Yet another VPI 16.5 thread

Grimace, I've gone through about 360 LPs so far in my collection, trying to "thin the herd" so to speak, with AIVS Cleaners, and I am still using the original Wand for the AIVS Cleaners, with original Velvet Strips, and they look no worse for wear than when they were brand spanking new. Replacement Strips can be gotten from the Disc Doctor at a reasonable cost, that are a simple peel, and stick for the Vacuum Wand.

I pre-clean any "deadbeat" LPs gotten used from the thrifts, with an AQ Carbon Fiber Brush, and Canned Air.

I, like you, was concerned about a Cork Mat, that would only become dirtier over time, and I set out to do something about it. I believe your ideas hold promise, that a Rubber Mat can be easier to clean whenever one feels the need.

I purchased 1/16" self adhesive backed Neoprene Sheeting from Mcmaster-Carr, and also had a machinist friend fabricate a bramd new Acrylic Platter, cloning the MDF VPI 16.5 Platter. His work of course is impeccable, but the Rubber Sheeting I bought could have been better quality. Evidently, there's different grades, and I must've "cheaped out" only spending about $9 per 12"x12" sheet. I currently got my eye on some better grade Neoprene, that will cost me nothing, but will mean adhering the Mat with a Spray contact cement Adhesive to the new Acrylic Platter.

Thinking about it some, I think I'm over-obsessed about the worry of ever changing such a good mat in the future, and trying to get it off the Platter if I ever needed to.

The good quality Neoprene Mat should last quite a number of years without a worry to be had. A simple wipe with a lint free cloth, and you should be good to go.

As I close, and in restrosepct, there was probably no advantage that I went to a Acrylic Platter versus the MDF, other than a material that has been lathe turned and will never warp with submersion with fluids . The machine won't clean any better, and the MDF Platter shouldn't go bad, unless you take the 16.5 for a swim in the pool.

I'll try soon, to have Jim Pendelton of Osage-AIVS post some pics of the Platter, and Neoprene Mat on his website, complimenting the Fan Mod Article he kindly placed there for me. Mark

Hi All,

Instead of changing the mat when cleaning the 2 sides of an LP, I am using a throw away LP (after cleaning) as the mat for my VPI 17. Since the mat (LP) is thicker at the lip and the label section, the grooved areas should never touch each other, so there should be no contamination. It works well for me so far.

I have a HW-19 Jr. platter. Can it be fitted in place of the mdf platter? How do I do that?

Wendell

Gimace,
I use old platter mats, if you dont have any lying around you could source out similar material from a fabric store and make a couple to fit, or what ever.

The vacuum head will last a long time, inspect it every 1000 or so Lps.

Hello Narrod,
It probably could be done, but not without some substantial fabrication. Not to mention, would sort of be a sin, hacking up a Jr Platter to make it fit aboard the 16.5 RCM.

The stock 16.5 MDF Platter is .500" thick, roughly 11" in Diameter and I know the 19-Jr. Platter is thicker than .500" thick.

The 16.5 Motor-Platter Arbor's Spindle would no doubt be too short to protrude far enough through the Jr. Platter, and then be able to button up an LP with the Knurled Nut. As well, the stock Platter attaches to the Motor Arbor via three 6-32 Screws, which in my instance, looked like three self-tapping screws.

Other problems, would possibly be, due to higher Platter Height because of thicker Platter, now the Arm Wand is bumping into the side of the thicker Platter.

That's why I went with an exactly identical Clear Acrylic "clone" to the VPI MDF Platter, so that the stock Motor Arbor would be used, and that no issues with the Vacuum Arm Wand would occur. The other reason I decided as well to stay with the exact same Platter diameter of 11", was evidently Harry+Co had thier thinking caps on quite well, and I'll explain.

Often, when cleaning LP's, I've noted on occasion, that fluids can, and will dribble over the side of an LP Lip to the underside of the LP. (I'm only concerned when it is the previously cleaned side of the LP facing down upon the Platter.) With the smaller size Platter diameter that Harry smartly chose, these fluids then stay right at the Lip, and will not travel any further on the underside of the LP due to wicking-capillary action.

I then find it a simple matter while Platter is spinning to wick up this small amount of fluid while vacumming, with a small, unscented Kleenex.

The cost for fabrication-machining of my clone Acrylic Platter, was $50, plus the costs for the Acrylic, and Neoprene Rubber Mat. Looking back, the Platter mod was really not necessary, as one can easily change to a better Mat material on the Stock MDF Platter if one chooses. If end users should find they're dousing thier Platters-Mats with fluids, then IMO, they are more than likely using way too much fluids to clean with.

Of the mods I have done to my own 16.5 so far, I see the cooling fan as being the most cost effective, and the most beneficial. Next I would say would be a better Mat Material. A good Neoprene Mat that would replace the stock cork one should last indefintely, and IMO should proove to be a material that is a lot easier to keep clean. Hope this helps. Mark