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I know there are a few Loricraft users here - is there anything negative to say about them (other than they are expensive)? Everything I've read is almost universally positive.The only possible downside I've read about is that the wand occasionally misses some of the fluid. Has that ever happened? Is it a problem?
Follow Ups:
Where you start the arm takes some learning. Too close to the inside edge of the paper label, and it may move too rapdily across the dead wax zone. You have to get used to the idea of "cleaning" a 1/4 or 3/16 in of the label.If the LP has a fat outer rim, it's a simple matter to hold the arm in place , or even push it back a 1/4 in to do that area well. No bigie at all.
My unit had some issues with some foreign material embedded in the platter. Looked like some paint splatter. After some back and forth emails w/ both smart dev and the Brit manufacturer (Terry), I received a new platter. High marks for the USA distributor for customer service.
There is *one* downside, and it's psych one. Spinning at +/- 70 RPM, you will notice that some of your LPs are eccentric. Free Wow included at no charge on those. Unless you're prepared to accept the fact that Vinyl is *not* always perfect, and that there are Tics that *can't be removed, that it may be eccentric in either the vertical and/or horizontal planes, well... better readjust or move elsewhere.
Also the Lori is *not (IMO) an RCM. It's simply a RVM; a record vacuum machine. The 'Cleaning' part comes from the user, and her choice of fluids, brushes, and time and effort.
The upside, agreeing with Tim and Doug below and also Art Dudley, is that the speed, quietness and watching it in action, make a tedious task less so. More fun...! Highest reccomendation.
speed of the wand moving across the record can be fine tuned twisting the thread tube clockwise similar to increasing the antiskating in a turntable,that will take care of any fluid left behind.Like Thimothy I owned 2 record doctor rcm before the Lori.No other machine with cleaning velvet pads, none, can claim that won't cross contaminate records. Best machine around period.
After using an Audio Advisor cleaner for 10+ years I finally bought a Loricraft PRC3 a few months ago. My only regret is that I shoulda done it sooner. It has increased enjoyment of my record collection. While I'm sure there are folks who get good results with manual cleaning or VPI-type machines, for me, the Loricraft makes it so easy to do the job right.Maybe one out of ten you may find a *tiny* drop of moisture still on the record. It is not a problem. I'll either pick up the the vacuum arm and place it over the spot, or simply dab with a lint free cotton cloth.
Here are some things I've learned or adopted from other's suggestions:
- One of the keys to success is not using too much cleaning fluid - for me thats RLL wash. You don't need much.
- I placed two small rubber grommets on the thread spindle (thank you Mosin!) which grips the spool and keeps tension on it, meaning its hard to spin it and droop thread around the base.
- Draw a line on one spoke of the thread spool with a Sharpie - this lets you easily gauge how much to turn the spool to advance the thread. I get about 6 cleanings out of one rotation.
- After the record is done, I turn the arm off first, then the motor, but leave the pump on for a few moments with the arm nozzle hanging off the back. This dries the tubing and helps keep the thread from bunching due to its being wet and sticking to the side of the tubing. If the thread does bunch, a quick flick of the clear tubing with my index finger clears it, basically jarring the thread so it straightens out and gets sucked into the jar. This is *not* a big deal.
- Get the $40 (?) pack of cleaners with initial purchase. Besides another spool of thread you get a can of Premier and a bottle of Bugtussel. I was skeptical at first, but these are good cleaners and have become a part of my regimen for cleaning thrift-shop grungers.
The machine works like a champ. Simple and effective, its quick to do multiple passes on each side of a record. Was it worth the extra cost? For me, Yes - I was hesitant before I bought, but not any more.
I've simply removed the thread spool from it's platform and placed it on the top deck. No more spillage and snagles. (IMHO, it's the weak part of the design.)
The design might be improved if the spool was mounted on the horizontal, perhaps slightly angled upward so it would not slip off by accident.This is where the grommets (o-rings) make all the difference. They grip the spool so it does not spin free and this lets you have control on exactly how much thread you want to play out. A freely spinning spool makes it too easy to waste thread. (I took this tip from the 'mint' site as posted by sboez23 in the msg. below.)
The spool hole is about 5/16" (~8mm) and the spindle post is a teeny bit smaller than 1/4" (~5mm).
I've used most of them on my PRC3 since I bought it two years ago. I wouldn't go back to any wand/felt based machine after using this. There's no comparison.RRL + Premier + Buggtussel does the trick for me too. I buy Buggtussel concentrate and mix my own working solution. Much less expensive that way and just as effective.
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"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - JRRT
I printed out your response to consult when I get the machine - thanks.Any chance you could post a pic of the "small rubber grommets" on the spindle?
http://mintlp.com/wild/loricraft.htm
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