Ultrasonic record cleaners

What does it mean when you say that an ultra sonic record cleaning machine is “laboratory grade”? Is that just a euphemism for “expensive”?

drbond, You have a point about the fact that I do my cleaning in a conventional VPI RCM. And I guess I take the point of antinn that using 25% IP alcohol in a heated US cleaning tank might be dangerous, although that surprises me. However, the fact remains that such a low concentration of isopropyl alcohol as you propose is unlikely to help much, in my opinion. By the way, because of the low concentration of Photoflo as you propose to use it, I have to think that I was being overcautious in mentioning the undesireable additive, which antinn names as propylene glycol. However, antinn seems to agree that other surfactants might work better, e.g., Tergitol. Sorry for any confusion, otherwise.

Can it be cheaper than Magi Eraser?

Drbond, my only comments on your latest routine are (1) I would replace Photoflo with Triton X100 or Tween20, because Photoflo has some additives you don’t want, and (2) one ounce of isopropanol in 6L is not going to do anything, especially at 35 degrees which will hasten its evaporation. I use a standard mix that includes 25% isopropanol/water, for one example.

So maybe your US RCM is superior to the one I used for my little comparison. My VPI certainly removes a lot of gunk based on looking at the effluent from its waste tank.

Who among us has first cleaned an LP in a conventional RCM, listened to it, and then cleaned the same LP again, in a good US machine, and then listened to it again?  I have done the experiment with a few LPs that seemed to resist conventional RCM cleaning, to no avail; the US machine was not a revelation.  Before investing thousands in a good US machine, it is best to understand the limitations of LP cleaning.  It cannot undo prior mistreatment or groove damage.

If you are cleaning used LPs of indeterminate history, be advised that some LPs just don't get any better even with a good cleaning, which the VPI HW16 is capable of, if used correctly (I don't know what is in your cleaning solution, for example).  I use a VPI HW17, and I have found that a rinse with distilled water, after having used a cleaning solution of water + isopropyl alcohol + Tween20, is very beneficial.  But otherwise, some LPs just don't respond.  I've tried cleaning noisy LPs a second time with a US machine, usually with no better results.  US machines can work fine, but they don't repair damaged LPs.