I've been using the same method. Give the vinyl a good twirl in the Spin Clean then vacuum them off with my Nitty Gritty cleaner's vacuum. If the humidity is low, I'll give the vinyl a quick wave with my electric plasma lighter to reduce static. Works like a champ and can improve even the worst vinyl.
Excellent cleaning method, Ron. I’ve only been using a Record Doctor V RCM with Tergikleen diluted in distilled water in a spray bottle. For spot cleaning, I use Groovewasher spray liquid. I didn’t even think of using a spin clean first, which is a such a great idea. So, thanks for that info, especially for the little amount that they cost. I also bought the KAB bearing as well as the larger handle. I also exclusively use those inner and outer sleeves from Sleeve City. They’re just more robust than the MoFi which I used for years before finding the Diskeeper inners, and their outers are absolutely crystal clear. Another excellent vid, Ron. Thanks!
Used a Record Doctor till it started losing power. Graduated to a VPI 16.5, and its fantastic. The VPI has so much more suction than the Record Doctor. Recently added a DIY ultrasonic to the mix and that is a game changer for those used records. Ultrasonic needs to be rinsed, so you still need a vacuum device to finish them off. Love your videos, keep them coming!
Hi Ron, if you go to a hardware store like Lowes, (we have Bunnings here in Australia) you can get a flocculant liquid to add to your mix then you will have the Spin Clean formula. The flocculant encapsulates the particles in the fluid and drops them into the bottom of the tank. I use it on my VinylStyl unit. One thing with the SpinClean I would advise you to give the brush pads a clean between each record as grit can get into pads and damage records. Happened to a friend of mine. Use an unscented dish liquid otherwise your records smell of lemon or lavender for a long time. I do also use an 8 disc ultrasonic i built. Enjoy the music......
Same method - the Spin Clean/Record Doctor VI combo. I do not use any record fluid, though, when it comes to new records (what I mostly buy). The only fluid that meets my records is distilled water. This takes away the static build-up that is so common with new vinyl and does a good job at cleaning anything that's in there. Records sound amazing afterwards.Only other difference is that I set records on a mug (label on mug ) and let them air dry for about 5 minutes or so...just to be sure (though the RDVI pretty much takes care of the entire drying process).
adding 1 tablespoon of ILFOTOL to a gallon of distilled water works better than just water the ILFOTOL breaks the waters surface tension enabling the water to actually get deep in the record grooves. I did a AB using a couple of records I cleaned using water, then re cleaning with ILFOTOL and now records sound much better more details. good luck Ron
I use the Spin Clean but stopped drying them off with the rags. I was getting static and figured it was being caused by the friction from the rags. I may invest in the Disc Doctor V.
What about let them dry 45-60 minutes? This system provides a piece where you can place your cleaned records and let them dry. www.musicstore.com/en_OE/EUR/Knosti-Disco-Antistat-Generation-II/art-DJE0006893-000;pgid=QKBgCvGIZAlSRpMHgjvx95kA0000R-MeHF4C
I have an Audio Desk Ultrasonic cleaner and also a spin clean. I use the spin clean on really dirty records before I put them in the other. Your probably right but in my old age I have become lazy. At 78 I still work part-time and have to conserve energy. Lol.
Hey Richard I'm sure your system works to perfection I am a cheap Skate my method only cost me 300 bucks and I think it works great for the money I hope your vacation was a lot of fun thanks for stopping by brother
For years I've been using a Vinyl Style disk washer that has goat hair brushes using 14:1 distilled water to isopropyl alcohol, then add one drop of dawn dish soap to a gallon of this mixture. I then use a spin clean unit that has pads to rinse with 100% distilled water. I air dry on a rack. Before I play a record, I dry brush with a 4" wide goat hair watercolor paint brush then HAND HOLD the record and use an anti static gun. I've tried an ultra sonic cleaner and honestly don't see any difference except I paid just over $100 for my system. Not out to judge anyone ...just do what makes it fun and most rewarding... thats whats matters most!
Very informative video, really appreciated this, I need a record cleaning machine and what you’ve shown is probably the best and cheapest way to do it!
'The best solution and the most economical solution'...put those phrases together and you get the attention of a Scottish accountant!! Thank s for the advice...looks like i will be dipping into my piggy bank again. All the best to you Ron.
Hey Barry thanks for stopping by and leaving that great feedback as per usual don't forget to check the bell icon and share the video if you can buy for now
@@RocknRonni I have friends who have subscribed to your channel and you have become a legend in my part of the world. You provide great entertainment and important information. We are all grateful to you sir.
@@Baz63 W0W Barrie It's been my pleasure and my honor To say that Barry strong is my friend. And by providing content on my channel is by chance a source of Insight for others, This is a source of great inspiration for myself. Thank you sir for your kind words and for taking your time to leave such a wonderful comment thanks brother.
Hi Ron. I use the Kirmuss Ultrasonic cleaner then the Spin Clean as a rinse. It does a decent job, but there is still some noise on the record. Will look into using your solution in the Ultrasonic. The solution that is required for the machine is very expensive. Keep up the great work!!
Yeah you know I have not used a ultrasonic machine but vacuuming the residue off the records works well Thanks for the encouraging words I appreciate it very much Brother thank you
Yah, this is the same conclusion I came to. I have a VPI 16.5 WR which is great, but some records need a good soak and scrub. My Spin Clean and Record Doctor V are on the way. VPI can not accept a wet record without contaminating the one side. VPI will be my maintainer while other two will be grunge getters. Finally a total cleaning system.
One has to be careful using vinegar. It makes a great cleaning agent due to it being an acid with a strong PH. Vinegar can also kill some molds, mildew, and bacteria. HOWEVER, if you do use it in your main wash cycle, once removed from the bath it needs to be thoroughly rinsed off before drying. It will leave a residual amount behind when dry! Due to it's acidity and PH, it can damage your stylus, especially if the cantilever is made of aluminum as many are, then you are really screwed., Use distilled water, 2-3 drops of Dawn detergent (be careful it's a concentrate) and a few ounces of vinegar. It won't harm your vinyl lp's as alcohol could over time, and do not add alcohol to the solution, as you end up with a solution akin to Windex! DO NOT USE A MICROFIBER CLOTH TO DRY!! Just as Vinyl Richie mentioned in his comment below, they will add static. They will also leave behind a residual amount of dust and the material it is made from!
thank you so much for your very helful tips much appreciated. I have a new video with a new solution its really good. czcams.com/video/4TtPFQ0UqfM/video.html
Ron thanks for the video I have the spin clean I definitely need to get that other machine your breakdown truly is awesome and this is very economic and not expensive for the wallet👍. Take care Ron. Lovellandrew
One note. On the SpinClean you're supposed to Spin in both directions (they suggest 3 and 3). I do a little more on old and really dirty records.I don't know if it really matters but I stick to doing it that way.
