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DIY Record Cleaning Machine w/pics

cactuscowboy

cactuscowboy

Super Member
Banned
I built this record cleaning machine to properly clean used discs I've acquired at yard sales and thrift shops. I also use it on all new vinyl as well.

The platter and bearing were salvaged from a beat up old Victrola my brother gave me. I built the cabinet from steel scavenged from an old pressure washer cabinet, cut and welded to size. There's a removable access panel on the back for service/cleaning. The vacuum motor came from a $5.00 junk shop upright vacuum. It's bolted inside the cabinet. The vacuum tubes are common PVC plumbing material from the hardware store. The swinging arm has a slot cut with a Dremel tool. Black velvet epoxied on the tube protects the records from scratches. I built three other swinging arms (not shown) for 7", 10" and 16" records.

The clamp is cut from plate steel, with a hole drilled in the middle. The spindle (not shown) has a piece of 1/4 x 20 bolt welded on to it. That big nut that holds down the clamp has a 1/4 x 20 nut welded inside it. A rubber gasket cut from a truck innertube (not shown) is glued onto the bottom of the clamp, providing excellent grip on the record label. That nice black knob on the clamp also came from the Victrola.

Homemade record cleaning solution:

1 part 91% isopropyl alcohol
2 parts distilled water
A few drops Photo Flo

The brushes are designed for a VPI machine. They're the most expensive parts by far at $10 each.

The machine is fast and easy to use. I like that it's entirely manual operation, offering a great degree of control. I've cleaned well over 2,000 records with it, always with excellent results.
 

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Pretty cool.
Just one question, as it's a little hard to see from the Pics.

On your Slotted Vacuum Arm Wand, the side that is Velvet covered, did you somehow sand-grind-flatten the ridge from the transistion of the tube, to the PVC End Cap?

Similar principal as to the VPI 16.5, but its Wand is a simple slotted Acrylic Tube for the Arm Wand, with an appropriately sized Black Plastic Plug at it's end. This then allows flatter, even contact to the LP's surface.

About the only other difference worth mentioning, is that the VPI 16.5 uses a mild pressure cyndrical coil spring on the Arm Wand Tower, in that when the vacuum is shut off, the Arm Wand automatically lifts itself from the surface of the LP at the Tower, and then can be easily swung to the side. Mark
 
markd51 said:
Pretty cool.
Just one question, as it's a little hard to see from the Pics.

On your Slotted Vacuum Arm Wand, the side that is Velvet covered, did you somehow sand-grind-flatten the ridge from the transistion of the tube, to the PVC End Cap?

Similar principal as to the VPI 16.5, but its Wand is a simple slotted Acrylic Tube for the Arm Wand, with an appropriately sized Black Plastic Plug at it's end. This then allows flatter, even contact to the LP's surface.

About the only other difference worth mentioning, is that the VPI 16.5 uses a mild pressure cyndrical coil spring on the Arm Wand Tower, in that when the vacuum is shut off, the Arm Wand automatically lifts itself from the surface of the LP at the Tower, and then can be easily swung to the side. Mark
Click to expand...

Yes, the ridge of the end cap was flattened with a grinder and then smoothed out with a file. So the vacuum tube lies perfectly flat on the record surface.

I'm not familiar with the VPI. Interesting the lift-off feature with the coil spring. I haven't really seen the need for such a feature on my machine. After I make one complete pass, vacuuming all fluid off the disc, I just swing the tube off the record, lifting as I go.

It's a nice machine. I'd encourage anyone with design and fabrication skills to make something similar. I have lots of welding equipment so the steel case was easy to make. But a wooden case would work just as well.
 
Cactus, Sadly, I cheated a bit, and finally went ahead not long ago, and sprung for the VPI 16.5 RCM. Yes, a little costly up front, but it's a purchase I regret not making many years ago.

Offhand Cactus, what RPM does your Platter spin at?
The VPI 16.5 spins at 16rpm, and thier model 17 I believe spins at 20rpm (Different Motor in the model 17, and the Typhoon as well)

With 16.5 in hand now, looking at the machine, and also finding the source for the two most critcal parts, the Vacuum Motor, and the Platter Motor, one could fashion a prety accurate copy without too much trouble. A Table Saw, and some Plywood, or MDF would be all that's needed. I have the skills to make an identical copy of the 16.5 without much hassle, but no longer the access to the proper tools-machinery I once had.

Apparently, VPI sourced all the parts it appears from WW Grainger. Doubtful if they're getting much of a discount on the parts, as I'm sure they're not buying Motors by the literal 100's, or 1000's direct from the manufacturers themselves.

Once one does figure out the costs of materials, and then the labor to make the 16.5, (then the dealer network, and mark-up to boot) it doesn't seem like VPI is really making that much of a profit with these RCMs.

