audio-love-machine Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 I'm looking for a good record cleaner. Any recommendations? Budget is about $100-$400. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eman Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 I have a Project vacuum with L'art du Son liquid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrology Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 40 minutes ago, audio-love-machine said: I'm looking for a good record cleaner. Any recommendations? Budget is about $100-$400. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks guys! Short of secondhand, you're not going to find much in that price range. The "go to" in the economical end of the scale (your budget) would probably be the old favourite "Spin Clean" or "Disco Antistat" which are better than doing no cleaning, but they do have major disadvantages too. Save your money and buy something like the Humminguru US machine, it will serve you well and you will be glad you did. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 I got a secondhand Record Doctor V for under $200 a few years ago. A basic vacuum cleaner, not the best thing under the sun, but something like that is probably what you are looking at with that budget. Definitely better than my previous spay and wipe or sink cleaning methods, and I would guess better than Spin Clean style cleaners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audio-love-machine Posted January 28 Author Share Posted January 28 12 minutes ago, Monty said: I got a secondhand Record Doctor V for under $200 a few years ago. A basic vacuum cleaner, not the best thing under the sun, but something like that is probably what you are looking at with that budget. Definitely better than my previous spay and wipe or sink cleaning methods, and I would guess better than Spin Clean style cleaners. Thanks Monty. I'm honestly looking at putting in the elbow grease and washing records by hand. Any good methods for doing this? I've just bought a Pro-Ject brush for like $30 delivered. 27 minutes ago, Hydrology said: Short of secondhand, you're not going to find much in that price range. The "go to" in the economical end of the scale (your budget) would probably be the old favourite "Spin Clean" or "Disco Antistat" which are better than doing no cleaning, but they do have major disadvantages too. Save your money and buy something like the Humminguru US machine, it will serve you well and you will be glad you did. The Humminguru looks nice, and it's quite reasonably priced, but I'd rather explore getting the most out of the manual 'elbow grease' cleaning methods before splurging on something like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrology Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 3 minutes ago, audio-love-machine said: Thanks Monty. I'm honestly looking at putting in the elbow grease and washing records by hand. Any good methods for doing this? I've just bought a Pro-Ject brush for like $30 delivered. The Humminguru looks nice, and it's quite reasonably priced, but I'd rather explore getting the most out of the manual 'elbow grease' cleaning methods before splurging on something like that. How many records do you have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audio-love-machine Posted January 28 Author Share Posted January 28 1 minute ago, Hydrology said: How many records do you have? I have about $150-200 records and a Thorens TD-160 turntable. To put things in perspective: I've paid a little under $600 for everything I own. I refuse to spend big on vinyl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrology Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 Just now, audio-love-machine said: I have about $150-200 records and a Thorens TD-160 turntable. To put things in perspective: I've paid a little under $600 for everything I own. I refuse to spend big on vinyl. You're in the wrong hobby then! Good luck. 5 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audio-love-machine Posted January 28 Author Share Posted January 28 2 minutes ago, Hydrology said: You're in the wrong hobby then! Good luck. I know what you mean. That being said, there's a lot of snake oil in the industry: if something is genuinely better and important to the setup then I'll fork out for it. If I can get away with an effective manual record cleaning method, then it'll be happy days for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrology Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 2 minutes ago, audio-love-machine said: If I can get away with an effective manual record cleaning method, then it'll be happy days for me! You can "get away with it", but manual record cleaning isn't a silver bullet. I own about 20K worth of record cleaning machines so I'd like to think I come from a place of significant experience, so when I recommend the Humminguru at what, about $700-$800, I genuinely believe in the sonic gains you will get from a machine that probably offers a huge percentage of what my machines can do, at a far cheaper cost. If you want to put in more of that "elbow grease" and less of that "money", use the search function here - there are plenty of previous threads about building your own Ultrasonic Record Cleaner for even less money. This was before machines like the Humminguri existed, bringing an off-the-shelf US cleaner to the public at a significant savings. