with a record brush. Then pour on a thin layer of the glue and using different brush work into the grooves. Then pour a thicker pancake of the glue to a depth of a couple of mm, so you can't see the grooves, evenly over the grooved area of the disk. Leave to dry overnight while you do others. When dry pick up the edge and the whole thing peels off like a cooked pancake with a mirror image of the grooves on one side and with all the dirt stuck to it.

Sounds daft but it works.

[John]

Why not build one
www.enjoythemusic.com/recordcleaner.htm

[The Grand Wazoo]

Thoroughly recommend the Moth - I've had one for years and swear by it.
The cheapest vacuum machine I know is the Kuzma, which has rocketed in price in the UK since it was first available - now it's not much different from the Moth or Okki-Nokki sort of price.
However, you can snaffle one here (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kuzma-VINVAC-LP-Record-Vacuum-Cleaning-Machine-230V-/280608962666?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item415598f86a#ht_1236wt_1139) for a bit less (just over £300)

For £1000, though, I'd go for the Moth and spend the rest on dirty records!

[Alex_UK]

Thoroughly recommend the Moth - I've had one for years and swear by it.

Yep, I've heard him swear by it - "F*** this thing's noisy!" ;)

The grain of truth in my little bit of fun is that in reality, a lot of the more expensive machines won't do a better job, but some will be quieter, more elegant looking or both - but really, I'd agree with Chris - buy a Moth and save your pennies for more music or your next upgrade on something else. :)

[The Grand Wazoo]

Also bear in mind that some designs have a full diameter platter, while machines like the Moth have a label sized one. This might seem like a cost cutting exercise at first, until you realise that it's a stroke of genius because a 12" platter means that your lovely newly cleaned side 1 is now lying on the same surface that your mucky 'orrible side 2 was just sitting on.

[Stratmangler]

Yep, I've heard him swear by it - "F*** this thing's noisy!" ;)

The grain of truth in my little bit of fun is that in reality, a lot of the more expensive machines won't do a better job, but some will be quieter, more elegant looking or both - but really, I'd agree with Chris - buy a Moth and save your pennies for more music or your next upgrade on something else. :)

And some ear defenders ........:eyebrows:

[The Grand Wazoo]

Believe me boys and girls, that noisy muck-sucking monster sounds a bloody sight sweeter than the sound of my Koetsu skidding across the playing surface of a grotty, grimy disc.

[BTH K10A]

Yep, I've heard him swear by it - "F*** this thing's noisy!" ;)

The grain of truth in my little bit of fun is that in reality, a lot of the more expensive machines won't do a better job, but some will be quieter, more elegant looking or both - but really, I'd agree with Chris - buy a Moth and save your pennies for more music or your next upgrade on something else. :)

It's not quite that simple. The machines like the Lorricraft and Keith Monks do a better job of removing the dirty fluid on the records without pushing the dirt around but medical grade pumps and threaded arms means they don't come cheap. For the money, the Moth is not bad.

[Thing Fish]

Just as a point of interest. How many plays (on average) does anyone think a record can deliver before it need a clean. (Variables like airborne dust aside):confused:

[Stratmangler]

In an ideal world, unwrap it & wash it before you play it -there's mould release agent all over the record from the start.

[Thing Fish]

In an ideal world, unwrap it & wash it before you play it -there's mould release agent all over the record from the start.

I have never preformed such an act?

When I was a small child feverishly clutching my hallowed Cliff 45 never did I once consider mould release or indeed any of their agents?

30 years later all my records play fine including the hallowed Cliff one.

I have never cleaned any of them or seldom used any sort of brush. They all play fine with seldom a pop or a crackle to be heard...:confused:

[Macca]

I have never cleaned any of them or seldom used any sort of brush. They all play fine with seldom a pop or a crackle to be heard...:confused:

It's not the removal of pops and crackles so much as the overall improvement in SQ that results - but it is one of those 'if you have never heard it then you will never miss it' things.

[keiths]

Yep, I've heard him swear by it - "F*** this thing's noisy!" ;)

That's my only complaint with the Moth (well, that and the terrible brush they supply which is only fit for the bin).

This is how loud mine is (at approx 1 metre):

http://www.simister.com/public/rcm_db.jpg

that's 88dB - louder than heavy traffic noise on a busy road, and louder than the 85dB level at which hearing damage can occur over long-term exposure.

I use these foam ear plugs when cleaning records

http://www.simister.com/public/earplugs.jpg

and restrict myself to no more than 1 hour per session.

Even so, if I had a grand to spend I'd still buy the Moth DIY kit plus a KAB discsweep brush and spend the £675 left over on records.

[Macca]

yes I agree with Keith - unless you are absolutely loaded the Moth is totally fine and dandy. It is as loud as a vacuum cleaner so yes it is noisy and I would recommend hearing protection as Keith suggests if you are going to clean more than a couple of records at a time (I'm too lazy to do that;)).

If you can be arsed with the DIY the kit is incredible value for money and I have to say Keith's assembled kit looks better than my storebought version:eek:

[Wakefield Turntables]

guys!

Thanks!!! i love being a member of this forum, you get good honest advice with no bull$hit! So, looks like a Moth! I've got some ear defenders, so I have that angle covered! :lol: Now, does anyone want to sell me one??

[stewartwen]

I too own a Moth.......................damn noisy........but does a great job. It will be up for sale as soon as I have finshed my ultrasonc cleaning machine.