The cheapest that did the job in a fully manual machine was the Disc Doctor made by Nitty Gritty and sold through Audio Advisor. The best for the $ is the low end VPI.

I used to have a Nitty Gritty, and now use the VPI 16.5 (I think this is the entry level). It's pretty easy to use and does a good job. Make sure you practise on a couple of 'disposable' LPs first in order to get the hang of putting the right amount of liquid on.

Dude. No one needs anything more than the VPI 16.5... they're pretty much indestructible, so you can get a used one. Have never used a Nitty Gritty, so can't comment on that...

I don't like the Nitty Gritty jobs myself-get messy, not as consistent and just awkward. I've always thought the entry level VPI is just great, though I'd be open to trying out a quieter one. The one I built is based on the VPI and works extremely well, which to me, means the design is probably best approach. They all seem to cost more than they should, but what are ya gonna do?

We found a solution, this beast. yes, it is ugly as hell, but reviews are very, very good for it.
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/gem/dandy.html
the price was right so I bought one for myself too, to stack up against the nitty gritty. also bought a zerodust stylus cleaner.

ill post a review/pics.

Michael Fremer reviewed the G.E.M. Dandy in the September 2008 issue of Stereophile, and he demos it in his new DVD, It's A Vinyl World, After All.

Michael wrote:

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Used with Merrill's Super Solution, the G.E.M. Dandy is a useful record-cleaning/resurrection tool for only $149, and the price includes enough fluid to clean dozens of records. If George Merrill can better explain how to use it so that water never dampens a record label, I'd recommend the G.E.M Dandy without reservation as a budget-priced cleaning machine.

An updated version of the unit included a gasket meant to protect the record label from fluid. Mikey's demo showed that even the gasket couldn't completely prevent fluid from leaking in, however. Do you have this problem, ncdrawl?

I use the VPI HW-16.5.

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Do you have this problem, ncdrawl?

Havent gotten it yet, Stephen. I did get the newest version, with the gasket, so we shall see.

I will post tons of pics and review..

Quote:

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Do you have this problem, ncdrawl?

Havent gotten it yet, Stephen. I did get the newest version, with the gasket, so we shall see.

I will post tons of pics and review..

Cool. Looking forward to it.

My favorite RCM is hand-cleaning method using a bowl of warm water with some Dawn in it, a soft paint brush and MoFi brush, a label protector, and some soft terry-cloth microfiber cloths to dry the record after rinsing in the sink.

In fact, I think this method cleans records better than machines.

Label protector?

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Label protector?

yeah, to ah protect the label.

The GEM machine has a rather clever label guard built in.

OK, I'll play along. What sort of label guard? How does it work?

Jan, it is simply a mechanism consisting of two pipe coupling joints(on a bolt) , a washer and a wingnut. the new version has a gasket in between the cup and the record to get a watertight seal.

Best illustration I've seen in awhile.

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Best illustration I've seen in awhile.

they don't call me Basquiat for nothing