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Budget Record Cleaner Really Works

sabocat

sabocat

Well-Known Member
I've experimented with a few budget record cleaning devices, products, and I've just found one which really works. Merrill's G.E.M. Dandy, which cost me a little more than a hundred dollars, consists of a contraption that you put in the sink and clamp the record onto. It's made out of pvc pipe. The label is covered, and then you attach a nozzle to your faucet, with a hose that you use to rinse the record. There is a proprietary record cleaner in a half quart bottle that you spray onto the record surface, both sides, and let sit for a minute or so. Then you rinse with the cold water nozzle/hose, held at a 30 degree angle. You finish by patting dry with a baby diaper and let dry in a rack for 40 minutes or so. My first attempt was a Coltrane Monk jazzland fantasy record with lots of pops. I'm playing the second side, and nary a pop. Oh, and I didn't get wet using it.:tresbon:
 
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You can see pics at the link here:

http://www.gmanalog.com/gm.html

BTW, when I ordered it, Mr. Merrill answered the phone. Be prepared for quite a conversation. He gave me lots of helpful advice and was a real pleasure to deal with. when i originally ordered it, it was $119, but we talked again recently and he said he had to raise the price to $150 because they could not assemble enough to fill orders and had to get some other folks to start putting them together. He had been doing all of the assembly himself. He and a friend or something. That and a few of the parts went up in price. But still at $150 it's quite a deal. I mean, the damned thing works like a charm. There's also a review at 6moons which the site above has a link to.
 
I thought the same thing about the tap water, but it comes with an adapter that will fit filters on the end of the faucet if you have hard water. My water supply is well, and the subsurface around here is granite, so it's fairly pure.
 
Budget Record cleaner

sabocat said:
I've experimented with a few budget record cleaning devices, products, and I've just found one which really works. Merrill's G.E.M. Dandy, which cost me a little more than a hundred dollars, consists of a contraption that you put in the sink and clamp the record onto. It's made out of pvc pipe. The label is covered, and then you attach a nozzle to your faucet, with a hose that you use to rinse the record. There is a proprietary record cleaner in a half quart bottle that you spray onto the record surface, both sides, and let sit for a minute or so. Then you rinse with the cold water nozzle/hose, held at a 30 degree angle. You finish by patting dry with a baby diaper and let dry in a rack for 40 minutes or so. My first attempt was a Coltrane Monk jazzland fantasy record with lots of pops. I'm playing the second side, and nary a pop. Oh, and I didn't get wet using it.:tresbon:
Click to expand...

I have a basic process that seems to work pretty good. I put about 1/2 gallon
of tepid tap water into a clean dish bucket and add 2 drops of Johnson's Baby Shampoo and mix up. Then I put down two non-lint towels on the counter, and use one as a base to do the washing. I use a clean soft non-lint dish cloth ( to wash each side of the record as it lays on the towel). I use quite a bit of the "soapy" water and wash in a circular motion for about 10 seconds each side. Try to avoid the getting the label too wet. Then I rinse right from the tap with tepid (or cooler) water. Be sure not use warm water, it makes the vinyl soft. Then I lay the record on the drying towel and use another dish drying towel (clean, no lint or course) to dry each side of the record. Then, as I am ususally in a hurry to record it, I carry it with both hands and wave it up and down in the air for some additional drying before it gets to the turntable. So far, good results and have not had a problem with labels deteriorating. My tap water is fairly good, I have a water softener. I use Johnson's baby shampoo because I heard (long time ago) that it contains no emoluents (softeners). Average cost to clean per record? Maybe 3 cents.
 
Interesting device, but if you are going to spend that much, I'd say might as well get a good vacuum-type record cleaning machine (like a VPI), use proper cleaning solution with a carbon-fiber brush and follow-up with distilled water rinse. Peace of mind, and blissfully clean sonics.

Everything else is often fun, usually cheaper... but usually just not as good. I haven't heard anyone suggest something they claim is better than a proper rcm, so if you can afford one (used ones and DIY ones are cheaper), why bother with less?

Hhhmmm, there might be something better. Perhaps something combining ultrasonic cleaning with ozone and gentle jet-washing, prior to vacuuming... but until someone comes up with it, I'll stick to the tried-and-true.

It is nice to see people offering alternatives, though, and glad you found something that "works for you".
 
Arkay said:
Everything else is often fun, usually cheaper... but usually just not as good. I haven't heard anyone suggest something they claim is better than a proper rcm, so if you can afford one (used ones and DIY ones are cheaper), why bother with less?

Hhhmmm, there might be something better.
Click to expand...

Not better than but in addition to...I'm finding that steam cleaning is working well with RCM. I really haven't tried it by itself as I think that vacuuming up the mess is important for ultimate clean..but the steam does seem to be good at loosening up the gunk.
 
jcmjrt said:
Here's a review:

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/gem/dandy.html


I'll admit to being leary of anything that puts tap water on my records. I'm not going to be trying it. I'm going to stick with diy RCM and steam cleaning (with very clean DI water).
Click to expand...
Huge ditto on the tap water!! Down here we have some of the nastiest,hardest,limeiest,clorinated water on the planet,I won't even give it to my dog's, Brita filters for me and my babies. Distilled for record washing in the sink:yes: Did anyone see or could think of a way to build a holding tank with a faucet to use instead??

Craig
 
OK just to inject a little DIY into this it would not be hard to set up a jug full of Distilled water well above the sink so you got a little pressure and hook your cleaning hose to that source of water.

OR if you really water to go nuts you could build a simple pressure flask using an Aquarium Air pump (something like a little Giant would work best) so that you had some real pressure.

Or you could buy a cheap air tank from the parts store and fill it from a home compressor auto compressor or tire shop or gas station air supply to pressurize your little cleaning system.

Not hard to figure out how to use distilled water with this system.
 
Thanks Mark! Thats your little grandaughter diggin the tubes isn't? what a great pic:yes:

Craig
 
Mark W. said:
OK just to inject a little DIY into this it would not be hard to set up a jug full of Distilled water well above the sink so you got a little pressure and hook your cleaning hose to that source of water.

OR if you really water to go nuts you could build a simple pressure flask using an Aquarium Air pump (something like a little Giant would work best) so that you had some real pressure.

Or you could buy a cheap air tank from the parts store and fill it from a home compressor auto compressor or tire shop or gas station air supply to pressurize your little cleaning system.

Not hard to figure out how to use distilled water with this system.
Click to expand...

I've been going through these ideas all week since I read this thread. I am trying to figure out a good way to clamp the label area.
 
One poster proclaims the advantages of a VPI RCM. That's fine, I'm glad it "works for you", but no one has addressed the issue raised by Mr. Merrill regarding the disadvantages of RCMs. Namely, the brushes can actually damage the lans, and the vacuum sucks stuff out before the cleaner has a chance to penetrate and do the work necessary to get all of the dirt out. Which is why he developed a hydraulic alternative that does not need brushes, etc.
 
At $150 he's on par with MapleShades steam cleaner. I have a lot less questions about that.

On the other hand. If you have an air pump, you could rig up something which pumps distilled or better yet deionized water at your record, rather then tap water....
 
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