[Guy 13]

Hi all Audio Circle members.
I’ve decided to try (Give it a spin) to my new vinyl washing machine by the name of:
Spin Clean Record Washer MKII
Made in USA.
Yes, it looks like a yellow submarine, to me anyway.



So, I’ve selected twenty (20) dirty vinyls,
No problem, I’ve got plenty of those,
but with in good inserts, at first sight.
After going around the city in all the drug stores and mega super markets, I could not find any distilled water; look like it’s something rare in Vietnam, the instruction manual says it’s O.K. if you use tap water and that’s what I’ve used.
Plus three cap of the magic liquid and I was ready to go.
Here a picture of how dirty some of my vinyls are/were.



Yes, I know, that’s more than dirty, that’s @#$%^&**(*(&^%^$% and I am not proud of it.
I’ve inserted the vinyl in the liquid filled machine and started to spin. Three turns left, three turns right.
My God that’s so boring !
No problem, I’ve put some background mood music to keep me going and keep my spirit high .
Then, I’ve used the supplied drying cloth to dry the vinyl, I have two, they get wet pretty fast, while using one, I had the other one near a fan.
I might buy some more later on; I think if you tackle a big job, let say 50 vinyl, maybe a total of 12 cloths would be O.K.
Anyway, I manage to keep my cloths fairly dry, by spinning slowly and enjoying the background music.
I am not posting pictures of the after clean up because every one knows what a clean vinyl look like.
After twenty vinyl the water was (Surprisingly) just a little dirty.
Sorry, no picture.
I’ve also noticed that the vinyl inserts were not too clean.
Next time when I will order inserts, I would prefer buying thick paper inserts, easier to insert them in the outside insert.
Over all I am happy with the results, even if some vinyl are not 100% clean, I might give them another session of spins when I get my new inserts.
At 80 USD, I think it’s a good investment.
I should have bought that machine years ago.
This evening, I will get some vinyl spinning and fill my ears with nice music from the Ventures.
That’s it and that’s all for now.
     
 Guy 13
   

[Charles Xavier]

let us know how the record sound

[Guy 13]

let us know how the record sound

Hi Charles Xavier and all Audio Circle members.
Just finish a listening session with a few freshly washed vinyl.
WOW ! What a difference, much better than before.
The mids and highs are cleaner, it's like if I had removed a veil in front of the speakers.
I usually and even rarely hear a difference with most of the changes i do,
but this time, a BIG difference.
The vinyl Adela 19 which I got new from Amazon, never opened,
was or looked dirty right out of the sleeve,
so I washed it and when I've listen to it,
I could still hear some small click and pop, minds you,
that vinyl was recored at a low level,
maybe that why,
the other vinyl Adele 21 was recorded at much higher level
and I did not hear any pop and click.
I also have a vinyl from the pianist Stephen Schlaks
(It's called: Sensitive and delicate) it sounds good after a wash,
even if my 20 $ AT3600L cartridge
and the cheap unknown LP label called discotel/Telson
probably a recording studio in a garage...
In conclusion, washing, spining and drying was worth the boring trouble.
As soon as I get my sleeves I will re-wash the 20 LPs I did
and also wash all the remaining 60+ lps and put them in new sleves.
I am happy; that 80 USD was well spent, worthed
and a good long term investment,
I don't see what could go wrong with that unit in the 20 years to come.
I like any items that I buy and that last a minimum of 20 years.

Happy Guy 13.
 

[Grbluen]

Nice review!

[Guy 13]

Nice review!

Hi Grbluen and all Audio Circle members.
Thanks a lot.

Guy 13

[WireNut]

Hi Guy13,

Guess I need to break down and buy one or two spin cleans. I've been cleaning LP's in my sink with tap water a sponge and dish soap. Somewhere I read that it's a good idea to use two spin cleans with the second one having only clean water to use as a rinse.
Make since I guess, but I don't know if it's necessary or not 
Hopefully I can fine distilled water at my local Kroger or Walgreen stores.

