At 03:52 PM 8/14/2009, you wrote:
>You can do just fine with the lower-cost VPI, which involves you
>applying the cleaning fluid and brushing by hand and the machine
>handling the "velvet lips" vacuum system.
>One complaint I've heard about the VPI in various quarters -- which
>is legit but can be worked around -- is that the cork turntable is
>something of a collection point for grit from the dirty side of the
>record, so then the clean side is pushed against this while the
>dirty side is cleaned.
Gents;
I have had a VPI 16.5 since they came out.
About a few months into using it, I promptly realized that the vacuum
motor would heat up to the point of tripping the thermal protector
(thankfully that would reset when it cooled down) after about a dozen
discs. It wasn't unusual for me to come home with 20 or so LPs, so I
modified it for a longer duty-cycle. This consisted of drilling a
few holes at the top of the motor compartment, and positioning a
Rotron Whisper Fan at the bottom. First problem solved.
Another annoying problem I found with the 16.5 was the nasty little
habit it had with loading every disc I had with static
electricity. At the time, the machine came with this thin foam
rubber mat; not cork. I replaced that with a Discwasher D-Stat mat
that was conductive and allowed the static electricity to ground out
via the safety ground wire. I also had to put a mess of copper tape
on the pressboard "turntable" to allow it to ground out via the
gear-head motor assembly. Second problem solved.
I really wish they had used a decent grade of wood impregnated with a
polyurethane compound or something. The pressboard used for general
construction is prone to expanding after contact with cleaning
solution. I found this out when after the first few months the lip
of one corner started swelling. I used to place the provided nylon
brush at this corner. I fixed that swelling with an old woodworker's
trick of injecting glue into the swell area and clamped it
overnight. I then stopped placing the wet brush on the corner.
I found that the internal collection tray would often fill up after a
vigorous cleaning session. Got to the point where I had to rig up a
small pump to empty it. Really with they had bothered to provide a
petcock drain through a piece of surgical tubing or something like
that. That's one mod I have yet to do... but eventually.
Overall, I'm really happy with the service of my 16.5 machine. Many
a flea market find that appeared as though it was through a flood was
cleaned with it, and the results were astounding every time.
My favorite cleaning solution ***for vinyl LPs ONLY*** remains 1oz
Everclear, 7oz distilled water, and a few drops of Kodak Photo-Flo
200. I've done a few other variations with some industrial cleaners
I no longer have access to, and achieved excellent results, but
overall this solution has never failed me. I've even substituted a
half-drop of Dawn for the Photo-Flo for exceptionally cruddy disks
and done well.
For clean disks with just a smattering of dust, I still use a dry
Discwasher pad very carefully. It really does work well for a light dusting.
Btw, I strongly agree with Tom. Run the vinyl disk through the
kitchen sink with warm soapy water first. You will get a lot of
stuff off that might otherwise be dragged across the soft vinyl by
that suck-tube arrangement.
Hope this helps someone.
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