Hi Ron, stumbled onto this one today. We have similar cleaning methods. I use two basins, one for cleaning and one for rinsing. and I don't have a RCM, I use a wet / dry shop vac, but to the same affect. I use to use dawn but switched to Tritan X100 which is about the same thing just without the perfumes and additives. I do use iso alcohol in my mixture 10% with 0.5% tritan X100. But I think you are on the money regarding the most important step, the vacuum. I don't think US is all it is made out to be. take care friend..
I have several cleaners, including an Audio Desk, so there are some owners who watch your videos! But I also use a Spin Clean, which I find very useful for non-12 inch records and very dirty records. However, I use a method that is likely to drive the purists crazy. For a very dirty record, I will start with plain hot tap water, run it through the Spin Clean, then dump the water, pull out the pads to rinse them off, then add more hot tap water and do it again. Depending on how dirty the records was, I may repeat with a third and fourth bath, cleaning off the pads after each. The record becomes quite warped as you turn it in the hot water, but it goes back to flat the moment it cools back to room temperature. Then I will dry off the record literally with a paper towel. You could use a vacuum machine, but the paper towel works well. I know everyone will say that you'll end up with all kinds of mineral deposits in the vinyl, but that really doesn't happen with the soft water coming from my faucets. I realize my approach is likely to face skepticism, but try it on a couple of very dirty records. The heat really does a great job to soften up and shift deposits in the grooves.
Yeah I'd be too freaked out when I put the hot water on the record, and it got a bit warped. I'd lose my cool at that point lol. Like I said my method with using the the dish soap on the face cloth, and the tap water rinse. I've done previously back in the day, when I didn't have a spin clean, and it works great. I never could hear any residue on my records after. Thanks for liking the video don't forget to subscribe and hit the reminder bell, and sharing the video if you can. thank you very much
This is very similar to the method advocated by George Merrill. He actually sells a simple device made of pvc tube to hold the record in the sink while you rinse it with warm water. A final rinse with distilled water, and a dry with either diapers or microfiber and you are done.
I used to have a 16.5 decades ago. An ugly noisy system that I got rid of back in the early nineties. Got out of the hobby. Stayed out for twenty years. And got back in again. Noticed that the 16.5 was basically the same as I remembered. Purchased a spin kleen and then a record doctor. Worked pretty well. I don't see much difference in the efficacy of on vacuum machine to another. Just convenience. Got tired(sick is more like it) of the time wasted using those machines. Broke down and purchased a Degritter and am never looking back. one of the best purchases and worth every penny. Also the Disco- antistat record cleaner is superior to the spin kleen. another machine the Vinyl Styli appears to be similar to the Disco-Antistat but haven't personally used it. As a matter of fact because of the brushes I would recomend the Disco b4 purchasing a vacuum system. But compared to the Degritter, there's nothing to compare. Not even close. Watch Paul Rigby's videos on the subject if you want a more scholarly discourse on the subject of record maintenance.
Thank you I will be very interested to watch the video I really like Paul's channel And I am interested in the humminguru that would be coming out in a few months for $400 usd
If you still have an ebay store, please provide the link. You obviously take great care and grade conservatively. Thanks for the informative and entertaining videos!
Hi again Ron, with the noise of the record doctor, you might consider using ear protection units. My self built vacuum record cleaner has the vacuum unit in the garage, piped through to my cleaning room to eliminate the noise.
yes i learned about that process just after I purchased the Record Dr. 5 now in my new man cave not as easy to do thank you for sharing and leaving great info my friend
Great Video, Ron. Do you (or any VC'ers out there) have a rule-of-thumb for the number of records that you Spin-Clean before changing the cleaning liquid? Do you keep an eye on the cleaning liquid to make that judgement, or do you judge how dirty the records are? ("two semi-dirty, and one really dirty and its time to change the liquid" or something like that?). Thanks Ron! You rock.
Yeah you basically nailed it the way I make my cleaning fluid it's so cheap it doesn't pay to clean a lot of records with Dirty solution The number can be subjective it's like how dirty are they keep an eye inner solution you can look in the bottom how much stuff coming off and the cleaner the water The better. Very important you have to check your brushes and clean them often Because unknown Debris may get stuck to them and that could do harm to your records Thanks for the great Question thanks for liking the video and don't forget to share the video
i have a good test for cleaning solutions. use two old credit cards and put your cleaning solution between them and wait for two day. them see if the credit cards still in good shape or the solution have ruined them. BTW the solution for spin cleaning is different to the one used with ultrasonic machines. with spin cleaning you need a solution that take out the dirt and sinks it to the bottom of the washer
your right thanks I now use a new solution and I made a new video adding 1 tablespoon of ILFOTOL to a gallon of distilled water works better than just water the ILFOTOL breaks the waters surface tension enabling the water to actually get deep in the record grooves. I did a AB using a couple of records I cleaned using water, then re cleaning with ILFOTOL and now records sound much better more details. good luck Ron
Fact is, an ultra sonic cleaner still has an LP in the dirty water that it removed from it and other LPs A detergent like "Dawn" laves a film that leaves dishes shiny . This is harmless to humans but you do not want that on you :LPs
I saw someone say the ultrasonic can eat ur record away if leave it in there too long was using a microscope to show what the ultrasonics do to the vinyl
Ron, I’m surprised you don’t keep the original inner sleeve inside the jacket and keep the newly-sleeved record outside of the jacket (but inside the outer poly sleeve).