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiofeline Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 There is the "Squeaky clean" 3D printed vaccuum system https://squeakycleanvinyl.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demondes Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 There is a local distributor now for the Humminguru? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrology Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 36 minutes ago, Demondes said: There is a local distributor now for the Humminguru? I believe Groove Audio is now:- https://www.grooveaudio.com/product/humminguru-ultrasonic-vinyl-record-cleaner/ 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audio-love-machine Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 (edited) I've done a bit of reading, and it looks like a mixture of deionized water and tergitol (a non-ionic surfactant) is what the US library of Congress recommends. There are lots of vinyl cleaning solutions out there that include tergitol. However, I'm wondering if there's an off the shelf non-ionic surfactant, or at least something comparable in supermarkets. Any ideas? Edited January 29 by audio-love-machine Typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrology Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP1 Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 I use tergitol with pure distilled water that I make with a water distiller. When measured, the distilled water shows a total dissolved solids (TGS) reading of 0 PPM. The shop bought variety measured around 2 PPM. I have compared the first combo to using de-ionized water and a few drops of Finish rinse aid as the surfactant. The comparison was basically listening and examine test records over a period of a couple of months. This included using USB microscope to examine the surface of the records.. I think the results would be predictable. I couldn't discern any difference in how well the records were cleaned, the sound or the cleanliness of the surface. There is nothing to suggest the results will be different in the long term either. I think this is one area that can be over thought. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinomartino1 Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 I fully understand not wanting to spend a fortune on a record cleaner but what do you mainly have 45's or albums, most cleaners are made for doing albums and attachments for 7" cleaning can add a lot onto the price. My own non expert advice is having used both vacuum methods are much better than spin and wipe types. I have never used ultrasonic so can't comment on them. I have had a KAB EV-1 for 15 years and cleaned over 4000 45s with it, does 7" 10" and 12" and works with a normal vacuum cleaner. The cleaner is box shaped and collects any excess liquid though with the poor AUS$ exhange rate it might not be cost effective for you, if you do get one get extra felt pads that go on the machine. https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/ev1.htm Another alternative is Vinyl VAC which is a wand on it's own so it needs a wet and dry vacuum, you can buy an ozito one at Bunnings for $60 though you would need to make sure hose diameters are compatible, also you would need an old turntable or lazy susan to clean the records on, plenty of reviews on you tube. https://www.amazon.com.au/Vinyl-VAC-Record-Vacuum-Attaches/dp/B014X2SXY0 https://vinylvac.net/shop-1/ The PRO-JECT VC-E is on sale just over your budget at $419 but if you want to add 45 cleaning attachments it will be costly. https://www.customht.com.au/products/pro-ject-vc-e-compact-record-cleaning-machine-for-vinyl-and-shellac-records?currency=AUD&variant=43406462124290&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAiArNOeBhAHEiwAze_nKIAugjn3Av_Otuq0zLX-cEvkmGeFg1HZzzrhucR4z7XDoRIsamYRcBoCNlUQAvD_BwE 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregWormald Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 IMO there's nothing that beats a good ultra sonic cleaner, but those are way above your spend limit. A really effective dry is a requirement as well. Letting the records air or fan dry just leaves anything in the water to dry in the grooves. Before I went u/s I got good results with two good brushes (one wash, one rinse) and a high quality toilet paper dry (folded around the rinse brush). Triton x-100 is available locally in small amounts and mixed with really pure water and with 10% of isopropyl alcohol will do a good job. Note that clean records wear your stylus much less than uncleaned ones do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter_F Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 I'm thinking about getting the Humminguru, but also see they recommend using their ultrasonic record wash with the machine. Just wondering if anybody here has used the wash and what their experience is? https://www.grooveaudio.com/product/groovewasher-g-sonic-ultrasonic-record-wash-concentrate/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakeyb77_Redux Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 If you’re trying to do vinyl on the cheap then I’m assuming you’re going to be buying a lot of s*** records from cheap sources. I would suggest getting one of the Pro-Ject series of cleaners. You’ll get a brush clean and a vacuum clean. I use one with a Humminguru as well. Snake oil is one thing but playing poorly cleaned records is just going to give you bad sound quality and destroy your cartridge. The TD-160 is a very capable turntable. I’ve built and restored and used a lot of them. Even paired with a cheap cartridge like an Audio Technica AT-95 is a good combo. Look at the Pro-Ject suggested in previous posts. Spending $400 is a cheap investment in your records, turntable and sound quality. