marb67
Well-known member
Al ears said:
The spindle height is adjustable but it needs a special hexagonal key which isn't provided. Also, no instruction on how to set it.
The spindle height is adjustable but it needs a special hexagonal key which isn't provided. Also, no instruction on how to set it.
marb67 said:
There are instructions at the bottom of the page here, you'll need an allen key though as you've discovered. - http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=vc-s&cat=cleaning&lang=en
I am suprised that you're suffering from a lack of suction though, being polite here - but they really do suck !
If it's not clearing the fluid from the record as seen in the video then there is definately something wrong somewhere and you should get it back to the dealer.
marb67
Well-known member
brownz said:
Tried with different records and the suction is weak. I put my hand over it and it's far weaker than our domestic vacuum. The retailer is sending a replacement so I wait in hope.
Excellent, let me know which dealer you're dealing with and I'll keep an eye out for it arriving back here.
Joe10155
Well-known member
A few years ago I bought a Moth Mk2 RCM kit and built the case using some furniture board I already had. The build was made a little more difficult as the board was thicker than the specified materials so I had to do a few simple calculations and do a sketch with the new measurements. I made one or two slight changes to the extract ventilation area from the vacuum motor as I recall, to improve the air flow. All in all it all went together fairly well.
I have to say I was somewhat disappointed in the quality/design of some of the parts; for instance, the vacuum tube that sucks off the used fluid is made from plastic domestic plumbing tube and fittings. However, it works well.
It came with a fluid application brush, much like those carbon anti-static brushes only with much longer "hairs" and a small bottle of their own cleaning fluid.
One thing I like is that the vacuum tube is located below the record, which allows you to start cleaning side B whilst side A is being sucked dry. Due to the very loud noise of the vacuum motor in use, I tended to clean no more than a dozen records at any one time so as not to disturb the neighbours too much. You can get quite a good rhythm going after a while. I've cleaned around 400-500 LPs and around a 100 78's (different cleaning fluid needed for the 78's). I haven't got round to cleaning my 50 or so 45's yet.
Overall, I needed to change the velvet protective strips on the vacuum tube 4 times, used around 3-4 litres of fluids and an awful lot of new anti-static inner sleeves (from Covers33). I changed the fluid application brush once too, but that was because I dropped in my workshop area and it got covered in all sorts of muck. The vacuum tube is now beginning to wear and is a bit loose and floppy; I'm not sure if replacements are available for that though.
To sum up, it works really well (apart from the noise), cleans & dry's the records and never have I had such lovely crackle free playback.
I have to say I was somewhat disappointed in the quality/design of some of the parts; for instance, the vacuum tube that sucks off the used fluid is made from plastic domestic plumbing tube and fittings. However, it works well.
It came with a fluid application brush, much like those carbon anti-static brushes only with much longer "hairs" and a small bottle of their own cleaning fluid.
One thing I like is that the vacuum tube is located below the record, which allows you to start cleaning side B whilst side A is being sucked dry. Due to the very loud noise of the vacuum motor in use, I tended to clean no more than a dozen records at any one time so as not to disturb the neighbours too much. You can get quite a good rhythm going after a while. I've cleaned around 400-500 LPs and around a 100 78's (different cleaning fluid needed for the 78's). I haven't got round to cleaning my 50 or so 45's yet.
Overall, I needed to change the velvet protective strips on the vacuum tube 4 times, used around 3-4 litres of fluids and an awful lot of new anti-static inner sleeves (from Covers33). I changed the fluid application brush once too, but that was because I dropped in my workshop area and it got covered in all sorts of muck. The vacuum tube is now beginning to wear and is a bit loose and floppy; I'm not sure if replacements are available for that though.
To sum up, it works really well (apart from the noise), cleans & dry's the records and never have I had such lovely crackle free playback.
marb67
Well-known member
I will say that after using the magic eraser last week which did a decent job of getting my mouldy records clean, I have since discovered on one of my albums, that I had to clean quite a bit more than the rest to get the crud out, indelible scuffs and abrasive patterns left on the vinyl so it does actually act like sandpaper.
I will also say that now my needle seems to get crud building up quite rapidly since I played the still damp record (I was unaware at the time) from the cleaner that the magic eraser method of gently dropping the stylus onto it is baloney. There were visible bits of white sticking to the stylus causing muffled crackling while playing a brand new record. After dropping the needle back on the sponge after cleaning off with the special brush it again picked up more white deposits from the sponge. Not good. Will now have to just use the provided brush gently.
Another issue I found is a brand new Scott Walker album had crud on it out of the wrapper. You can actually feel bits of stuff if you gently run the side of your finger over the vinyl. hat's that all about then. Am I going to have to clean every new record too ?
I will also say that now my needle seems to get crud building up quite rapidly since I played the still damp record (I was unaware at the time) from the cleaner that the magic eraser method of gently dropping the stylus onto it is baloney. There were visible bits of white sticking to the stylus causing muffled crackling while playing a brand new record. After dropping the needle back on the sponge after cleaning off with the special brush it again picked up more white deposits from the sponge. Not good. Will now have to just use the provided brush gently.
Another issue I found is a brand new Scott Walker album had crud on it out of the wrapper. You can actually feel bits of stuff if you gently run the side of your finger over the vinyl. hat's that all about then. Am I going to have to clean every new record too ?
The_Lhc
Well-known member
marb67 said:
I believe it's release agent from the pressing process. Many people do advocate cleaning new records (RCM manufacturers in particular, surprisingly...), although I've never tried it myself.
marb67
Well-known member
Just taken delivery of the replacement machine and the difference in suction is like night and day. Obviously it had a fault with the vacuum. After cleaning my records are now vastly improved. Pretty good investment for £299 which you could easily fritter away on a few things.
I went to the Bristol show and saw a demo of the VCS, suitably impressed I bought one and have now had it for a few weeks. Whilst it is rather noisy when the vacuum is going it does seem to do a very good job. I have for many years been using a Cecil Watts Parostatik disc preener, anybody remember them! Having created plenty of static it was time for the Zerostat gun. Now the records come off the VCS spotless, no static, and sound better than they ever have. It is a bulky and rather charmless lump but it does the business. The only defect I am aware of is a tendency for the vacuum arm pads to come away from the tube when not in use: others have commented on this. I have tied them on with a couple of lengths of cotton thread at the ends. Mr Bodgitt.
marb67 said:
Hi Marb67 I'm glad you got it sorted. It always did sound like a faulty machine.
Are you or Vickersman able to post up eg via YouTube any before and after demos? They're frustraingly hard to find for this machine other than the formal video from Henley. Ta.
MajorFubar said:
I've just done an unformal video for you.....
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/m4d95ty644z0j1p/AAAFFsrNbpaT7LIQWycLK2ETa?dl=0
brownz said:
Thank you very much, really appreciate the time you've taken. Looks like it does a good job!
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