Vinyl Care

I second the recommendation of a VPI 16.5 cleaning machine.

I had one for almost 15 years and thousands of LP's.

I sold it last year for as much as I paid for it way back when.

The only reason I sold it was to upgrade to something more automated as I've  aged and my arthritis has increased. I now have a Clearaudio Double Matrix Pro Sonic. Yes, it's vastly more expensive, but it works very well.

Different Bill Stevenson.  Common name.  Mine is a VPI 16.  It can be converted to a 16.5, but I never bothered.  The difference is that the latter has the ability to drain the waste fluid from the tank, whereas the 16 just relies on the waste fluid evaporating.  If the machine is used to clean records all the time, draining the tank is a good idea, but if you are only cleaning a few records a week (maybe at the rate of 1 or 2/day) evaporation is ok.  When I reach my home in NH in June it will be available.  $75 plus shipping at cost.

billstevenson

I will probably take it for 75.00.

Please let me know when your ready.

I figured you weren't the same Bill,but you never know.

Back in the early 2000's I used to pick up paper loads in Maine and drive through ME,NH,and VT up into QB and all the way across ON into MI and then down to WI to deliver.

I love that whole area,(although the winters can be ruff)

Thanks,look forward to hearing from you.

awise1961

Thanks for the info.

I guess for now I will be able to get by with a VPI.

I don't have many albums left and will just clean them as I go.

@twangy57: You’ll "probably" take @billstevenson’s VPI HW-16 for $75? Don’t just think about it, do it! That’s one hell of a bargain.

My first vacuum-style LP cleaner was a Nitty Gritty, which I found to be lacking (too many revolutions to completely remove the cleaning liquid, and water drops left on the edge of the LP and in the area near the paper center label). I replaced it with a VPI HW-17, which I found to be quite a bit better. Two revolutions on a VPI and the LP is bone-dry, in some instances only one being necessary. More than two revolutions may create a static charge on the LP.

The major difference between the HW-16 and 16.5 is that the 16 has the suction "wand" built into its plexi-glass dust cover, while the 16.5 has the wand attached to a spring-loaded tube separate from the cover. I believe VPI sells a 16-to-16.5 conversion kit.

The Last brand products may be purchased on the Last Factory website. They sell a Stylus Cleaner in addition to their Stylus Treatment product. The brush is like that in nail polish bottles, with long soft bristles attached to the end of a handle. I prefer the "pad"-style brushes (with short dense bristles), offered by a number of other companies.