I have always wanted a RCM but they cost too much, I kept looking at what people had built here and marveled at their ingenuity, and didn't think I could build one.
I finally thought, well, nothing ventured, nothing gained and went on Ebay and bought a Hurst 10rpm reversible motor, $25 I had a platter from a turntable that had died, bought a Hoover from Goodwill $15, a very powerful one!! Made a box out of spare MDF, the clamp is a piece of 2 x4 cut with a hole saw, a T-nut is screwed in the bottom and has a round piece of felt glued on to prevent scratching the label $4 , I figured out how to couple it together, added switches $15 and Then purchased the VPI upgrade kit $70 and I was on my way!!
My wife suggested I paint it and I didn't really care as it was more of a prototype but I did as she ask and bought a paint called Rust-Oleum hammered paint $7 a can and used 2, I liked the way it looked and found out it even hid defects so this is my finished RCM so far, I say this because I intend to also buy the VPI fluid dispensing brush and and buy a windshield washer tank with pump to dispense the fluid , hence the push button in the middle, I have used it on several records and I am blown away !
I had about 100 records I had taken care of with a discwasher brush and on those the sound after using my RCM they are dead quiet . I have bought around 75 used records lately and on those it varies from dead quiet to very little surface noise. the over all effect is like a blanket being removed from my speakers, it's almost jaw dropping, I would advise every one who has records to buy or build a RCM, the difference in sound is astonishing and in my case when it's all said and done I will have little more than $200 invested.
build one, you won't regret it!!
That's what we're talking about - nice!!!