I'm old school I think the record jacket is to protect the record so I put it back in the jacket. I've just been doing it for 50 years it's not any trouble. You might call it Force of habit. yeah I see a lot of people doing it the way you describe. Glad you liked the video thanks for stopping by
IMHO I believe you misrepresented ultra-sonic cleaning. You criticized the dirty water in an ultra-sonic during cleaning but didn't mention the same issue occurs using a spin clean. Maybe in a future video, you purchase an ultrasonic tank on eBay for $100 and add the mechanism that would spin a few discs for about $200. Then use a Record Docter V with both. Now the title of "SpinClean as good as ultrasonic record cleaning?" could be objectively answered vs you answering the question with your opinion of what works best. Don't get me wrong I value your opinion I just expected more from the title.
Yeah sorry the title is kinda click bate I didn't actually do a test with the ultrasonic but when I use the record doctor to vacuum clean my records I think they may be slightly cleaner then when using an ultra sonic and you air dry your records. that's kind of my point You're right in order to do a proper test I need to buy the other equipment but I am getting great results with this method I've contemplated buying that but I don't feel a need to because this works so well the reason is because of the vacuum. In a typical ultrasonic you're not vacuuming the records your air drying them
I have 2 U/S tanks, one a Kirmuss and the other a massive 27L 12 transducer unit I have had for 8 years. I also have a Vinyl Stack, the device that rotates the records along with my trusty VPI 16.5 that I have removed the platter on so my cleaned records dont sit on the dirty cork mat. Since I switched to the mechanical scrubbing technique followed by deionized/distilled water rinses then vacuum I pretty much do not use the ultrasonic cleaners at all. My current process is Using a Mofi Brush apply Liquinox Vacuum Using Kirmuss Brush apply tergitol/ilfotol Vacuum Using a different Mofi Brush apply deionized Water Vacuum I have a recording of a Steely Dan album that was ultrasonically cleaned twice and L'Art duson washed then recorded, then one pass with the process outlined above and then recorded and the results are staggering. Below is a link to the recording yadi.sk/d/beN32_JymWfAdw
Yes after about 10 or so records I dump the water and I clean the pads off really nice and put it all back together and fill it up again here we go again That is a good question and something I forgot to Point out thanks for watching glad you liked the video and don't forget to share
@@RocknRonni How do you clean the pads? Do you use a brush? Hold them under running water (distilled or tap)? How often should a pad be replaced all together? Are the pads readily available for purchase somewhere? I liked your video!
@@manjoguy Well when I rinse the spin clean out I pull the pads out hold them under running water and I just use the pads against each other and rub them Agaynst each other and then use my hand kind of make sure that there's nothing on their feel them for any grit or dirt sometimes I've heard where people don't clean their pads and pads picked up some grit from the dirrty records then the pads start scratching the records my records are not that dirrty but you need to make sure their clean and free of debris and nice and soft my pads are still like new after about 600 records so I am not sure how often you have to replace them but they do have replacement brushes.
I emptied the tank after I clean 10 records it's very simple I just do it in the bathroom that's close to my record room dump it out clean the brushes off rinse out the tank go back to my record area fill it back up
Yeah you won't wreck your vinyl but I have a better solution right now just made a new video last week be sure to watch it fantastic information in the video.
It doesn't make sense. The ultrasonic isn't preferred because the water gets dirty and you have records spinning in dirty water as it cleans, yet the spin clean has the exact same issue. If anything, those brushes on the spin clean probably trap some of the dust and grime and if you keep spinning the record on dirty brushes, wouldn't that be even worse? I also question the use of direct tap water. Fill up a common glass of water and look at it close. There's particles in there.
You are correct do not use tap water use distilled Water like I recommended. I think the difference that I am talking about is using a vacuum to Remove the dirty water rather than air dry that's a big deal for me
@@RocknRonni I see your point. I'm going to get the humminGuru ultrasonic for $400 if the review video's give it the nod. Still have 3 weeks before the 1st batch of those go out.
Making the cleaner the way I do I change it every 10 records because it's so cheap I also last month made another video and a new Cleaning solution that works awesome you need to watch the video
I don't agree with vacuuming causes static on the record just shake the record and leave it to dry and next to a ioniser purifier. You'll be better changing distilled water for deionized water same thing it will help to discharge static plus it is a much purified water and as a surfactant use a few drops of hair conditioner you can clean your records with AdBlue used in diesel engines that contains mainly 67% deionized water 33% urine what is a good cleaner and steriliser What is the brushes on the vacuum cleaner do you know and you should really clean them out every time you use it not rinsing it under the tap I would go both ways in cleaning you only go in one Direction! what less likely to move stubborn Grit I will take it two a three rotations one way and the same he other way and then back again one rotation would be a better process. Try the AdBlue see how you get on with it comes in 5 L or bigger not expensive sold at petrol stations usually. and add a couple drops of hair conditioner you can use pure isopropanol in a mix but you do not want to exceed 10% in any formula you're making up And polish your stylist people do not do this very important use green Emery Linn sell it, just rub it gently back to front on the stylus tip twice, polishing the diamond keeps it nice
Thanks John for a bunch of great information in that message but I didn't say vacuuming causes static. I said not vacuuming when you just use the spinclean with the spinclean soap leaves a lot of soap residue on the record and that's what I hear as static
I probably need to revisit my record cleaning procedures I have a new video up called best record cleaning solution where I talk about my new process and the records do sound so much better it's unbelievable you really have to hear it to believe how good they sound after using TERGIKLEEN
i really appreciate this gentleman explaining what he uses, but that is the most unscientific arbitrary assessment of which system to use. I really wanted to know about the ultrasonic versus the record doctor and the older record spinner. When you just give your opinion and arbitrarily say "this is just as good to my ears" that's useless. Plus the ultrasonic is only $400 so it would cost about the same as using the two main devices he uses. Ultrasonic are used to clean jewelry and medical instruments. Its legit. But his assessment is totally useless. He needs to do some research about the science and how they work differently to give us the real lowdown. I have no idea what to buy still. I know his will is very good and I appreciate his effort but this is the definition of "anecdotal evidence" which in scientific terms is useless to come to any conclusion.
hello I am sorry if my opinion is of no value to you to my subscribers it is. I have anothers opinion he is my friends Patrick the vinyl archivist. He has used 3 different ultrasonic cleaners and he cleans records every day he has concluded that a good washing with a brush, distilled water, photoflow or type product Makes water wetter (surfactant) i use dish soap. Then a vacuum, then a rinse, then a vacuum dry. Is the system that gets the best results for him. your mileage may vary. thanks for watching, sorry you did not enjoy the video
I changed my cleaning fluid and made a new video adding 1 tablespoon of ILFOTOL to a gallon of distilled water works better than just water the ILFOTOL breaks the waters surface tension enabling the water to actually get deep in the record grooves. I did a AB using a couple of records I cleaned using water, then re cleaning with ILFOTOL and now records sound much better more details. good luck Ron
you come off as very frustrated and pretty hostile honesty, should everyone feel sorry if you feel like you didn't get the exact info you where looking for served on a silver platter?
