Degritter is a 3rd generation single-slot desktop ultrasonic cleaner whose designers had the opportunity to study earlier offerings before coming to market in spring 2019. At this time in the US it runs ~$3000.
One expects record cleaning and automated record cleaning machines to advance over time. Currently Degritter seems to be a popular RCM based on many "i luv my degritter" fans that are posting here and elsewhere. The machine has been out long enough for reasonable assessment. I started this thread for people to share their more-than-superficial thoughts on the Degritter and tips for its use.
A few considerations, imo:
- the Degritter filter/pump is rather tame; it's better than no filter at all. With an external tank and the low cost of distilled water it seems easy and wise to replace the water frequently. How often to you change the water in your Degritter.
- assuming the Degritter people have not given warnings against a specific alternative to their own 'Degritter cleaning fluid, consider using Tergitol 15-S-9 surfactant rather than the Degritter additive.
- the Degritter cavitators (2 per side) operate at 120kHz which may be more effective at removing v. small particles and less effective at removing larger sized particles than machines operating only at lower frequencies. This is why Degritter recommends "wiping the record with a microfiber cloth wet in record cleaning fluid or isopropyl alcohol ..." prior to ultrasonic cleaning. I'm not a fan of wiping records with cloth but that's their method.
- Degritter will dry the record with whatever residue is on the record after the wash cycle completes. If I were to use this machine I would buy two of them, one for washing and one for rinsing and drying. I would use only distilled water in the rinse machine.
- If there is lime scale built up in the machine (from using soft water?) Degritter says to use vinegar in solution to remove that. Something unclear to me is how one cleans the Degritter wash tank itself. How do you clean your Degritter wash tank?
One expects record cleaning and automated record cleaning machines to advance over time. Currently Degritter seems to be a popular RCM based on many "i luv my degritter" fans that are posting here and elsewhere. The machine has been out long enough for reasonable assessment. I started this thread for people to share their more-than-superficial thoughts on the Degritter and tips for its use.
A few considerations, imo:
- the Degritter filter/pump is rather tame; it's better than no filter at all. With an external tank and the low cost of distilled water it seems easy and wise to replace the water frequently. How often to you change the water in your Degritter.
- assuming the Degritter people have not given warnings against a specific alternative to their own 'Degritter cleaning fluid, consider using Tergitol 15-S-9 surfactant rather than the Degritter additive.
- the Degritter cavitators (2 per side) operate at 120kHz which may be more effective at removing v. small particles and less effective at removing larger sized particles than machines operating only at lower frequencies. This is why Degritter recommends "wiping the record with a microfiber cloth wet in record cleaning fluid or isopropyl alcohol ..." prior to ultrasonic cleaning. I'm not a fan of wiping records with cloth but that's their method.
- Degritter will dry the record with whatever residue is on the record after the wash cycle completes. If I were to use this machine I would buy two of them, one for washing and one for rinsing and drying. I would use only distilled water in the rinse machine.
- If there is lime scale built up in the machine (from using soft water?) Degritter says to use vinegar in solution to remove that. Something unclear to me is how one cleans the Degritter wash tank itself. How do you clean your Degritter wash tank?