Yet another VPI 16.5 thread


I am considering buying an RCM and am looking at the VPI 16.5. I was looking at some of the threads about it here on A-Gon and I still had some questions.

As best I can tell this thing works by mannually applying the cleaner and the all the machine really does is vacuum it off? Is this correct or is there some other function to the machine? Does it have a resevoir for the used fluid that can them be emptied?

The one thing that concerns me is build quality. There are a lot of people who seem to have them long-term without trouble, but there also seem to be some folks who get them to find wires detached and other QC issues. Does reliability seem to be an ongoing issue with these things?

Finaly, would there be an advantage to spending a little more on somthing like the Sota machine which is a two-arm automatic application setup? The main disadvantage that I can see with automatic application is that it only pumps one kind of fluid, where with a manual machine you can easily use a multi-step process like the Walker system.

Thanks!
grimace

Showing 1 response by thekong

Hi All,

Instead of changing the mat when cleaning the 2 sides of an LP, I am using a throw away LP (after cleaning) as the mat for my VPI 17. Since the mat (LP) is thicker at the lip and the label section, the grooved areas should never touch each other, so there should be no contamination. It works well for me so far.