RD Ultrasonic Kit

For many years, there has been animated debate about how best to clean records. At one extreme are those who claim the stylus should be allowed to clean the groove and nothing else should ever touch the surface. At the other, are the various wash wet and suck dry systems – although these tend to be noisy and time consuming. However, more recently the audio industry has discovered the benefits of ultrasonic cleaning systems, originally developed for surgical instruments and jewellery. Undoubtedly superior to any other approach, dedicated record cleaning machines based on this technology are now the de facto standard for serious vinyl users. Unfortunately they are also slow and expensive …

The Kuzma response is typically practical and cost effective. We have produced an adjustable frame that rotates records and can be positioned over a commercially available ultra-sonic bath. In this way we have created a system that leverages the low purchase price of generally available ultra-sonic machines, produced in their thousands for critical surgical and precision engineering applications, along with the ability to clean up to ten records, automatically in a single operation. The RD ULTRASONIC KIT can be set up anywhere, the cleaning cycle programmed and then it can simply be left to run until the cycle is complete. Simply return after the correct interval and retrieve your pristine discs for drying. The result is by far the most affordable and practical ultrasonic cleaning system available.

The frame is machined from stainless steel with additional PVC parts. The kit also includes small bottles of isopropyl alcohol and wetting agent (tiny amounts of each being added to the filtered water used in the ultra-sonic bath) along with a carbon fibre cleaning brush and DC power supply for the motor. The complete kit can be assembled and set up in around 20 minutes – about the time it takes the ultra-sonic bath to reach operating temperature.

201028:

Ultimate approach to have cleanest records could be:

• on used or dirty records first clean  with wet vacuum cleaning process or use two ultrasonic cleaners- one for dirty records and second for clean 
• use ultrasonic cleaner with suitable liquid (if you have option use also 80 kHz)
• use second ultrasonic cleaner with just distllled water-optional
• use vacuum cleaner to clean and dry records again with liquid which contains minimal wetting or washing agent

You might skip some steps, but let us know your experiences!

180801:

Read this artricle: https://thevinylpress.com/timas-diy-rcm-follow-up-2-compelling-changes-improved-results/

Latest tips: 160928:

After extensive use of ultrasonic cleaners we concluded that specially designed washing additives provided by manufacturers are not  good for cleaning records. Records sounded much more noisier and maybe even better, but only after wash with distilled water the noise floor was lowered again. So more testing should be done-but do last rinse with suggested liqud by us.

80kHz- we use Elmasonic P 120H- 37/80 kHz ultrasonic cleaner and we suggest for best performance to use first 37kHz (15 minutes) and then switch to 80kHz (10 minutes). This even further increase transparency and opennes of the sound on LP. Higher is the frequency shorter is the wavelength and betterr  are cleaned modulated grooves with higher frequencies as well are smaller particles removed out of grooves.

See suggested list of ultrasonic cleaners. This list will be updated and please check suppliers for correct technical data. 

Suggested weeting agent-liquid - look under brochures!

Check also EUMAX PML 100 - China:
Suggested weeting agents: there are more on the market - ask better photo shops

• ILFORD- ILFOTOL
• KODAK- PHOTO- FLO 200
• WAC- wetting active agent ( COMPARD KG- Germany)
• AGFA- AGEPON