Hello my friend If you want to have high Fidelity with your vinyl you need to vacuum them after they're cleaned this will improve your sound believe me it's very important Since the video I have changed my record cleaning solution to just using ilfotol and distilled water, one bottle of ilfotol cost about $27 you can make 60 gallons of record cleaning solution. This has been proven to be one of the most superior cleaning fluids Because it's a wetting agent and is able to break the surface tension of the water and enable the water to get into the microscopic groove if you cannot remove all the water and dirt from the groove your records are still not clean a cloth cannot get in the microscopic Grove it needs to be vacuumed out, very important, thanks for watching
just bought a spin clean, taking my time to look into my options of cleaning with it before I actually do it. I've heard questionable stuff about the machines that uses cavitation to clean records, I think I've read that it causes damages on the grooves (the vinyl itself) in the long run. They are pretty expensive too so that makes me unsure to get one of those types. Other cleaning methods will also damage the records if misused i guess though..
I'm sorry but this is absurd. A Spin Clean or whatever clone, doesn't clean well. I used a vacuum machine for years.. An immersive rinse is a good idea. I now use a high quality ultrasonic and do a final rinse in Lab Grade ultra pure water. You are giving people some really bad info. There are far better surfactants out there. Use your Spin Clean with distilled water or better as a rinse after you use your vacuum machine to remove the surfactant of your choice. Or an ultrasonic, which will actually get into the grooves where the low level detail is.
I felt similarly after watching videos on the degritter and kirmuss ultrasonic cleaners. Those, no doubt, do ten times a better job than the devices talked about here. After watching videos on those, I thought, “everyone’s wasting their time on the cheap and inferior products! They don’t do anything!” Then I kept watching. While I’d say those superior cleaning/restoring machines are awesome and do a much better job, I even heard Mr. Kirmuss recommend a spin clean for a normal cleaning. If viewers have all the money and time in the world, yes, this video is a totally useless, but for those who can’t spend the 3k on the degritter, is it a waste to try these other options…. Hell no. The records won’t be improved like they will on the better ultrasonics, but the will audibly improve records. My argument is that your perspective is a bit narrow. When Mr. Kirmuss is selling his cavitation machine he points out how no other cleaning method or machine really works…. Yet in another context, he readily admits that other inferior cleaning systems make sense. I’ll one day own that guy’s machine, but I recognize the draw backs. It uses a lot of water quickly. The water can’t sit in the machine for a later cleaning, so stock way up of distilled water…. To do your whole collection, you’re going to need drums of it. You’ll also need ages of time. Trying to get the best in audio will bankrupt all of us. Luckily, you can get an incredible listening experience for much less. I believe that many cheaper cleaner methods can improve that experience…. Not as much as the expensive machines, but plenty enough to be worth their cost. Better is something that we must achieve to make buying these worth it. Not being perfect doesn’t make these methods worthless, though Kirmuss or the degritter people aren’t going to say that when they’re trying to move units.
@@N0rthT Mr. Kirmuss is very aggressive and dismissive towards virtually all other cleaning solutions that present any threat to his own. His story has been kind of a moving target and his device is reasonably priced and does work although it's a royal pain in the ass and consumes vast amounts of distilled water. I now use a KL Audio (Klaudio) supplemented by a gooe, not state of the art, vacuum machine by Pro-Ject. The Klaudio is obscenely expensive but works amazingly well and has a proven track record of having an extremely long life, unlike much of the feedback on the Degritter, which I've also owned.
I've been using the same method. Give the vinyl a good twirl in the Spin Clean then vacuum them off with my Nitty Gritty cleaner's vacuum. If the humidity is low, I'll give the vinyl a quick wave with my electric plasma lighter to reduce static. Works like a champ and can improve even the worst vinyl.
Excellent cleaning method, Ron. I’ve only been using a Record Doctor V RCM with Tergikleen diluted in distilled water in a spray bottle. For spot cleaning, I use Groovewasher spray liquid. I didn’t even think of using a spin clean first, which is a such a great idea. So, thanks for that info, especially for the little amount that they cost. I also bought the KAB bearing as well as the larger handle. I also exclusively use those inner and outer sleeves from Sleeve City. They’re just more robust than the MoFi which I used for years before finding the Diskeeper inners, and their outers are absolutely crystal clear. Another excellent vid, Ron. Thanks!
You're welcome thanks for your gracious reply Glad you are using the sleeve city inner and outer those are my favorites. Cheers Ron
Used a Record Doctor till it started losing power. Graduated to a VPI 16.5, and its fantastic. The VPI has so much more suction than the Record Doctor. Recently added a DIY ultrasonic to the mix and that is a game changer for those used records. Ultrasonic needs to be rinsed, so you still need a vacuum device to finish them off. Love your videos, keep them coming!
Yup when I grow up I want a 16.5 in and ultrasonic Congratulations and thanks for watching glad you're enjoying the videos
Hi Ron, if you go to a hardware store like Lowes, (we have Bunnings here in Australia) you can get a flocculant liquid to add to your mix then you will have the Spin Clean formula. The flocculant encapsulates the particles in the fluid and drops them into the bottom of the tank. I use it on my VinylStyl unit. One thing with the SpinClean I would advise you to give the brush pads a clean between each record as grit can get into pads and damage records. Happened to a friend of mine. Use an unscented dish liquid otherwise your records smell of lemon or lavender for a long time. I do also use an 8 disc ultrasonic i built. Enjoy the music......
cool thanks for the info on the flocculant liquid i will have to check it out. thank you so much for your help Bro
DIY Ultrasonic worked really well for me. It made my vinyl so quiet it was almost like digital but in a good way
I use the same exact system. It’s economical and works just as well as the higher priced options.
