Record Cleaning - part 2: Ultrasonic machines: The HumminGuru intro and demonstration
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- Опубликовано: 13 окт 2024
- Following up on my previous video (linked below) I have now started looking into ultrasonic machines. In this, the first of these videos, I take a look at and run through the HumminGuru record cleaner, which I believe to be the cheapest purpose-built ultrasonic record cleaning machine in the World.
If you've not already seen it do please take a look at my first record cleaning video: 'Record Cleaning - part 1: the myths, the theory, the practise unravelled'
• Record Cleaning - part...
You can either purchase the HumminGuru direct from:
humminguru.com
Or, if you're in the UK, as I did, from: www.juno.co.uk
I have collected vinyl records for over 50 years and used the simplest methods for keeping them clean, back in the day friends thought i was either mad or very eccentric for even wanting to dust them thinking a good layer dust and grease (even beer) did no harm to the playing surface but i insisted on my weird ways and today i am rewarded with a collection of almost immaculately (well mostly, some have a few nicks here and there) clean records. Today i use a simple manual bath tank method using goat hair brushes and VinylShelter cleaning fluid achieving perfect results for my new and used acquisitions, i really don't understand this modern day obsession with degritters and ultrasonic cleaning machines - don't waste your money, buy more records and enjoy your lives!
Love the shows Dave (-:
Thanks for the feedback Steve,
To be honest I didn't start wet-cleaning my records until around 2000. Although having said that i did work in a hifi shop in the 1980s that had a Keith Monks machine, so I did many of my LPs on that machine back then, so from around 1990 - 2000 I did without a wet record cleaner. I just used a carbon fibre brush (and noticed the occasional shed 'hair'). It was around 2000 that i had upgraded my hifi system to such a level that I felt cleaning records again was worthwhile, not just improved sound, but also to prolong the stylus life. That's when I bought a VPI 16.5, (subsequently upgraded). My foray into ultrasonic is only about a year old. I'd had demos of several machines and couldn't deny that they offered something in improved sonics, so, me being me, I had to investigate further buying (and quickly selling) the HumminGuru, and then the Degritter which I still have (along with my Loricraft PRC6).
Hey Dave, I bet you get this a lot. Let’s move it along Dave lol great video man
I'm hoping your review is positive as I'm thinking of buying one. The only ultrasonic I can afford. Thanks Dave!
Definitely more interested in your review than the demonstration. Will be looking forward to that. Have you tried using a couple of drops of a wetting agent to break the surface tension? HummingGuru initially recommended using only distilled water but then changed the recommendation. I did find myself that the water would almost be repelled from the vinyl surface without it.
You'll have to wait and see! ;-)
Interesting video, I've been interested in trying this machine for some time. Very similar concept to the Audio Desk but reputedly a great deal more reliable.
Thanks Ashley, hope you find the next video interesting too.
Hi Dave have a question...I bought a ultrasonic cleaner to add to my cleaning process and even after a deep brush clean and rinse then run it in ultrasonic cleaner I can still see under a microscope a glass like reflective stuff in grooves and small white specks in bottom of groove do you think this could have happened when I cleaned 10 years ago with tap water and did not completely dried them?
Hi, that's a good question. To be honest I've not looked at the grooves using a microscopic (not powerful enough to see what you're describing at any rate)...
So, I'm only guessing here: it might be limescale (or other mineral deposits) from the tap water, however I'd expect thorough ultrasonic cleaning to get that out. Maybe, if you have a record you would be prepared to sacrifice, try cleaning it with descaler first, then giving it the ultrasonic treatment.
As the the shiny glass-like specs. I have some records where you can see tiny inclusions, I'm sure in, rather than one, the vinyl. They typically also coincide with a higher noise floor.
@DaveDenyer I'm using a small jewelers lope and if I move it around different angles then it's not visible...not sure if I should run it through us cleaner more but I don't want to over do it there really is no surface noise when playing though?
Humming Guru just got it. I enjoy it, and have had great sucess. I make my own solutions and its great. I got mine for 425 with the 10 and 7inch attachment.
Thanks for the feedback. Did you buy direct from China? did that price include all UK import costs, taxes, duty etc?
@@DaveDenyer got mine through Amazon.
Hi Dave. I am also getting my feet wet with ultrasonic cleaners. I just received my generic ultrasonic - turned vinyl cleaner. Apparently, the transducers consume 180W and it can clean up to 8 records at a time. I'm still a bit nervous about using ultrasonic cleaners on records to be honest and I just need to get over the initial apprehension. I will try it out with some second hand bits and take it from there.
I was nervous for a good time too. Especially when I first tried a Kirmuss and saw black detritus on the stylus… the ‘aluminium foil test’ doesn’t help my apprehension either! However I’m pretty confident that there is no damage caused even with repeated ultrasonic cleaning. Having said that the notion that the Degritter’s 120kHz is ‘kinder’ to records certainly appeals.
On tenterhooks! Thanks for doing this series
You’re welcome @DMD.
Can you try the foil Disc test and see what the results show us!
The thing is you need to have the Frequency running higher not just at One frequency really 120kHz down to 40 kHz otherwise you're not getting down to the bottom of the groove, 40 kHz is about the surface of the groove, I don't know 40 hertz would penetrate all the way down to agitate enough?
Do you not use any other cleaning agents, or surfactants in the cleaning process?
The company that released this machine originally stated that no cleaning agents were needed; then, they released their surfactant.
Hi Steve, I’ve currently settled on as dilute an Ilfotol solution as i feel still acts as s wetting agent / surfactant. That’s around 0.05%
The rollers in my unit failed after 9 months. It’s an okay unit but I’m sure you only get what you pay for
Thanks for the feedback Kieron.
Trough that bird down the road!
the plastic tool pulls the bottom filter, it is not only to measure the water level... plus you can use it to clean the basin... thanks for the video...
Thanks for this extra information. 👍
Love your vids dave ... ive been planning on getting a degritter after deliberation as to which one to get .
I think the de gritter would be the best ...even if it is expensive at 2k .... then again records are an investment.
I was turned off the humming g as you said correctly, they are lower powered .
By the way i got the mofi thriller album ... good stuff
As you’ll now know, I am a big fan of the Degritter. In fact may well make a Record Cleaning part 5 video: I couldn’t just stop with my research when I made my Degritter video (part 4), now have six copies of that MUSE album to allow further experimentation.