[Guy 13]

Hi Guy13,

Guess I need to break down and buy one or two spin cleans. I've been cleaning LP's in my sink with tap water a sponge and dish soap. Somewhere I read that it's a good idea to use two spin cleans with the second one having only clean water to use as a rinse.
Make since I guess, but I don't know if it's necessary or not 
Hopefully I can fine distilled water at my local Kroger or Walgreen stores.

Hi WireNut and all Audio Circle members.
I thought of rinsing the vinyl after cleaning it,
but I did not think of that when I first bought my Spin Clean machine.
Cleaning the vinyl, drying and then putting them back in the sleeve
and after that, getting all the vinyl one by one out of their sleeve to rinse them, doesn't make sense or it's lots of work.
Now rinsing, might be a good idea?
Since nothing is mentioned about that in the instruction manual,
I would think that the manufacturer would have mention it,
if it was something necessary or at least recommended.
But, if you have the money, (160 USD for two machines) why not,
like in WireNut to make it rimes.
Anyway, I can confirm that investing 80$ in the Spin Clean machine is a good investment and I am sure that that machine can last for the next 20 years, minimum and it's made in USA.
All that being said:
Have a nice cleaning day.

Guy 13

By the way,
I could not find distilled water,
so I've used tap water,
no problem.


 

[FullRangeMan]

I could not find distilled water,
so I've used tap water,
no problem.

If you want to get rid of chlorine from tap water you could do distilled water yourserf by collecting steam from a boiling kettle.
It seems laborious.

[Guy 13]

If you want to get rid of chlorine from tap water you could do distilled water yourserf by collecting steam from a boiling kettle.
It seems laborious.

Hi FULLRANGEMAN and all Audio Circle members.
Making distilled water as per the instructions from the link below is easy,
but time consuming, to make 1/2 litre might take probably around one hour.
They don't say how much ice you need,
minds you in super hot Vietnam, ice is cheap and can be found everywhere.
As a matter of fact, my sister in law who's have a restaurant can supply me as much ice as I want,
free of charge.
I might try to make some just to see how much I can make per hour.
I will have plenty of time next week,
because everything will be close for 10 days for the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4728943_own-distilled-water.html
Thanks.

Guy 13

[Guy 13]

Hi all.
Today it's Sunday and on Sunday here its vinyl clean and spin day.
From 2pm to 8pm with a 30 minutes break I've clean and spun 80+ vinyl.
I also put all of them in the new Vinyl City Disckeeper insert.
I did the whole thing in three batches.
After approximately 25 vinyl the water was like mud, yes, I know,
as always, I exagerated to make myself funny.
But the water was really dirty.
I must say that all my vinyl were never cleaned, only brushed for the past 35 years. 
Now, don't ask me how the cleaned vinyl sounds,
because I cannot tell you,
my Rega RB301 tone arm are is under repair and it might take a whole week.
While cleaning my vinyl I saw that some/many were scratched badly,
it brought tears to my eyes and I was at the same time angry at myself for not having taken care of those precious vinyl.
Well, that's life.

Guy 13
Thanks to ortobiz for the cloths,
very usefull for wiping and drying the vinyl.







 

[Guy 13]

Hi all.
Since there is not distilled water available here
and if there is I don't know where to get it, therefore,
I have used tap water, what the heck, better than nothing
or can't be that bad ?

Guy 13

[Guy 13]

Hi Guy13,

Guess I need to break down and buy one or two spin cleans. I've been cleaning LP's in my sink with tap water a sponge and dish soap. Somewhere I read that it's a good idea to use two spin cleans with the second one having only clean water to use as a rinse.
Make since I guess, but I don't know if it's necessary or not 
Hopefully I can fine distilled water at my local Kroger or Walgreen stores.

Hi WireNut.
When I got my re-tipped rega Exact mm cartridge from Soundsmith,
there was a four page instruction manual and somewhere they say that using two
Spin Clean machines (Wash + separate rinse) is the way to go and at 80 USD per machine,
don't need to rob a bank.
Two machines makes sense, if you can afford it.