Same method - the Spin Clean/Record Doctor VI combo. I do not use any record fluid, though, when it comes to new records (what I mostly buy). The only fluid that meets my records is distilled water. This takes away the static build-up that is so common with new vinyl and does a good job at cleaning anything that's in there. Records sound amazing afterwards.Only other difference is that I set records on a mug (label on mug ) and let them air dry for about 5 minutes or so...just to be sure (though the RDVI pretty much takes care of the entire drying process).
adding 1 tablespoon of ILFOTOL to a gallon of distilled water works better than just water the ILFOTOL breaks the waters surface tension enabling the water to actually get deep in the record grooves. I did a AB using a couple of records I cleaned using water, then re cleaning with ILFOTOL and now records sound much better more details. good luck Ron
I use the Spin Clean but stopped drying them off with the rags. I was getting static and figured it was being caused by the friction from the rags. I may invest in the Disc Doctor V.
What about let them dry 45-60 minutes? This system provides a piece where you can place your cleaned records and let them dry.
www.musicstore.com/en_OE/EUR/Knosti-Disco-Antistat-Generation-II/art-DJE0006893-000;pgid=QKBgCvGIZAlSRpMHgjvx95kA0000R-MeHF4C
Abel Ferrara That is what I do. What bothers me about that is all the dust particles in the air landing on my wet record for an hour.
I have an Okki Nikki machine . Cleaned many records with it. Does a great job.
I have an Audio Desk Ultrasonic cleaner and also a spin clean. I use the spin clean on really dirty records before I put them in the other. Your probably right but in my old age I have become lazy. At 78 I still work part-time and have to conserve energy. Lol.
Hey Richard I'm sure your system works to perfection I am a cheap Skate my method only cost me 300 bucks and I think it works great for the money I hope your vacation was a lot of fun thanks for stopping by brother
Dang! 78 and still working. You must be in pretty good shape
God advice man! I will try this with my Spin Clean :D
For years I've been using a Vinyl Style disk washer that has goat hair brushes using 14:1 distilled water to isopropyl alcohol, then add one drop of dawn dish soap to a gallon of this mixture. I then use a spin clean unit that has pads to rinse with 100% distilled water. I air dry on a rack. Before I play a record, I dry brush with a 4" wide goat hair watercolor paint brush then HAND HOLD the record and use an anti static gun. I've tried an ultra sonic cleaner and honestly don't see any difference except I paid just over $100 for my system. Not out to judge anyone ...just do what makes it fun and most rewarding... thats whats matters most!
Very informative video, really appreciated this, I need a record cleaning machine and what you’ve shown is probably the best and cheapest way to do it!
Yeah thanks for stopping by and I concur Glad you Liked the video
Detailed breakdown. I appreciate you sharing your methods.
You're very welcome Eric
'The best solution and the most economical solution'...put those phrases together and you get the attention of a Scottish accountant!! Thank s for the advice...looks like i will be dipping into my piggy bank again. All the best to you Ron.
Hey Barry thanks for stopping by and leaving that great feedback as per usual don't forget to check the bell icon and share the video if you can buy for now
@@RocknRonni I have friends who have subscribed to your channel and you have become a legend in my part of the world. You provide great entertainment and important information. We are all grateful to you sir.
@@Baz63 W0W Barrie It's been my pleasure and my honor To say that Barry strong is my friend.
And by providing content on my channel is by chance a source of Insight for others, This is a source of great inspiration for myself.
Thank you sir for your kind words and for taking your time to leave such a wonderful comment thanks brother.
Thanks for the review Ron. I was almost gonna get a spin clean might hold off on it.
I really like my spin clean it cleans the records, Really well it was Just that I needed a better wait to dry them
...Thanks Ron! 🎵✨---gotta pull my old spin clean out the garage and clean some records!
Hi Ron. I use the Kirmuss Ultrasonic cleaner then the Spin Clean as a rinse. It does a decent job, but there is still some noise on the record. Will look into using your solution in the Ultrasonic. The solution that is required for the machine is very expensive. Keep up the great work!!
Yeah you know I have not used a ultrasonic machine but vacuuming the residue off the records works well Thanks for the encouraging words I appreciate it very much Brother thank you
Yah, this is the same conclusion I came to. I have a VPI 16.5 WR which is great, but some records need a good soak and scrub. My Spin Clean and Record Doctor V are on the way. VPI can not accept a wet record without contaminating the one side. VPI will be my maintainer while other two will be grunge getters. Finally a total cleaning system.
I do pretty good with the SpinClean alone with their fluid. I may consider getting that vacuum as well though.
Thank you, Ron. I’m definitely going to purchase some of those ultimate outers 🍻
Yeah my whole collection is in housed in those now Very nice thanks for stopping by
One has to be careful using vinegar. It makes a great cleaning agent due to it being an acid with a strong PH. Vinegar can also kill some molds, mildew, and bacteria. HOWEVER, if you do use it in your main wash cycle, once removed from the bath it needs to be thoroughly rinsed off before drying. It will leave a residual amount behind when dry! Due to it's acidity and PH, it can damage your stylus, especially if the cantilever is made of aluminum as many are, then you are really screwed., Use distilled water, 2-3 drops of Dawn detergent (be careful it's a concentrate) and a few ounces of vinegar. It won't harm your vinyl lp's as alcohol could over time, and do not add alcohol to the solution, as you end up with a solution akin to Windex! DO NOT USE A MICROFIBER CLOTH TO DRY!! Just as Vinyl Richie mentioned in his comment below, they will add static. They will also leave behind a residual amount of dust and the material it is made from!
thank you so much for your very helful tips much appreciated. I have a new video with a new solution its really good.
czcams.com/video/4TtPFQ0UqfM/video.html
Ron thanks for the video I have the spin clean I definitely need to get that other machine your breakdown truly is awesome and this is very economic and not expensive for the wallet👍. Take care Ron. Lovellandrew
Thanks Ron 👍 am going to try it .
