VPI Record Cleaning - Does Bidirectional cleaning really make a difference?


I would love to hear from VPI 17F & Cyclone users.  Does the bidirectional motor feature really result in a cleaner record compared to the VPI 16.5?  I am trying to decide which model to purchase. 
vilet
Wrong. This is no substitute for bidirectional motor. And unless the record is very dirty you don't want to scrub it, if you do you push the dirt deeper into the grooves. You move the brush rather gently while applying fluid, agitate a little. And Disc Doctor brush is better than Mo-Fi.
I've had a VPI 16.5 for years. I turn it on and scrub the bejeezus out of the record as it rotates. If necessary, I rinse (vacuum) and repeat. I use my own home remedy for a cleaning fluid. My friends use it too. Its as good as, or MUCH better than anything sold commercially out there. And it costs pennies per gallon of distilled water for the active ingredient. It really gets the gunk out of the bottom of the grooves, doesn't harm the records and really improves the sound. I've cleaned thousands of records this way, and harmed none of them. 
inna,

I have a MoFi brush and two Disc Doctor brushes and they are essentially identical. As for your concern about scrubbing the record with these brushes causing damage is concerned, you seem to be thinking that the bristles of the brush actually can get down into the grooves, or that the dirt is abrasive. Neither of these is really likely, but I will take it under advisement. I have owned my HW-17 since new, purchased in 1990, and have used it on literally thousands of records. None have been hurt as far as I can tell. I think we can agree that the reverse motor feature is nice to have, however, I stand by my original post that it is not essential. As far as cleaning fluid goes here is a recipe that works quite well: 1 gallon of distilled water (pour out 1 pint), 1 pint of isopropyl alcohol (99% if you can get it), 2 drops of liquid dish detergent, mix well.