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter_F Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 1 hour ago, Jakeyb77_Redux said: If you’re trying to do vinyl on the cheap then I’m assuming you’re going to be buying a lot of s*** records from cheap sources. I would suggest getting one of the Pro-Ject series of cleaners. You’ll get a brush clean and a vacuum clean. I use one with a Humminguru as well. Snake oil is one thing but playing poorly cleaned records is just going to give you bad sound quality and destroy your cartridge. The TD-160 is a very capable turntable. I’ve built and restored and used a lot of them. Even paired with a cheap cartridge like an Audio Technica AT-95 is a good combo. Look at the Pro-Ject suggested in previous posts. Spending $400 is a cheap investment in your records, turntable and sound quality. I can't figure out if this is in response to my query re using the wash in conjunction with the humminguru? If so perhaps you misunderstood my post as there's a few assumptions that I don't understand, if not please disregard this post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinomartino1 Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 36 minutes ago, Peter_F said: I can't figure out if this is in response to my query re using the wash in conjunction with the humminguru? If so perhaps you misunderstood my post as there's a few assumptions that I don't understand, if not please disregard this post. Mine and I think the others for the original question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eman Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 On 29/01/2023 at 3:08 PM, dinomartino1 said: I fully understand not wanting to spend a fortune on a record cleaner but what do you mainly have 45's or albums, most cleaners are made for doing albums and attachments for 7" cleaning can add a lot onto the price. My own non expert advice is having used both vacuum methods are much better than spin and wipe types. I have never used ultrasonic so can't comment on them. I have had a KAB EV-1 for 15 years and cleaned over 4000 45s with it, does 7" 10" and 12" and works with a normal vacuum cleaner. The cleaner is box shaped and collects any excess liquid though with the poor AUS$ exhange rate it might not be cost effective for you, if you do get one get extra felt pads that go on the machine. https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/ev1.htm Another alternative is Vinyl VAC which is a wand on it's own so it needs a wet and dry vacuum, you can buy an ozito one at Bunnings for $60 though you would need to make sure hose diameters are compatible, also you would need an old turntable or lazy susan to clean the records on, plenty of reviews on you tube. https://www.amazon.com.au/Vinyl-VAC-Record-Vacuum-Attaches/dp/B014X2SXY0 https://vinylvac.net/shop-1/ The PRO-JECT VC-E is on sale just over your budget at $419 but if you want to add 45 cleaning attachments it will be costly. https://www.customht.com.au/products/pro-ject-vc-e-compact-record-cleaning-machine-for-vinyl-and-shellac-records?currency=AUD&variant=43406462124290&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAiArNOeBhAHEiwAze_nKIAugjn3Av_Otuq0zLX-cEvkmGeFg1HZzzrhucR4z7XDoRIsamYRcBoCNlUQAvD_BwE I made my own 45/singles adapter for my project. A simple flexi plastic tube cut to length and split down one side. pop it onto the vacuum wand, job done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakeyb77_Redux Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 8 hours ago, Peter_F said: I can't figure out if this is in response to my query re using the wash in conjunction with the humminguru? If so perhaps you misunderstood my post as there's a few assumptions that I don't understand, if not please disregard this post. it’s in response to the OP otherwise I would have quoted your post 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP1 Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 13 hours ago, Peter_F said: I'm thinking about getting the Humminguru, but also see they recommend using their ultrasonic record wash with the machine. Just wondering if anybody here has used the wash and what their experience is? https://www.grooveaudio.com/product/groovewasher-g-sonic-ultrasonic-record-wash-concentrate/ I'm using a couple of Amari ultrasonic cleaners and I had the expensive Audiodeske unit before that. In my experience the only additive to distilled water you need is a small amount of surfactant. That reduces the surface tension on the record and the water is removed more easily during the drying cycle. I've used proprietary ($$) additives and really cant see any benefit unless the price is good. For really dirty records with grease etc, its best to wash those first in the sink with cold water and detergent. Then rinse, wipe off and put in RCM for excellent results. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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