Homemade ultrasonic vinyl cleaner

[Spider 494]

Having seen the ultra expensive, ultra cool, ultrasonic vinyl cleaners I figured it must be possible to build something to do a similar job.
So today I spent an afternoon with a ultrasonic bath off eBay a sheet of plastic and an idea .
It’s a bit rough and ready but it is functional and it’s doing a really good job on a few records that I’ve struggled to get really clean and dramatically reduced the pops and clicks.
I’m calling it a prototype, having got it working I’ve had a few ideas on how to make it a bit prettier.
Of course it can’t help where there is damage to the vinyl but I reckon it’s getting them pretty clean.
The process I used was a quick scrub with homemade alcohol fluid and a brush on greasy looking finger marks, 10 mins in the bath, vacuume off the excess fluid with my KAB KB1 thingy bob and allow to dry for a minute or two before playing.
That’s it.

[JamieMcC 352]

Nice job I made something along the same lines a little while back and have been over the moon with the results. One of the things I found with my ebay sourced ultrasound bath (looks similar to yours) is the temperature control tends not to be very reliable I  have it turned on until the bath reaches 40 degrees then turn it off as on a couple of occasions when I have left it on at the 40 degree setting the water at the bottom of the bath has reached 60 degrees. I use a digital baby bath thermometer to monitor the temperature rather than go on the machines built in one. 

Your motor looks interesting can you share a bit more detail on it?

If you use do a search on the Wham forum for "DIY ultrasonic RCM" you can find my one.

You might want to try more than one LP at a time.

Edited January 3, 2018 by JamieMcC

[Spider 494]

Hi Jamie

The motor is a 12v high torque motor set for 0.6 rpm. I got it off eBay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Reversible-High-Torque-Turbo-Worm-Geared-Motor-DC-12V-Motor-GW-JGY370-0-6-100RPM/152596967667?hash=item23877cf0f3:m:mrcNWNa7ZcNnXIpLsxl7-RA

I decided to only do one at a time to maximise cleaning action on both sides of the record. Do you find all three clean equally when doing 4 at once.

Do you do anything different to me in the way you clean them?

Thanks for heads up on the heater I’ll remember that and turn off heater once liquid is warm.

[AlMac 102]

Mmm, great idea.

[robbyd 15]

nice job - can you have the emitters turned down low or is output level fixed?

[Spider 494]

This one is a fixed output level.

It wasn't expensive I was trying to keep costs as low as possible. May I'll look out for a fancy bath in the future now I've got a working prototype.

[Guest]

Nice job mate, can you fry chips in it as well? 

[bigfool1956 4,982]

What size bath did you use?

[JamieMcC 352]

Thanks for the details on the motor interestingly it looks the same as is used on this ebay option

 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RECORD-CLEANING-MACHINE-COMPLETE-PACKAGE-WITH-SONIC-TANK/253224114058?hash=item3af555578a:g:IM0AAOSwe9dZmCjR

but mounted in a small project box with a simple toggle switch and chassis mount power socket for a 12v switching supply. I am going to change my machine to this configuration purely for safety as the motor on mine is a 240v one.

The mix I use for cleaning is simply deionised water with a dash of IPA  with a 15min clean at 40 degree C. I did try some expensive ultrasonic detergent but I don't think it made a difference to be honest and wont be purchasing any more. I have recently purchased some Ilford Ilfotol Wetting Agent  to try and improve deep grove cleaning. It doesn't seem to make a difference if cleaning just one of four LPs at a time its just amazing how much crud ends up in the bottom of the tank and needs to be drained off after doing a few records if you use a short bit of hose on the drain tap and run the water through a paper paint micron filter you can quickly recycle your cleaning mix 

https://londonjazzcollector.wordpress.com/for-audiophiles/home-brew-cleaner-for-vacuum-rcms/

[JamieMcC 352]

You cant fry chips but you can easily suvee your supper if you wanted to.

[Maverick 1,121]

I made one like Jamie's, mine uses one of the mirror ball motors from China, 89p

plus point is that in use it annoys the hell out of the kids 

[bigfool1956 4,982]

9 hours ago, bigfool1956 said:

What size bath did you use?

Anyone?

[JamieMcC 352]

9 hours ago, bigfool1956 said:

Anyone?

I used a 6 litre one like this 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6L-Ultrasonic-Cleaners-Cleaning-Supplies-Jewellery-Heater-Basket-ind-/201388312013?clk_rvr_id=1409444280622&rmvSB=true

[Maverick 1,121]

Same, a few about on line. Just needs to be deep enough to reach up to the run out track. I.e. below the label

note to self; must get round to sanding and painting mine one day. Also need to construct a better bearing at the end opposite the motor as 4/5 LPs are quite heavy, especially new ‘heavy’ ones

[bigfool1956 4,982]

6 hours ago, JamieMcC said:

I used a 6 litre one like this 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6L-Ultrasonic-Cleaners-Cleaning-Supplies-Jewellery-Heater-Basket-ind-/201388312013?clk_rvr_id=1409444280622&rmvSB=true

Thanks, noted.