Guy 13

[S Clark]

Two machines makes sense, if you can afford it.

I think I'd get a KAB vacuum rather than 2 Spin Cleans for the same $$... vacuum will do a better job.

[Guy 13]

Hi all.
I got free this manual vinyl washing machine.
I was given to me by a Chinese friend in Hong Kong.
I was the official Rega importer for Hong Kong.
I bought from him my Rega Apollo CD player.
He wanted to offer his customer an affordable vinyl washing machine, therefore he designed his own, got it made locally and sold it for ???
Well I don’t remember, maybe something around 50 USD.
By the way, that Chinese friend of mine drop the Rega line because Rega UK was pushing him too hard and he’s like me, he don’t like to be pushed to perform by large corporation.
He also closed his showroom and business.
This is the machine with its accessories.
1511



The platter is mounted on heavy duty ball bearings.
1503



With the velour brush and some cleaning liquid
(Not shown) you apply pressure on the brush and then manually spin the vinyl.
1504, 1507, 1510







Then with the slotted tube with protective velour and attached to a vacuum cleaner hose you put it on the vinyl and spin it to suck the left over water.
Everything that touch the vinyl is lined with velour, therefore, no scratching.
I’ve never used the machine.
One day (When I am back in Canada),
I might sell it for 20 USD ?
Just want to share with all of you or with the ones that are interested in the stuff I post.

Guy 13
 





 

[Nick77]

That looks really cool Guy, id buy one of those. Too bad he doesnt still make them. That wand is awesome, does anyone sell that wand i wonder?

[bacobits1]

KAB EV1? Similar in operation. You use your own Vac.
https://www.kabusa.com/frameset.htm?/
Go to "Record Cleaners" at the top.

[S Clark]

If he sold those for $79 they would be a huge seller here in the States.  When you use it, try using two brushes, one for solution and separate one for a final spray with distilled water.  By vacuuming twice, you keep your final rinse and brush much cleaner.  I use a cut down bristle paint brush for the solution and a velour brush for the distilled water rinse. 

[Guy 13]

That looks really cool Guy, id buy one of those. Too bad he doesnt still make them. That wand is awesome, does anyone sell that wand i wonder?

Hi Nick77
He got those made only for him in very small quantities.
Sorry.

Guy 13

I would sell you mine,
but it would cost a fortune to send it from here to where ever you are.
I could give it to my wife's aunt that will return to Chicago
in the first week of June, but again from Chicago to ?
How much by UPS or FedEx ? ? ?
Now could you send me the money by Western Union,
what about the fees ? ? ?

A lot of unknown.

[Guy 13]

If he sold those for $79 they would be a huge seller here in the States.  When you use it, try using two brushes, one for solution and separate one for a final spray with distilled water.  By vacuuming twice, you keep your final rinse and brush much cleaner.  I use a cut down bristle paint brush for the solution and a velour brush for the distilled water rinse.

Hi S Clark.
I bought the Spin Clean because the price is reasonable.
It's simple, almost nothing can go wrong.
Spare parts are available and inexpensive.
It's small.
If you don't drop it on the cement floor,
it will last until you kick the bucket.
Inexpensive to operate.
You can buy the cleaning fluid in small or extra large bottle.
I did all my vinyl with less than half of the small bottle that came with it.
Unless you have only a few (-10) vinyl you need extra drying cloths
and they are not that expensive and you can always find a substitute.
As for the distilled water, contrary to Vietnam,I think it's easy to find and not too expensive when you live in a civilized country like USA and Canada, not Vietnam.
Her other than rice, everything else is special order and that is, if they want to order for you.
It does not happen often, but with the Spin Clean, I made a good investment, which I cannot say for a lot of equipment I've purchased.

Guy 13

[S Clark]

Guy,
You have a simple, free, and plentiful replacement for distilled water in Vietnam... use rainwater.  The key is to avoid dissolved solids in the water, so avoid well water or tap water.  I find that you only need to mist the surface, then use a velour brush, then vacuum.  Give it a try.