later I bought aVP1 16.5 very good machine but noisy.
Thanks for all input.
I have asked my dealer to put aside a Pro-ject machine. The more compact one... can't recall the model No.
My thinking is that I've managed pretty well without a machine, as a vinyl purchaser for 60 years...so anything competent for sensible money ought to do. Purchasing via my dealer for the same price as 'online', gives me some warranty/backup.
I have never really done the comparison of a new record 'as is', versus a new record cleaned to remove alleged 'mould release agent etc.'
All of my own purchases stay clean..apart from the dust which is a residential hazard of living next to open farmland. I have cleaned especially filthy s/h records just using newspaper as a mat and brushing around with dilute IPA and an old carbon brush, before rinsing under a cold tap, avoiding labels..then leaving to drain in the dishrack.
At this point, the OCD folks will be throwing their hands in the air and muttering about 'residues from tap water' etc.. But if you think about it, almost all of the water drains round the grooves to the 'bottom' where they can be 'swabbed off'. It is very much better than nothing.
I suppose even a record which is kept clean...is eventually going to accumulate a few 'wear' products, which are best removed.
But a little machine which I can either keep in the garage, or somewhere else out of the way..will do me. A nice new toy!
I use an Okki Nokki MkII. It is a bit noisy but does a great job.
I looked into the Pro-Ject machines and the Okki Nokki One when I was looking for an RCM… I was initially just going to get one of the Pro-Ject machines but when I actually saw them in the flesh, I much preferred the Okki Nokki, it’s just a more solid and complete product, quiet for a vaccum RCM too. The vacuum arm on the new ones has a switch for 7, 10 and 12” discs, you have to buy a separate vacuum arm for anything other than a 12” disc on the Pro-Ject machines, at a significant premium. I also prefer the full platter on the Okki Nokki… some people think the uncleaned side of the disc will contaminate the platter, and then the side of the disc you’ve just cleaned, two (three) things, that rarely happens, if the platter does get contaminated, it’s an RCM, it can clean it’s own platter, and if you do prefer not to have a platter, like the Pro-Ject machines, you can remove it, there’s a “label only” platter underneath… not sure why you would though, the full platter makes it much easier to work the fluid in. The downside is that it is £500, so not a beer money purchase by any means… no regrets here though, it’s been a game changer for me.
I've been using the Project machine for a couple of years with no complaints at all, I had a degritter machine from the initial production run but sent it back as it developed a fault and had a refund. I've tried many recipes for the cleaning fluid and to date the best I've tried is the Library of Congress formula which uses Tergitol as the wetting agent. You can buy the Terigitol off ebay in small 5ml bottles for around £5 and this will last you a lifetime
Possibly a brexit induced driver shortage impact. I was able to visit my dealer and walk out with one the same day, but that was back in April.Yes, I totally agree. I am delighted with my Okki Nokki One purchase that I imported from Italy a few months ago as none were in stock in the UK. Saved nearly £100 on the purchase price too including the VAT and £5 handling fee. The downside is that if it develops a fault under warranty, then I would have to return it to the dealer in Italy. That is a chance that I took and on the money saved, I could afford to do that if needs be. I too looked at both of the Project RCM's and overall I felt that the Okki Nokki One was the better overall choice as it offered more features that would cost extra on the Project machines. I was tempted by the Project VC-S but it was a quite a bit larger in footprint and would command more space than the Okki Nokki One. The one thing that I can't understand is that they do not appear to be in stock anywhere at all at present, so are Okki Nokki having manufacturing problems or supply problems ???? Does anybody know ?