EASY DIY record cleaning machine!!!

I built this in about a hour & I think it works BETTER than a lot of factory machines. Cost me around $40.00, including diy cleaning formula (distilled water, 99% isopropanol & a drop or two of wetting agent)

old turntable (removed tone arm)
shop vac (any canister vac will do)
crevice tool
velvet

step 1 - apply about a 2" puddle of cleaning fluid
step 2 - spread cleaning fluid on to record with SOFT brush (I use a "static-off" brush)
step 3 - for really dirty records, I give a light scrub with another stiffer SOFT brush
step 4 - vacuum off cleaning fluid by turning record several times in both directions

In pic of modified crevice tool. Notice I had to drill holes to relieve air pressure. without these, it sucked so hard it was hard to turn the record! End of tool is plugged with a small piece of wood.

Nice work.

How do you prevent shock by possible water leak-by?

Did you seal the unit?

I use the same set up basically , I use a JA Mitchel clamp to spin with and the Nitty Gritty pads on the crevice tool and the results are fantastic ! I also have a hole at the end of the crevice tool to relieve suction . The little shop vac is a howler though I was very happy with the results but then got a 2nd crevice tool and started a di water rinse as the final step , this eliminates some noise that I was getting on some of my washed LP's . If you aren't rinsing now it's worth the time to do it , the water is cheap , just now have 4 cycles per disc is all .

Wonderful! I have a nice BPC TT pulled from an all in one system that sould make a perfect base! Now did you add some sort of hinge to the base? Looks like a piece of wood with rubber bands to hold the wand down.

Nice setup.

FYI, the carbon fiber bristle ("static-off") brushes are not intended to be used wet. Also, their bristles are too soft to do any real cleaning.

Tedrick said:

Nice setup.

FYI, the carbon fiber bristle ("static-off") brushes are not intended to be used wet. Also, their bristles are too soft to do any real cleaning.

Click to expand...

1st. question about shock. There is no power to the TT (I gutted the inside of the TT). I spin the record by hand using the wood clamp with a piece of non-slip pad glued to the bottom (also protects the label).

All the wood ect. pieces under the crevice tool are just to "shim" it so it sits level with the record. There are no hinges, the tool just sits on the side of the TT.

I basically just use the static-off brush to spread the fluid over the record & this is usually good enough for a routinely cleaned record. for dirty records I use a second stiffer brush.

I will try rinsing the record, makes sense to me . Thanks for the tip!