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Ultrasonic album cleaner


PDR

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I've been wanting to build an ultrasonic album cleaner for quite a while now.
The main reasons I havnt yet are....1) its expensive to find one thats 60KHz, most are
40KHz, and  2) I have doubts about the quality of the China made "Cheapo" units.
 
So I'm checking out the DIYaudio site on these DIY units when I notice an young American (yes I said
American) company is offering 60KHz-6Qt units for $375.00. The catch?....Instead of metal externals,
it comes with plastic.....Bingo! Exactly what I've been waiting for.
 
Dont know if any of you have been waiting/ looking......if so this may interest you.
Theres a month of pre-order before they start making the DIYaudio batch.
I'm ordering mine now
HERES the post, #667, on DIYaudio.
 
HERES a link to the order page
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I was listening to a Rega P6 with a nice cart-(cant remember which)-at a local high end store.
He put on a few different albums, when he played a Ricky Lee Jones album it popped and cracked.
He immediately pulled it off and stuck it in THIS $4000 contraption. 6 mins later he put it back on.
I was astounded at the improvement.....no mess no fuss. It sold me on ultrasonics.
I should have it built by the end of summer, I'll post a review then. 
 
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60kHz is that much better than 40kHz? I'm curious as to how frequency is determined for maximum effectiveness.
 
What we really need is waterproof label covers! emidea.gifThen we could wet-store records. Pull 'em up, dry 'em off, play like new!14.gif Or store them in a vacuum container???eusa_think.gif
Yeah, I just took my meds...out.gif
 
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60kHz is that much better than 40kHz? I'm curious as to how frequency is determined for maximum effectiveness.
 
Higher frequency = more even cleaning (less problem with standing modes in the tank or part), gentler cleaning (smaller bubbles cavitate with less energy), removal of smaller particles (typically found on records), better penetration into the small grooves.  
 
There are cleaners that mix frequencies.  
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If you're going to run a powerful ultrasonic cleaner at home, please be mindful of where your pets are when you turn it on. Seriously. yikes.gif
 
Never would of dawned on me that I could torture the cats with this......but now that I know, cool...emwink.gif
 
Seriously.....I never would of thought about the pets......Thanks! 
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If you're going to run a powerful ultrasonic cleaner at home, please be mindful of where your pets are when you turn it on. Seriously. yikes.gif
 
Never would of dawned on me that I could torture the cats with this......but now that I know, cool...emwink.gif
 
Seriously.....I never would of thought about the pets......Thanks! 

 

whatthehellcat.gif
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I actually have an ultrasonic cleaner at home, I'll have to give it a try, but I'm not sure how much of the record I can get in it, I'll try it and let you know

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  • 3 weeks later...
Was notified that my unit shipped out today.
This will make 2 DIY projects along with the slate plinth TT.
 
I will be a busy boy on my days off...
 
This is it..... 
 
 
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Not sure yet Steve.
Some have a cleaning system.....sort of
like a fish tank water cleaner.
Some use a solution that makes the water bead
off, and they basically air dry or use a muffin fan.
The gunk should be removed so there shouldnt be anything
to suck up if the water in the tank is filtered. 
Some have rotations of 1RPM, some 6 RPM
and others are slower than 1RPM.
 
I wasnt expecting the unit to ship so fast...thought I had 6 weeks to
research. I'm going to have to do some reading. 
 
I like this DIY effort....but think I can do a bit better.
20140712151315632.jpg 
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Not sure yet Steve.
Some have a cleaning system.....sort of
like a fish tank water cleaner.
Some use a solution that makes the water bead
off, and they basically air dry or use a muffin fan.
The gunk should be removed so there shouldnt be anything
to suck up if the water in the tank is filtered. 
Some have rotations of 1RPM, some 6 RPM
and others are slower than 1RPM.
 
I wasnt expecting the unit to ship so fast...thought I had 6 weeks to
research. I'm going to have to do some reading. 
 
I like this DIY effort....but think I can do a bit better.
20140712151315632.jpg 

 
Multiple LP's at once makes this idea vastly superior to the singles & 1 side at a time approach!
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Perry,
Have you seen this one? Two scrubbing brushes but then just air dry from what looks like a PC fan.
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/follow-up-audio-desk-systeme-vinyl-cleaning-machine/
 
Yep, thats the one that was used at the hi-fi shop I visited......its the one that got me interested in the ultrasonics.
It worked well, but I'd like to see it clean up a good-will album.....some of those are nasty.
 
If I remember correctly they had it selling for $4400 CAD..... Little outta this po' boys price range.
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Went shopping today at Princess auto.....a "big sells everything" store up here.
Was looking for motors to power the spindle.
All I could find were 12v DC motors, and they all had
RPM way to high anyway......no good to me.
I'm looking for something in about 1RPM 
Wondered up and down the isles....then I spotted it...
it even came with a light....party.gif
20140717130244675.jpg 
 
Its almost exactly like this picture, and get this.....1RPM.
Was on 1/2 price sale for $17 
If it can rotate a big ole roast.....it'll rotate 4 or five albums..... :)
 
As a bonus I plugged it in and in runs almost silent......sweet. 
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  • 3 weeks later...

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