Always a pleasure my friend thanks for stopping by don't forget to like the video and share it Cheers brother
Good video ron, thnx, grtz from the netherlands 🇳🇱
Thanks for watching glad you enjoyed the video
One note. On the SpinClean you're supposed to Spin in both directions (they suggest 3 and 3). I do a little more on old and really dirty records.I don't know if it really matters but I stick to doing it that way.
I do the same.
Hi Ron, stumbled onto this one today. We have similar cleaning methods. I use two basins, one for cleaning and one for rinsing. and I don't have a RCM, I use a wet / dry shop vac, but to the same affect. I use to use dawn but switched to Tritan X100 which is about the same thing just without the perfumes and additives. I do use iso alcohol in my mixture 10% with 0.5% tritan X100. But I think you are on the money regarding the most important step, the vacuum. I don't think US is all it is made out to be. take care friend..
I have several cleaners, including an Audio Desk, so there are some owners who watch your videos! But I also use a Spin Clean, which I find very useful for non-12 inch records and very dirty records. However, I use a method that is likely to drive the purists crazy. For a very dirty record, I will start with plain hot tap water, run it through the Spin Clean, then dump the water, pull out the pads to rinse them off, then add more hot tap water and do it again. Depending on how dirty the records was, I may repeat with a third and fourth bath, cleaning off the pads after each. The record becomes quite warped as you turn it in the hot water, but it goes back to flat the moment it cools back to room temperature. Then I will dry off the record literally with a paper towel. You could use a vacuum machine, but the paper towel works well. I know everyone will say that you'll end up with all kinds of mineral deposits in the vinyl, but that really doesn't happen with the soft water coming from my faucets. I realize my approach is likely to face skepticism, but try it on a couple of very dirty records. The heat really does a great job to soften up and shift deposits in the grooves.
Yeah I'd be too freaked out when I put the hot water on the record, and it got a bit warped. I'd lose my cool at that point lol.
Like I said my method with using the the dish soap on the face cloth, and the tap water rinse. I've done previously back in the day, when I didn't have a spin clean, and it works great. I never could hear any residue on my records after. Thanks for liking the video don't forget to subscribe and hit the reminder bell, and sharing the video if you can. thank you very much
This is very similar to the method advocated by George Merrill. He actually sells a simple device made of pvc tube to hold the record in the sink while you rinse it with warm water. A final rinse with distilled water, and a dry with either diapers or microfiber and you are done.
I used to have a 16.5 decades ago. An ugly noisy system that I got rid of back in the early nineties. Got out of the hobby. Stayed out for twenty years. And got back in again. Noticed that the 16.5 was basically the same as I remembered. Purchased a spin kleen and then a record doctor. Worked pretty well. I don't see much difference in the efficacy of on vacuum machine to another. Just convenience. Got tired(sick is more like it) of the time wasted using those machines. Broke down and purchased a Degritter and am never looking back. one of the best purchases and worth every penny. Also the Disco- antistat record cleaner is superior to the spin kleen. another machine the Vinyl Styli appears to be similar to the Disco-Antistat but haven't personally used it. As a matter of fact because of the brushes I would recomend the Disco b4 purchasing a vacuum system. But compared to the Degritter, there's nothing to compare. Not even close. Watch Paul Rigby's videos on the subject if you want a more scholarly discourse on the subject of record maintenance.
Thank you I will be very interested to watch the video I really like Paul's channel And I am interested in the humminguru that would be coming out in a few months for $400 usd
If you still have an ebay store, please provide the link. You obviously take great care and grade conservatively. Thanks for the informative and entertaining videos!
i will be selling again soon stay tuned to my videos for the announcement thank you for watching, cheers Ron
I’ve found that you need to spin them a lot longer than instructed, let them dry, then do it again. I don’t wipe them dry either, I let them air dry.
Hi again Ron, with the noise of the record doctor, you might consider using ear protection units. My self built vacuum record cleaner has the vacuum unit in the garage, piped through to my cleaning room to eliminate the noise.
yes i learned about that process just after I purchased the Record Dr. 5 now in my new man cave not as easy to do thank you for sharing and leaving great info my friend
@@RocknRonni youre welcome Ron
Great Video, Ron. Do you (or any VC'ers out there) have a rule-of-thumb for the number of records that you Spin-Clean before changing the cleaning liquid? Do you keep an eye on the cleaning liquid to make that judgement, or do you judge how dirty the records are? ("two semi-dirty, and one really dirty and its time to change the liquid" or something like that?). Thanks Ron! You rock.
Yeah you basically nailed it the way I make my cleaning fluid it's so cheap it doesn't pay to clean a lot of records with Dirty solution The number can be subjective it's like how dirty are they keep an eye inner solution you can look in the bottom how much stuff coming off and the cleaner the water The better. Very important you have to check your brushes and clean them often Because unknown Debris may get stuck to them and that could do harm to your records Thanks for the great Question thanks for liking the video and don't forget to share the video
i have a good test for cleaning solutions. use two old credit cards and put your cleaning solution between them and wait for two day. them see if the credit cards still in good shape or the solution have ruined them. BTW the solution for spin cleaning is different to the one used with ultrasonic machines. with spin cleaning you need a solution that take out the dirt and sinks it to the bottom of the washer
Vinegar is an acid. Worse than alcohol. If you care about your records, just use the solution made by spin clean.
your right thanks I now use a new solution and I made a new video adding 1 tablespoon of ILFOTOL to a gallon of distilled water works better than just water the ILFOTOL breaks the waters surface tension enabling the water to actually get deep in the record grooves. I did a AB using a couple of records I cleaned using water, then re cleaning with ILFOTOL and now records sound much better more details. good luck Ron
Fact is, an ultra sonic cleaner still has an LP in the dirty water that it removed from it and other LPs
A detergent like "Dawn" laves a film that leaves dishes shiny . This is harmless to humans but you do not want that on you :LPs
Great ron very interesting. I have a project Machine that cleans and vacuums.
