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Record Cleaning Machines

That's my experience I would like to share, probably the one or the other will benefit:
As a long time VPI 16.5 user, I always thought, the real important thing is the vacuum.
Cleaning fluid needs some time on the record to get into the grooves, helped by scrubbing.
And when 1 wash is not enough, ok, then another one ...

Now I got a Keith Monks RCM and I simply could not believe how much better that one is.
The vacuum with the string, which sucks every grrove is so much better it is hard to describe. No joke, I used records I cleaned* 5x times with my VPI and still had some noise, now it's gone. And, the fluid after the cleaning is DARK.
The improvement in dynamics was not subtle ...
I think, the Keith Monks is rare, really rare and there is another one, which I think is really interesting, it is based on the same system.
The Loricraft.
A excellent choice, too.

Happy listening.

* L'Art du Son
thomasheisig
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
I'd like to confirm Listener57's view of Paul Frumkin's AIVS record-cleaning products. My LPs have never sounded as good or looked as shiny. Really amazing stuff.
loontoon
301 posts
 
I have two, a second one as back up, and to the question on the thread. It is unwound mechanically but the thread is vac'ed into the waste bottle.

The Monks outclasses all other record cleaners by a huge margin.

On fluids, I use: 33% IPA, Double distilled water, a small amount of "Lysol" and a couple of drops of baby shampoo for my old formulation.

No I use Tergitols, and a biocide in water. I think the above formulation works better despite the repeated warnings on alcholh leaching plasticizers.

I am a ChemE, with a lot of chemistry and a fair amount of time in vinyls. It may leach the plasticizer but the residence time on the vinyl is pretty low so I am not concerned. In 30 years I may find it a mistake but for now, it beats wearing them out with dirty grooves.

Build my record cleaning solution at your own risk. The alcohol in my formulatins have been as high as 50%. My reference cleaning disk, Cowboy Junkies, Trinity Sessions, shows no degredation after repeated cleanings and usage.

Yes I clean them every time!!!

loon
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Loontoon,
Thanks for the info on how the KM unspools the thread, and also for your take on cleaning solution safety from someone with knowledge in the field.
4yanx
1,576 posts
 
Loontoon, Doug mentioned earlier in this thread that I had read some material recently on plasticizer leaching in vinyl visa vis some of the ingredients in households cleaners - particularly fragrances. What Doug did not add is that I also mentioned reading about how certain enzymes and enzyme-based cleaners would attack certain plasticizers, including dioctyl phthalate, a dibasic fatty acid, and the most common plasticizer in vinyl. What is your take – leaving the issue of alcohol aside for the moment?
tassiemike
5 posts
 
I am in Australia and it is difficult (and expensive) to buy isopropyl alcohol here and I would like to know if pure ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is interchangeable. Ethanol is both easy to get and very cheap and using it instead would make life much easier.
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