I've discussed this with a couple of people on the Web recently,and thier thoughts are in agreement with this.

At least should I have any motor failures years down the road, and out of warrantee with the 16.5, I now know the source of the parts, and can save a little bit of money versus the higher prices of the individual parts bought from VPI.

About the hardest part to fabricate I see, would be the Vacuum Wand, and Vacuum Wand Tower. Having a one off made to spec by a competent machinist would likely be costlier than just purchasing the entire assembly from VPI.

As an aside, and sorry if I'm taking Cactus's thread off on a tanget here, if any VPI 16.5 owners, or others have interest in the Motor Part numbers (for possible DIY), just drop a mesage, I'll get them to you.
Mark
 
markd51 said:
Offhand Cactus, what RPM does your Platter spin at?
The VPI 16.5 spins at 16rpm, and thier model 17 I believe spins at 20rpm (Different Motor in the model 17, and the Typhoon as well)
Click to expand...

Mark,

My RCM is a custom deluxe 'variable speed' model! Meaning that it's totally manual. :) Note the offset knob on the clamp. Grip it and spin. I really like the flexibility it offers. Easy to go fast or slow, forward or reverse, as the individual record (and its level of filth to remove) requires.
 
Hmmm. Seeing as how I have a few turntables that are sitting doing nothing, I might just have to make me one of these. I have all the woodworking tools so no problem there plus, thankfully, mechanically inclined. I have a Marantz 6350Q that spins at probably 100+ RPM so that's probly too fast. I hate to use that one but I don't know what's causing it. I also have a Lenco but that one won't see duty for the RCM. I think the little lowly Calibre 330 TT will end up being the donor. It's a basic table anyway.

Thanks for the thread. That gives me more momentum.
 
jcmjrt said:
Nice job there! I like the victrola platter....now where's Nipper?
Click to expand...

I suppose a picture of Nipper pasted on the side of the RCM would be a nice touch. :)

BTW, that Victrola I cannibilized was totally trashed, lest anyone think I raped a restorable relic to make a RCM.
 
cactuscowboy said:
Mark,

My RCM is a custom deluxe 'variable speed' model! Meaning that it's totally manual. :) Note the offset knob on the clamp. Grip it and spin. I really like the flexibility it offers. Easy to go fast or slow, forward or reverse, as the individual record (and its level of filth to remove) requires.
Click to expand...

Ok, I gotcha now, and understand how you got your machine rigged. I see the offest knob, so more, or less, this has some properties of the Nitty Gritty manual machine, where you rotate yourself but with the top-side fluid removal like the VPI.

Fo years I either used Disc Doctor, or LAST record cleaning products, both which are very good, but with the thought of perhaps not fully getting these fluids, and the dirt-contaminants totally off, it sure does make much sense using a vacuum machine to lift these nasties off the record surface, rather than just pushing them around, trying in vain to rinse as well as possible, and then truly wondering have you gotten everything off, and out of the grooves?

Even with manual rotation, and application, this is still light years ahead of manual scrubbing, and rinsing over a kitchen sink, don't you agree?

Biggest dislike of my VPI 16.5, is that it is soooo loud, it will make a person stone deaf! I'm seriously considering some type of internal insulation sheeting, lining the inside of the cabinet to hopefully knock down the decibels a bit. This, and also a small cooling fan, as ventilation is very poor with the 16.5.

Meggy's past mention in another thread of the use of Headphones while at the machine is well warranted! It is murder! Would've been wonderful had the machine only been as loud as its Platter Motor. Mark
 
markd51 said:
Even with manual rotation, and application, this is still light years ahead of manual scrubbing, and rinsing over a kitchen sink, don't you agree?

Biggest dislike of my VPI 16.5, is that it is soooo loud, it will make a person stone deaf! I'm seriously considering some type of internal insulation sheeting, lining the inside of the cabinet to hopefully knock down the decibels a bit. This, and also a small cooling fan, as ventilation is very poor with the 16.5.

Meggy's past mention in another thread of the use of Headphones while at the machine is well warranted! It is murder! Would've been wonderful had the machine only been as loud as its Platter Motor. Mark
Click to expand...

A wet/vac machine is by far the best way to clean records, in my experience.

My machine is very loud as well. I use a pair of ear protectors (looks like headphones) that I picked up at the hardware store. Gotta save my hearing for music.
 
Very nice!! RE: your RC solution, is the 2 drops of Photoflo straight or diluted? I use Photoflo in the darkroom diluted for film rinsing.
 
cactuscowboy said:
Cat,

I like your DIY RCM! Simple and effective. That's all that really matters.

BTW, we're practically next door neighbors. I'm in Powell, Wyoming, about 100 miles south of Billings. Where in Montana are you?
Click to expand...

Hey Cactus,
Your shop skills are to be envied!
I'm located near Billings.

Tom
 
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