Record Cleaners / RCMs


I've been reading with interest in previous posts about how important it is to have a record cleaning machine. I can understand the great importance of cleaning records using the scrub/vaccuum mechanisms of these RCMs if the records are filled with finger prints, or were purchased second hand (and require a deep cleaning) but what about newly purchased vinyl? If one has purchased vinyl new, and has taken extreme care of his records in the past(ie..not touching the playing surface with dirty fingers, lightly cleaning the playing surface with an old discwasher pad, etc) would it be benficial to use an RCM. I've not seen these RCMs up close, but it would appear that the scrubbing and vaccumming of these machines might possibly do more damage than good.

When I purchased my Linn Axis many years ago, I was told by the Linn dealer that one did not need to clean the records (if you didn't smugdge them up with finger prints,etc). He had said the time that cleaning pads such as the discwasher did more damage than good. Armed with that advice, I stopped using the discwashwer as well.

I'm about to bring out my record collection again after storing them the past 15 years. Should I clean them using the discwasher?....or perhaps get an entry level RCM? Or should I continue to do what my Linn dealer told me before and not clean them at all?

I would appreciate your comments.

calgarian
calgarian5355

Showing 1 response by tbg

I long ago owned the Keith Monks record cleaner but sold it when I moved into a smaller house. I then tried the first VPI then the Nitty Gritty. I then went back to a series of VPIs. Then I heard the benefits of the Loricraft. I bought one and did a string of records that had previously cleaned with the VPIs. On listening to them first and then after recleaning with the Loricraft, I decided that all needed to be recleaned.

The vacuum head on the Loricraft where it rides on a string like the Keith Monks keeps the cleaning machine from scratching records as my VPI once did when I somehow got a very small piece of metal stuck in the vacuum head.

The more expensive Loricrafts have greater vacuum power which is tempting I must say. Perhaps this would clean all records in one cleaning.