Thanks Dylan
Geez Rin..I just noticed I wasn’t subscribed to your channel..got some catching up to do👍👍👍👍glen kellaway
Thanks for stopping by Glenn glad you're enjoying the videos cheers Ron
I saw someone say the ultrasonic can eat ur record away if leave it in there too long was using a microscope to show what the ultrasonics do to the vinyl
Ron, I’m surprised you don’t keep the original inner sleeve inside the jacket and keep the newly-sleeved record outside of the jacket (but inside the outer poly sleeve).
I'm old school I think the record jacket is to protect the record so I put it back in the jacket.
I've just been doing it for 50 years it's not any trouble. You might call it Force of habit. yeah I see a lot of people doing it the way you describe.
Glad you liked the video thanks for stopping by
IMHO I believe you misrepresented ultra-sonic cleaning. You criticized the dirty water in an ultra-sonic during cleaning but didn't mention the same issue occurs using a spin clean. Maybe in a future video, you purchase an ultrasonic tank on eBay for $100 and add the mechanism that would spin a few discs for about $200. Then use a Record Docter V with both. Now the title of "SpinClean as good as ultrasonic record cleaning?" could be objectively answered vs you answering the question with your opinion of what works best. Don't get me wrong I value your opinion I just expected more from the title.
Yeah sorry the title is kinda click bate I didn't actually do a test with the ultrasonic but when I use the record doctor to vacuum clean my records I think they may be slightly cleaner then when using an ultra sonic and you air dry your records.
that's kind of my point You're right in order to do a proper test I need to buy the other equipment but I am getting great results with this method I've contemplated buying that but I don't feel a need to because this works so well the reason is because of the vacuum. In a typical ultrasonic you're not vacuuming the records your air drying them
I have 2 U/S tanks, one a Kirmuss and the other a massive 27L 12 transducer unit I have had for 8 years. I also have a Vinyl Stack, the device that rotates the records along with my trusty VPI 16.5 that I have removed the platter on so my cleaned records dont sit on the dirty cork mat. Since I switched to the mechanical scrubbing technique followed by deionized/distilled water rinses then vacuum I pretty much do not use the ultrasonic cleaners at all. My current process is
Using a Mofi Brush apply Liquinox
Vacuum
Using Kirmuss Brush apply tergitol/ilfotol
Vacuum
Using a different Mofi Brush apply deionized Water
Vacuum
I have a recording of a Steely Dan album that was ultrasonically cleaned twice and L'Art duson washed then recorded, then one pass with the process outlined above and then recorded and the results are staggering. Below is a link to the recording
yadi.sk/d/beN32_JymWfAdw
@@pbthal So would you suggest using DE ionized water instead of distilled water in the spinclean
@@pbthal Would you like to part with the "worthless" :) Kirmuss? info@whittierlibrarybookstore.com. We have a spin-clean that we currently use.
@@RocknRonni I think either is fine, I just get it for like 30 cents a gallon at Whole Foods
Ron do you clean the pads on the record doctor at all?
Yes after about 10 or so records I dump the water and I clean the pads off really nice and put it all back together and fill it up again here we go again That is a good question and something I forgot to Point out thanks for watching glad you liked the video and don't forget to share
@@RocknRonni How do you clean the pads? Do you use a brush? Hold them under running water (distilled or tap)? How often should a pad be replaced all together? Are the pads readily available for purchase somewhere? I liked your video!
@@manjoguy Well when I rinse the spin clean out I pull the pads out hold them under running water and I just use the pads against each other and rub them Agaynst each other and then use my hand kind of make sure that there's nothing on their feel them for any grit or dirt sometimes I've heard where people don't clean their pads and pads picked up some grit from the dirrty records then the pads start scratching the records my records are not that dirrty but you need to make sure their clean and free of debris and nice and soft my pads are still like new after about 600 records so I am not sure how often you have to replace them but they do have replacement brushes.
Spin Clean provides an OK first clean. There is nothing like ultrasonic, period.
How often do you have to empty the tank for the record Dr and how difficult is that process?
I emptied the tank after I clean 10 records it's very simple I just do it in the bathroom that's close to my record room dump it out clean the brushes off rinse out the tank go back to my record area fill it back up
Washing liquid, good way of wrecking your vinyl?good luck!
Yeah you won't wreck your vinyl but I have a better solution right now just made a new video last week be sure to watch it fantastic information in the video.
It doesn't make sense. The ultrasonic isn't preferred because the water gets dirty and you have records spinning in dirty water as it cleans, yet the spin clean has the exact same issue. If anything, those brushes on the spin clean probably trap some of the dust and grime and if you keep spinning the record on dirty brushes, wouldn't that be even worse? I also question the use of direct tap water. Fill up a common glass of water and look at it close. There's particles in there.
You are correct do not use tap water use distilled Water like I recommended.
I think the difference that I am talking about is using a vacuum to Remove the dirty water rather than air dry that's a big deal for me
@@RocknRonni I see your point. I'm going to get the humminGuru ultrasonic for $400 if the review video's give it the nod. Still have 3 weeks before the 1st batch of those go out.
@@aw1889 yes that hummingbird looks like a great product congratz
$3500 for the ultra sonic my most expensive record is worth $200 thats completely pointless
How many records can you clean with the spin clean before needing to add new cleaner?
Making the cleaner the way I do I change it every 10 records because it's so cheap I also last month made another video and a new Cleaning solution that works awesome you need to watch the video
I don't agree with vacuuming causes static on the record just shake the record and leave it to dry and next to a ioniser purifier.
You'll be better changing distilled water for deionized water same thing it will help to discharge static plus it is a much purified water and as a surfactant use a few drops of hair conditioner you can clean your records with AdBlue used in diesel engines that contains mainly 67% deionized water 33% urine what is a good cleaner and steriliser
What is the brushes on the vacuum cleaner do you know and you should really clean them out every time you use it not rinsing it under the tap
I would go both ways in cleaning you only go in one Direction! what less likely to move stubborn Grit I will take it two a three rotations one way and the same he other way and then back again one rotation would be a better process. Try the AdBlue see how you get on with it comes in 5 L or bigger not expensive sold at petrol stations usually. and add a couple drops of hair conditioner you can use pure isopropanol in a mix but you do not want to exceed 10% in any formula you're making up
And polish your stylist people do not do this very important use green Emery Linn sell it, just rub it gently back to front on the stylus tip twice, polishing the diamond keeps it nice
Thanks John for a bunch of great information in that message but I didn't say vacuuming causes static.
