Hi all

Anyone help out with info on record cleaning machines (VPI etc).

I know they are expensive - but so are records

How do they work?

Which machines are currently available, where can you get them?

Can you tell if a good condition record has been cleaned using a machine (i.e. could cleaning mark the vinyl)? Are they really for dirty or old records in poor condition?

Has anyone on here got one?

Cheers

Richard

I have always used a Nitty Gritty machine and you can find details on their website https://www.nittygrittyinc.com. The important element of any machine is that it must have a vacuum to suck crap out of the grooves, after it has been loosened chemically. This like all the good machines are designed to improve audio fidelity. The best results are when you clean someone else's record and they hear it properly for the first time! Cheers, Ady

I have a manual nitty Gritty. It does not leave marks, so there is no way of telling if someone has cleaned a record(unless the actual lips of the machine are worn down, then you will see 2 parallel smudges when you pull it off the cleaner). Why would you want to be secretive though? it's not as if you are doctoring up a record. I would be happy to know a record was cleaned for me, that is unless it still sounds like crap after a few cleanings... It is time consuming/tiring if you are cleaning a large pile.

Keep in mind that when you play a filthy record, the stylus can permanently embed dirt into the grooves and no amount of cleanings will save it...

You can also buy a Record Doctor. It is the same thing as a Nitty Gritty except you have to hook up your own vacuum.

https://emedia.leeward.hawaii.edu/frary/rec...tor2_review.htm

Just looked at the website...fook me they are steep in price!! Been thinking about getting a cleaning machine for some time now...surely there are cheaper options?!?

musicdirec here in Chicago makes these brushes that are the best damn thing in the world.

https://www.musicdirect.com/product/73897

I use them in conjuction with my machine, but you don't really have to.

The only thing is that a machine will suck away all of the fluid involved in the cleaning process. To be really successful with brushes, you will have to buy several. Use a different brush for each step involved, and make sure not to contaminate brushes. THEN rinse with distilled water. Dried up fluid can cause the record to sound worse then when you began.

sorry to be a bore but this has been done on here to great lengths b4 save ya typing,do a wee search.

Just looked at the website...fook me they are steep in price!! Been thinking about getting a cleaning machine for some time now...surely there are cheaper options?!?

you can make your own with an old (or new even) record deck, some fairy liquid, sticky tape and an old hoover. the instructioons are on here or the web somewhere.

Just looked at the website...fook me they are steep in price!! Been thinking about getting a cleaning machine for some time now...surely there are cheaper options?!?

The cheapest option is 4 squares of loo roll. folded to make soft pad about 3 inch square. Dab a little washing up liquid onto its surface, then quickly, under a HOT,(not boiling) tap, moisten well. Holding the disc frimly by it's edges clean around the disc, runninig with the grooves. You should leave a slight soaping in the grooves, drag this through the grooves firmly but Gently..Replenishing the pad once or twice with HOT water...this helps draw the soap along with the wee bits of crap out, back onto the tissue pad. Using warm water rinse using a fresh tissue. Don't absolutely drench the tissue pad, in turn drenching the label...Also be careful of your label, it will smudge off on certain labels. Dry your vinyl again with a little tissue. Then Buy some Spray cleaner off Roger Banks and give a quick polish with cloth provided, and Hey presto.... you've just saved yourself a fortune!! (also your records are as clean as any of the cleaners claim!!)

MIKE.

Thanks for all the tips guys

I once cleaned a styrene record with a nice soft cloth and hottish water and the damned thing warped

Cheers

Richard

I have always used a Nitty Gritty machine and you can find details on their website https://www.nittygrittyinc.com. The important element of any machine is that it must have a vacuum to suck crap out of the grooves, after it has been loosened chemically. This like all the good machines are designed to improve audio fidelity. The best results are when you clean someone else's record and they hear it properly for the first time! Cheers, Ady

Ady, If your ever find yourself with time on your hands and getting on Carols nerves... you can always bring ya Nitty Gritty thingy over and shake the dirt out the grooves for me

The Best option is buy mint records and wipe with soft lint cloth before and after use..easy int it.

Another alternative is to get matey with someone who has one. I know a young collector who has one and he cleans 45's for me now and then.

Slightly off topic, has anybody seen the Record Flattener? Guy in a store in Toronto has one and he swears it works. I am going up in a couple of weeks with a couple of warped 45's to give it a try. He charges a couple of $$ but it has got to be worth it.

to my knowledge those de-warping machines don't really work on 45's. The center+label are too thick and you can't isolate just the vinyl/styrene...

The cheapest option is 4 squares of loo roll. folded to make soft pad about 3 inch square. Dab a little washing up liquid onto its surface, then quickly, under a HOT,(not boiling) tap, moisten well. Holding the disc frimly by it's edges clean around the disc, runninig with the grooves. You should leave a slight soaping in the grooves, drag this through the grooves firmly but Gently..Replenishing the pad once or twice with HOT water...this helps draw the soap along with the wee bits of crap out, back onto the tissue pad. Using warm water rinse using a fresh tissue. Don't absolutely drench the tissue pad, in turn drenching the label...Also be careful of your label, it will smudge off on certain labels. Dry your vinyl again with a little tissue. Then Buy some Spray cleaner off Roger Banks and give a quick polish with cloth provided, and Hey presto.... you've just saved yourself a fortune!! (also your records are as clean as any of the cleaners claim!!)

MIKE.

sorry mike cant agree ,this method is a sure way of damaging your records

beyond repair. firstly washing up liquid contains SALT and secondly water

from the tap contains CHALK and to top it of toilet paper in general is slightly

abrasive. also this is just touching the surface of the disc and not getting

to the deep grooves. under close inspection of a record cleaned using this

method gives it a BEEN DONE appearance.

regards pete

sorry mike cant agree ,this method is a sure way of damaging your records

beyond repair. firstly washing up liquid contains SALT and secondly water

from the tap contains CHALK and to top it of toilet paper in general is slightly

abrasive. also this is just touching the surface of the disc and not getting

to the deep grooves. under close inspection of a record cleaned using this

method gives it a BEEN DONE appearance.

regards pete

Each to there own, yet i've done it with all me tunes poor ish and dirty, to mint but smudgey...always come up a treat in comparison to other methods....Either that or all my records are completely goosed ...But there not,ssoooo .

If you put it in the words you describe, it sounds grim, yet miniscule abrasives seem to clean do they not....seriously, I'm damn careful mind, and any residue left from bog roll is then wiped away with the old spray and lint cloth.................LISTEN

...NO POPS.

If you're gentle, this is a good way, in practice.

Each to there own, yet i've done it with all me tunes poor ish and dirty, to mint but smudgey...always come up a treat in comparison to other methods....Either that or all my records are completely goosed ...But there not,ssoooo .

If you put it in the words you describe, it sounds grim, yet miniscule abrasives seem to clean do they not....seriously, I'm damn careful mind, and any residue left from bog roll is then wiped away with the old spray and lint cloth.................LISTEN

...NO POPS.

If you're gentle, this is a good way, in practice.

It's not fooking wood glue, have you seen that one for cleaning vinyl? that works too, don't think i'll bother mind.

Mike

look at this link.

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/Steam-C...ett#entry920301

look at this link.

https://www.soul-source.co.uk/Steam-C...ett#entry920301

FOOK ME..AND HE THOUGHT MY METHOD WAS BAD!!