dkatic
dkatic's picture
Offline
Last seen: Never ago
Joined: Jun 13 2006 - 11:57am
Disc cleaners and repair agents
Jeff Wong
Jeff Wong's picture
Offline
Last seen: 13 years 2 days ago
Joined: Sep 6 2005 - 3:28am

Hi djk - Welcome to the forums. So far, I've only tried one of those handheld Gamedoctor radial grinding wheels. It'll take scratches out, but, even vigorous buffing won't fully remove the radial lines to the point where the surface looks like a new disc. But, these will get rid of scratches enough to make a skipping disc playable. I've also used Pearl Drops tooth polish with success. Some people use automotive polishing compound. I suspect the best job would be done by a professional disc resurfacer, but, those machines are $1500.00 and up. I considered getting one, but, I don't have enough scratched discs to justify it. Some gaming stores have pro resurfacing machines and will restore a scratched disc to a mirror finish for a few bucks.

ohfourohnine
ohfourohnine's picture
Offline
Last seen: Never ago
Joined: Sep 1 2005 - 7:41pm

Can't help you with scratched discs, but for those in playable condition, I highly recommend Optrix which is available from such suppliers as Acoustic Sounds and Music Direct. Easy to use, and you'll like what you hear. Good luck with the scratches. How do you scratch them anyway?

eagle
eagle's picture
Offline
Last seen: Never ago
Joined: Sep 12 2005 - 3:28am

Nu Finish works quite well for getting scratches out. You can find it at most auto parts stores or K/Walmart store maybe.

dkatic
dkatic's picture
Offline
Last seen: Never ago
Joined: Jun 13 2006 - 11:57am

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your postings - I appreciate the response. Is Optrix made by Memorex? I think I've seen this kit at my local Future Shop. About NuFinish - I used to use this on my cars years ago (and did a nice job too) -- this actually doesn't have any negative effects? (If I remember correctly, the wax is an all-in-one, and contains some abrasives).

With respect to the scratched CDs, those mainly come from "friends" who want to borrow my factory-pressed discs - big mistake. But often these scratches are actually (short and) circular in shape, following the circumference of the disc - perhaps striking something within the players used -- either when spooling up to speed or coming to a stop.

My search for disc cleaners and "repair" agents continues, and within the next few weeks I hope to provide another posting outlining everything I've found. Maybe somebody else will find it useful.

What I can offer for now is that there is a product that I've used that is a dedicated plastic cleaner and polish, and also leaves a thin film of "protectant" when done (you can tell by running fingers across the surface) -- it's called Plexus, and I get it in the motorcycle section of my local auto/hardware box store (Canadian Tire). Fantastic product to use on hard, non-porous plastics (especially clear/translucent ones). Used it on my jewel cases, and seems to diminish the onset of physical abrasions (and hazing) they normally go through. Shortcomings are that it only makes a significant difference on new surfaces, and it's durability seems to be low (i.e. need to re-apply often in order to maintain the protective effects). Haven't used it on any music discs yet - need to find one I want to experiment with.

ear2200
ear2200's picture
Offline
Last seen: Never ago
Joined: Jun 8 2006 - 10:01am

Best cleaner/coating liquid I've found is Intron Protect 8500
made by Nanotec Systems in Japan.

Jeff Wong
Jeff Wong's picture
Offline
Last seen: 13 years 2 days ago
Joined: Sep 6 2005 - 3:28am

If you feel extravagant and wanna go the whole nine yards:

CD Repairman

tandy
tandy's picture
Offline
Last seen: Never ago
Joined: May 24 2006 - 3:57pm

First, a disclaimer, I am a dealer for Jenalabs. Here is a link with a comparison between some well known brand CD enhancers, including Jenalabs Esoteric 3D-X enhancer.

http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?foru...r=&session=

mcattack
mcattack's picture
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 9 months ago
Joined: Aug 1 2006 - 7:34am

If you want a cleaner with lots of reviews check out Auric Illuminator www.audience-av.com/accessor.htm and reviews at http://www.audience-av.com/auric2.htm

The product is a resolution enhancement product AND a great cleaner.

JoeE SP9
JoeE SP9's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 week 2 days ago
Joined: Oct 31 2005 - 6:02pm

For really badly scratched CD's I use Micromesh. It is a product designed for the aviation industry where it's used for refinishing windshields and portholes. Using it I have been able to remove even the deepest scratches. When I was teaching one of my students came to me with a CD that she had written on with indelible marker. She didn't realize the shiny side is the play side! Using Micromesh I was able to remove the marker ink and restore the CD to playability. I have never been able to get the same quality of shinyness as new although the instructions say I should be able to. Maybe I haven't worked hard enough at it. It is for refinishing airplane windscreens. For minor scratches toothpaste and a soft cloth work quite well.

LM2940
LM2940's picture
Offline
Last seen: 11 years 1 week ago
Joined: May 16 2006 - 10:36am

While we are on this subject of CD cleaning and repair: Does anyone use Windex to clean their CDs? I find that it works well but I'm worried that I'm doing some kind of damage to the plastic. Any thoughts?

LM2940
LM2940's picture
Offline
Last seen: 11 years 1 week ago
Joined: May 16 2006 - 10:36am


Quote:

While we are on this subject of CD cleaning and repair: Does anyone use Windex to clean their CDs? I find that it works well but I'm worried that I'm doing some kind of damage to the plastic. Any thoughts?

Anybody?.... Anybody?......
Bueller?..... Bueller?.....

mrlowry
mrlowry's picture
Offline
Last seen: 7 years 1 day ago
Joined: May 30 2006 - 1:37pm

I have two suggestions that will both seem odd on the surface:

1. Toothpaste-Toothpaste is a mild abrasive and does a good job of getting scratches out of nearly any type of plastic. I have a number of vintage wrist watches with easily scratched crystals and I use it on a regular basis to remove small scratches. I have used it on a couple of CDs as well and it seems to work just fine.

2. Copy the CD is a computer CD-Rom drive. When copied in this way if there is an error or unreadable data the drive will read the disc a large number of times to try to recover the data. There are a couple of CD players that also read the data a number of times to try to reconstruct lost data but not too many.

imispgh
imispgh's picture
Offline
Last seen: 9 years 5 months ago
Joined: May 23 2006 - 10:37am

Given CD's suseptability to scratches (and some that grow mold on the inside) maybe we should find a way to transfer the "last forever" CDs to homemade LP?

ohfourohnine
ohfourohnine's picture
Offline
Last seen: Never ago
Joined: Sep 1 2005 - 7:41pm

And, don't forget, with the Auric Illuminator, you get the added benefit of darkening the inner and outer edges of the disc with the supplied magic pen. Careful with that pen, though. Touch it to the face of the disc and you're dead.

Kidding aside, the Auric is a pretty good product. I used it with some success before I found Optrix. Optrix is easier to use, and I think, does a better job.

Monty
Monty's picture
Offline
Last seen: Never ago
Joined: Sep 16 2005 - 6:55pm

I've not used Windex on my CDs and would be at least a little concerned with the amonia in the stuff. However, the plastic cleaners that are used for tinted windows would probably be safe.

I'm amazed at how well damaged cds seem to play in the first place. I've got a few that on first glance would seem to be ruined, but they don't even skip or get the dddddiiigggiiittitttttussss on playback.

Log in or register to post comments
-->
  • X