We Vinyl Ultrasonic or Vacuum Cleaner?

@willy-t Have you ever tried the Loricraft machines? 

In your experience, does the Elmasonic P60H clean records to the point where there are zero clicks or noise and as good or sounding better than the best vacuum machines like the Loricraft?

Do you use only distilled water to clean your old and new records? Or add a specific cleaner to the water.

I've read that some people are concerned that ultrasonic cleaners can actually microscopically alter/damage the grooves but I have no idea if that is true. Thx

how does the OkkiNokki work? You place a dirty record on its turntable, wash one side and vacuum it. Side 1 is now clean. You then repeat it for side 2. That requires flipping a record and now your clean side is in contact with a dirty turntable. In addition the vacuum will scratch your record if there’s a debris that’s lodged in its felt strip. Or m I missing something? 

I use a very simple method - two tubs of knosti disco antistat.

Step 1 - wash in a solution of tergikleen and distilled water

Step 2 - rinse in a second tub filled with distilled water

Step 3 - air dry using supplied rack 

I would use ultrasonic, then rinse in distilled water and air dry. There’s no perfect way to clean a vinyl record. Just a different degree of risk in damaging it. 

@audphile1 The Okki Nokki has a choice between small and large platters. I use the small one that supports in the label area. Roughly 4 inches across, the same size as the clamp. The vinyl grooves touch nothing. 

Even the used albums I buy are free from pebbles and twigs, so there is nothing of significance that is going to be caught in the felt. I have owned a VPI for years and years, and never once had a scenario you concocted come up. The user can lift the wand out of the machine, and inspect and rinse the felt pad you know. 

My decision to use a vacuum dry process is two fold. One its much quicker, and gets the vinyl drier. If you leave a record out long enough to air dry, you are allowing dust to deposit again. My ultrasonic machine has a fan dry stage, and that works well, but that is still time consuming. 

Secondly, I am not convinced that all particulate is pulled off a record in an ultrasonic bath, or that a small amount does not flat and redeposit when the record is removed from the bath. A final rinse and vacuum step removes that possibility. 

@neonknight ah that makes sense with a smaller label size platter on the OkkiNokki. I was going to mention Pro-Ject machine that uses a label size platter but sounds like you got that aspect covered. I agree about ultrasonic potentially leaving some garbage stuck in grooves. I’d just use the okki with good solution and a brush. Vacuum it and enjoy a new record. 

@neonknight 

I would find a good carbon fiber brush, not like those audioquest ones and all their clones. I used to like the Hunt EDA MK6 but MusicHall bought the rights to produce it and goofed it up! I don't know if they corrected the problem since because I never bought another one. I replaced that brush with an Ersa Major which is just seven rows of carbon fiber bristles in a solid aluminum and hardwood handle. Combine something like it with a silicon roller to use on new records. I know there is a lot of chaff on new records from the inner and outer sleeves but its easily removed with the above implements. Don't believe the lore about mould release or residues from the stamping process because you're dealing with images as small as a micron or less cut in to the lacquer that if there were any foreign matter were present on the stamper it would create intolerable levels of noise. The only thing that's going to reach down into the groove and bring foreign matter to the surface is your stylus and is easily removed with the silicon roller after a side is played. Clean your stylus before every play and give the stylus one swipe with the dry stylus brush before playing the second side.

As for used records get a Spin Clean, follow the manufactures instructions implicitly and only use the products included in the package as well as only distilled water. Clean the brushes thoroughly under warm running water after every use and allow to air dry. Discard the distilled water/cleaning solution when you're done. If your unit comes with the large bottle of cleaning solution, it'll probably last for decades.

You don't have to go overboard because vinyl is inherently quiet!