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About Record Cleaning Machines
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You don't have to have a record cleaning machine (RCM) to enjoy the benefits of the Audio Intelligent cleaning formulas, but having an RCM simply makes cleaning the LPs easier, quicker, and better. The RCM does two basic things: (1) it rotates the platter, and, (2) provides vacuum pick-up of the cleaning fluids. Beyond these two basic functions, the more expensive RCMs can also automatically apply a cleaning fluid, brush the LP and vacuum the LP’s surface. Commercially available RCMs range in price from $200 to more than $1,000. But you can clean records without a RCM ... or with a homemade one.
When a RCM rotates the platter, you can hold the brush steady on the LP and achieve a brushing action. But if the record is stationary, you can compensate simply by brushing all over the LP -- in other words, you can move the brush rather than the LP.
You can clean records without a RCM, by laying the record on lint-free cotton toweling, brushing a cleaning fluid on the record with an appropriate brush, and then gently wiping the LP with more lint-free cotton toweling. The best lint-free cotton towels are sold by photography supplies stores. Kitchen supplies stores also sell what they call lint-free toweling. These towels are not as good as the photography towels, but are acceptable. You’ll probably get some loose fibers or lint on the LP, which can likely be easily removed with a carbon fiber brush. So-called lint-free woven cotton pads, used for applying or removing cosmetics, are a third choice ... but may be the first choice if you’ve got a really filthy LP and you don’t want to foul your brushes or good towels with an initial cleaning of that really filthy LP.
Apply the cleaning fluids one at a time, removing each one after applying it and before applying the next fluid. When you wipe the LP with your lint-free towel or pad, make sure you’re applying a clean area of the towel or pad to the LP every time you touch it to the LP – don’t pick up gunk from one area of the LP only to apply it to another area of the LP!
Making your own RCM is not rocket science. You can see some photos of homemade RCMs, and to read what the folks who made them have to say, in the Record Cleaning Machine Museum. These homemade RCMs range from pretty basic to fairly sophisticated, but every one of them can be made with rudimentary handy-person skills. With any RCM, you want to (1) rotate the LP, and (2) vacuum up the cleaning fluids.
Rotating the LP.
There are 3 basic approaches here. The first approach is to utilize a lazy susan between a surface and a piece of material cut into a circle 11" to 12" in diameter, which becomes your platter. You can cover the platter with a waterproof or water resistant material, such as cork, cork and rubber auto gasket material, or Sorbothane. To rotate the LP, you can use your finger on the label area, or you can add a spindle, slip a clamp like the KAB record clamp on your spindle, and use the clamp to rotate the LP. You can also use a threaded piece instead of a spindle, and instead of a clamp, you use a piece of material cut into a circle no larger the label area, and insert a rod connector (with threads matching your threaded piece) into the center of this piece. You can cover the bottom of this piece with the same materials mentioned above, and you can then thread your homemade clamp down on the LP.
The second approach is simply to use an inexpensive used turntable for rotating the LP. It doesn’t have to work, so long as the platter spins freely on the bearing. If it’s a belt-drive turntable, remove the belt. Rotate the LP with your finger on the label area or with a clamp like the KAB clamp.
The third approach is to use a turntable which is sufficiently powerful to rotate the LP during the brushing and vacuuming process. Most turntables will be powerful enough to rotate the LP during brushing, but very few if any direct drive or belt drive turntables will be powerful enough to rotate the LP during the vacuuming process. For this you need an idler wheel driven turntable. In the photos section, you will see a few different homemade RCMs using a Russco transcription turntable. This broadcast-intended, idler wheel driven turntable is quite powerful and an excellent choice. Older Rek-O-Cut and Lenco ‘tables will work fine, too. You may wish to cover or glue to the platter a material like one of those mentioned above (i.e., cork, rubber and cork auto gasket material, or Sorbothane) to protect metal platters from cleaning fluids and possible rusting.
Vacuuming the LP.
Here you want a small but powerful vacuum cleaner. A one horsepower Shop-Vac is ideal, but just about any small vacuum with strong suction will work. You can cut a slit into the crevice tool attachment or use the wider “gulper” type attachment. Line the areas where the attachment will contact the LP with the velvet-like material which is sold as replacement “lips” on the Nitty Gritty RCMs. Both Nitty Gritty and Disc Doctor sell this material, and enough to line at least two attachments costs about $15. You can build your vacuum into a piece of furniture; you can stuff it in a box with insulation to quiet it down, and you could even use a whole-house vacuum system because the amount of fluids being vacuumed up is quite small and will evaporate.
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