Once a record is in place, there is something calming about letting the machine take over the turning.
The Nitty Gritty Model 1.5 is an automatic-rotation vacuum record cleaning machine in a black vinyl finish. Its maker, Nitty Gritty Record Care Products, has worked in record care since 1981 and today operates from Kennesaw, Georgia.
The idea
The 1.5 introduces Nitty Gritty's Capstan Record Drive, a spring-loaded rubber capstan that turns the record through both the scrub and the vacuum cycles. You apply fluid to the VAC-SWEEP, and its fibers scrub the record as it rotates. Nitty Gritty says this lets you clean more records in less time than with the Model 1.0.
Design and build
A three-position switch runs the drive alone, or the drive and vacuum together. Waste fluid drains to a slide-out tray on the underside, and the capstan height can be raised with two adjuster screws to suit thicker records.
According to Nitty Gritty's catalog, the company is dedicated to hand-built machines, and its products, the 1.5 among them, are made in the USA.
Living with it
Nitty Gritty's process has two steps: a fluid scrub, then a vacuum that draws fluid and debris from deep within the grooves. On the 1.5, a wet hand-held brush can scrub the top side while the machine works on the underside, before you flip the record to vacuum the second side.
Nitty Gritty describes PURE 2 as its classic all-purpose fluid, with a small amount of alcohol for more effective cleaning of LPs and 45s, and a four-ounce bottle comes with the machine.
Choosing your Nitty Gritty
The 1.5 sits between the manual Model 1.0 and the 1.5Fi, which adds pump-fed fluid injection. The Model 2.5 is the same machine in solid oak or classic cherry. We're happy to talk it through, and you can compare every model in the Nitty Gritty collection.
Specifications
| Type |
Automatic-rotation vacuum record cleaning machine |
| Cleaning |
Wet scrub by the VAC-SWEEP fibers while the record turns, then vacuum extraction |
| Sides per pass |
One side per pass, vacuumed from underneath |
| Rotation |
Automatic (Capstan Record Drive, spring-loaded) |
| Fluid application |
Manual (apply PURE 2 to the VAC-SWEEP before loading the record) |
| Vacuum |
Industrial-grade flow-through vacuum motor coupled directly to a venturi-shaped vacuum slot lined with VAC-SWEEP fibers |
| Record sizes |
12-inch LPs; 7-inch records with the optional 45RPM Disc Adapter; 7-, 10- and 12-inch with the optional 3-Way Adapter Kit (permanent modification) |
| Waste fluid |
Slide-out waste fluid tray on the underside |
| Finish |
Black Vinyl |
| Construction |
Wood and plastic cabinet; Lexan suction head |
| Cabinet |
15-inch cabinet (fits DC-1 vinyl and DC-2 acrylic covers) |
| Recommended fluids |
PURE 2 (all-purpose, for vinyl LPs and 45s); PURE 1 (alcohol-free, for 78s and lacquers); PUREnzyme+ (enzyme cleaner for heavily soiled records) |
| Session use |
Up to 10 records per session, then 15–20 minutes to cool |
| Warranty |
1-year Nitty Gritty limited warranty (VAC-SWEEP liners and capstan 90 days; commercial use 90 days) |
In the box with the Model 1.5, per Nitty Gritty's owner's manual:
- Nitty Gritty record cleaning machine
- 1 four-ounce bottle of PURE 2 cleaning fluid
- 1 waste fluid tray
- 1 small whisk for cleaning the VAC-SWEEP
Questions
What is the difference between the Nitty Gritty Model 1.5 and the 1.5Fi?
Both turn the record automatically with Nitty Gritty's Capstan Record Drive. On the Model 1.5 you apply the fluid by hand, while the 1.5Fi adds a fluid injection pump that feeds fluid from an onboard reservoir.
Can the Model 1.5 clean 45s?
Yes, with an optional accessory. Nitty Gritty's 45RPM Disc Adapter positions a 7-inch record to engage the capstan drive, and the 3-Way Adapter Kit is a permanent modification that adds spindle positions for 7-, 10- and 12-inch records.
Will thicker records fit the Model 1.5?
Nitty Gritty's manual explains that the capstan on the Model 1.5 can be raised for thicker records by turning two adjuster screws beneath the switch plate.
Which parts of the Model 1.5 wear over time?
The rubber capstan and the VAC-SWEEP lips are the wear parts, and Nitty Gritty's warranty covers them for 90 days rather than the full year. It sells a Capstan Replacement Kit with four capstans and a VAC-SWEEP Replacement Kit with four lips.
What does the Model 1.5 cost at HiFi Boutique?
The Nitty Gritty Model 1.5 is $922.99 at HiFi Boutique, including sales tax, with free delivery across the USA. Optional extras such as the 45RPM Disc Adapter or a DC-1 or DC-2 dust cover are sold separately.
From our boutique to your listening room
HiFi Boutique is an authorized Nitty Gritty dealer. Delivery is free anywhere in the USA, and sales tax is included in the price.