I said not vacuuming when you just use the spinclean with the spinclean soap leaves a lot of soap residue on the record and that's what I hear as static
They do sound better if there’s no deep scratches on them otherwise just like the Godfather said forget about it!
I probably need to revisit my record cleaning procedures I have a new video up called best record cleaning solution where I talk about my new process and the records do sound so much better it's unbelievable you really have to hear it to believe how good they sound after using TERGIKLEEN
i really appreciate this gentleman explaining what he uses, but that is the most unscientific arbitrary assessment of which system to use. I really wanted to know about the ultrasonic versus the record doctor and the older record spinner. When you just give your opinion and arbitrarily say "this is just as good to my ears" that's useless. Plus the ultrasonic is only $400 so it would cost about the same as using the two main devices he uses. Ultrasonic are used to clean jewelry and medical instruments. Its legit. But his assessment is totally useless. He needs to do some research about the science and how they work differently to give us the real lowdown. I have no idea what to buy still. I know his will is very good and I appreciate his effort but this is the definition of "anecdotal evidence" which in scientific terms is useless to come to any conclusion.
hello I am sorry if my opinion is of no value to you to my subscribers it is.
I have anothers opinion he is my friends Patrick the vinyl archivist. He has used 3 different ultrasonic cleaners and he cleans records every day he has concluded that a good washing with a brush, distilled water, photoflow or type product Makes water wetter (surfactant) i use dish soap. Then a vacuum, then a rinse, then a vacuum dry. Is the system that gets the best results for him. your mileage may vary.
thanks for watching, sorry you did not enjoy the video
I changed my cleaning fluid and made a new video adding 1 tablespoon of ILFOTOL to a gallon of distilled water works better than just water the ILFOTOL breaks the waters surface tension enabling the water to actually get deep in the record grooves. I did a AB using a couple of records I cleaned using water, then re cleaning with ILFOTOL and now records sound much better more details. good luck Ron
you come off as very frustrated and pretty hostile honesty, should everyone feel sorry if you feel like you didn't get the exact info you where looking for served on a silver platter?
Okki dokki
This is a LONG and involved process. Otherwise, it seems viable.
If you check one of my more recent videos I talk about best cleaning solution ever I added another step it's even better thanks for watching my friend
I just use a 20 dollars ebay kit, works fine, not perfect but okay.
Hello my friend If you want to have high Fidelity with your vinyl you need to vacuum them after they're cleaned this will improve your sound believe me it's very important Since the video I have changed my record cleaning solution to just using ilfotol and distilled water, one bottle of ilfotol cost about $27 you can make 60 gallons of record cleaning solution. This has been proven to be one of the most superior cleaning fluids Because it's a wetting agent and is able to break the surface tension of the water and enable the water to get into the microscopic groove if you cannot remove all the water and dirt from the groove your records are still not clean a cloth cannot get in the microscopic Grove it needs to be vacuumed out, very important, thanks for watching
or change them at all?
Haven't had to change them yet but I've heard of folks that have
For that money (300$) you can buy a DIY ultrasonic record cleaner, which cleans better than your method (in my opinion)
just bought a spin clean, taking my time to look into my options of cleaning with it before I actually do it. I've heard questionable stuff about the machines that uses cavitation to clean records, I think I've read that it causes damages on the grooves (the vinyl itself) in the long run. They are pretty expensive too so that makes me unsure to get one of those types.
Other cleaning methods will also damage the records if misused i guess though..
Hi
Hello thanks for stopping by glad you liked the video
I'm sorry but this is absurd. A Spin Clean or whatever clone, doesn't clean well. I used a vacuum machine for years.. An immersive rinse is a good idea. I now use a high quality ultrasonic and do a final rinse in Lab Grade ultra pure water. You are giving people some really bad info. There are far better surfactants out there. Use your Spin Clean with distilled water or better as a rinse after you use your vacuum machine to remove the surfactant of your choice. Or an ultrasonic, which will actually get into the grooves where the low level detail is.
I felt similarly after watching videos on the degritter and kirmuss ultrasonic cleaners. Those, no doubt, do ten times a better job than the devices talked about here. After watching videos on those, I thought, “everyone’s wasting their time on the cheap and inferior products! They don’t do anything!”
Then I kept watching. While I’d say those superior cleaning/restoring machines are awesome and do a much better job, I even heard Mr. Kirmuss recommend a spin clean for a normal cleaning.
If viewers have all the money and time in the world, yes, this video is a totally useless, but for those who can’t spend the 3k on the degritter, is it a waste to try these other options…. Hell no. The records won’t be improved like they will on the better ultrasonics, but the will audibly improve records.
My argument is that your perspective is a bit narrow. When Mr. Kirmuss is selling his cavitation machine he points out how no other cleaning method or machine really works…. Yet in another context, he readily admits that other inferior cleaning systems make sense.
I’ll one day own that guy’s machine, but I recognize the draw backs. It uses a lot of water quickly. The water can’t sit in the machine for a later cleaning, so stock way up of distilled water…. To do your whole collection, you’re going to need drums of it. You’ll also need ages of time.
Trying to get the best in audio will bankrupt all of us. Luckily, you can get an incredible listening experience for much less. I believe that many cheaper cleaner methods can improve that experience…. Not as much as the expensive machines, but plenty enough to be worth their cost.
Better is something that we must achieve to make buying these worth it. Not being perfect doesn’t make these methods worthless, though Kirmuss or the degritter people aren’t going to say that when they’re trying to move units.
@@N0rthT Mr. Kirmuss is very aggressive and dismissive towards virtually all other cleaning solutions that present any threat to his own. His story has been kind of a moving target and his device is reasonably priced and does work although it's a royal pain in the ass and consumes vast amounts of distilled water. I now use a KL Audio (Klaudio) supplemented by a gooe, not state of the art, vacuum machine by Pro-Ject. The Klaudio is obscenely expensive but works amazingly well and has a proven track record of having an extremely long life, unlike much of the feedback on the Degritter, which I've also owned.
I dont understand how your records get that dirty to need one of those, are you storing your albums in a sandbox? Lol!!
You're right that you don't understand you have a higher-end system if you clean your records They sound better