Cleaning laserdisc (scratches, scuffs, etc.)

Scott C

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I plan to post this at DLP too, but anyone have any good experiences cleaning laserdiscs? I have several with scratches, scuffs, etc. and it is interfering with the player properly reading the disc (fortunately, no laser rot).

I am researching this for previous discussions, but haven't found the magic bullet yet.

Happy gaming.

Scott C.
 
Novus

Yea..Novus works great..just be gentle and patient when rubbing it in and working it out...I had a Space Ace disc that looks brand new once I took the Novus too it!!

True (Jess)
 
I understand that you can use Novus on DVDs and CDs.

I'd *think* that if it worked on those, it'd work on laser discs too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRUiN4aN43A#
Thanks for the link.

I am more inclined to try the novus method compared to the banana, peanut butter or toothpaste methods. Who comes-up with this stuff? It also baffles me why folks insist on rubbing in a circular pattern. Laserdisc and CD manufacturers have long advocated the best way to clean is in a straight line from either inside out or outside in, not in a circular pattern. I saw a CD killed in the mid 80's using the circular method as it just ground in the scratch all the way around the disc. :(

Scott C.
 
Yea..Novus works great..just be gentle and patient when rubbing it in and working it out...I had a Space Ace disc that looks brand new once I took the Novus too it!!

True (Jess)
Did you use Novus 3,2,1 or just 2,1? My laserdisc has some pretty consistant, wide scratches all the way around (don't look terribly deep, just loads of them!).

Scott C.
 
Did you use Novus 3,2,1 or just 2,1? My laserdisc has some pretty consistant, wide scratches all the way around (don't look terribly deep, just loads of them!).

Scott C.
I'll post back with pics, so folks can see the damage and what the end result is. Wish me luck!

Scott C.
 
Well, we'll find out.

If I can find the time this weekend I'll try some Novus on a rewritable DVD+RW disc I've had sitting around.

I'm curious if it'll bring it back to life.
 
Definitely a +1 for Novus #2 on DL and SA laserdiscs.

I polished my DL disc which had a few scratches on it, now it looks pristine. It skipped once or twice in one place before I polished it, hasn't skipped since, but I also cleaned the player's optics (Sony LDP-1450, not a Pioneer) which probably helped more.

Just don't expect it to cure a disc with rot (usually shows up as snow).

- James
 
Rot on a disc?

I'm curious -- what exactly is it and does it only affect laser discs? Or CDs and DVDs as well?
 
If the Novis fails you can always try this place. I have never used them but did a Goggle search and found them. I am sure their are others. They charge $14.99 to resurface both sides of a laser disc. Just an option.
I did try Novis on a MACH 3 disc one time but the scratch was to deep and wile I got it out it was to distorted. The surface is like a lens, if you curve it to much it though's the laser beam out of alignment. Doesn't take much. And do it by hand, using a buffing wheel will get it to hot and melt the plastic.
Here's what they do
Scratched discs can be completely resurfaced with a patented process that removes the scratch from the disc by carefully removing a thousandth of an inch of plastic from the damaged surface of the disc, leaving the disc clean and smooth. Your disc will look and play just like new again. Details of how this process works can be found on the Disc Shield and Resurfacing Fact Sheet.

http://www.discresource.com/repair.htm
 
Wow, that's wild...

I guess I better finish up ripping my CDs... no laser discs to worry about here but I do have DVDs that I'll need to keep my eye on...
 
If the Novis fails you can always try this place. I have never used them but did a Goggle search and found them. I am sure their are others. They charge $14.99 to resurface both sides of a laser disc. Just an option.
I did try Novis on a MACH 3 disc one time but the scratch was to deep and wile I got it out it was to distorted. The surface is like a lens, if you curve it to much it though's the laser beam out of alignment. Doesn't take much. And do it by hand, using a buffing wheel will get it to hot and melt the plastic.
Here's what they do
Scratched discs can be completely resurfaced with a patented process that removes the scratch from the disc by carefully removing a thousandth of an inch of plastic from the damaged surface of the disc, leaving the disc clean and smooth. Your disc will look and play just like new again. Details of how this process works can be found on the Disc Shield and Resurfacing Fact Sheet.

http://www.discresource.com/repair.htm
I didn't realize any companies still did that. If the novus doesn't work, then away my laserdiscs will go to get redone. :)

Thanks for the info.

Scott C.
 
Wow, that's wild...

I guess I better finish up ripping my CDs... no laser discs to worry about here but I do have DVDs that I'll need to keep my eye on...

So far I have only encountered this on LaserDiscs. There were some runs BITD that had contamination. They actually had a "recall/trade-in" where one could send in discs with laser rot and they would either replace with the same title or another title. I did this back in about 1986/1987. I am not worried about LR on my other non-LD discs at this point.
 
Looks just like what the home resurfacers do - I use an electric resurfacer for CD's and DVD's. I can't do LD's, though. :)

Good to know that someone can resurface an LD.
What is an electric resurfacer? I understand whar you are saying it does, but not what it looks like.

Scott C.
 
I plan to post this at DLP too, but anyone have any good experiences cleaning laserdiscs? I have several with scratches, scuffs, etc. and it is interfering with the player properly reading the disc (fortunately, no laser rot).

I am researching this for previous discussions, but haven't found the magic bullet yet.

Happy gaming.

Scott C.

I posted the same question on dlp a year ago...I had a Time Traveler disc that skipped like crazy and sombody mentioned Novus 2 on the forums and worked like a champ! One caveat though is be patient......
 
I posted the same question on dlp a year ago...I had a Time Traveler disc that skipped like crazy and sombody mentioned Novus 2 on the forums and worked like a champ! One caveat though is be patient......
Thanks for the info. I am going to try this first on a laserdisc that is otherwise unusable, so it would be nice to bring it back.

The laserdisc is also warped (down) from sitting too long, I guess. Has anyone tried to bake a laserdisc (heat it up) in an effort to let it relax some and straighten out? I am thinking if I lay it upside (compared to the warp) in the oven that it might soften enough to relax. I would start at something like 110 degrees.

Scott C.
 
Thanks for the info. I am going to try this first on a laserdisc that is otherwise unusable, so it would be nice to bring it back.

The laserdisc is also warped (down) from sitting too long, I guess. Has anyone tried to bake a laserdisc (heat it up) in an effort to let it relax some and straighten out? I am thinking if I lay it upside (compared to the warp) in the oven that it might soften enough to relax. I would start at something like 110 degrees.

Scott C.

For fixing warped laser disc try this
re: The care and feeding of laser videodiscs Revised: 28 Jul 90

Part 2 of 3: Correcting warps.

re: > .. laserdisc, only it's warped to the extent that my player produces
> video noise when the head is in the outer sections of the disc. I
> would like to fix the warp myself rather than returning it. What's
> the fix for a warped disc,

0. Read these instructions and have all materials handy.

1. Obtain two sheets of optically flat glass, at least 12x12-inches.
1/4-inch plate is ideal, but ordinary window glass will do. Clean them
and place them in an ordinary oven at the lowest possible setting.

2. Select the most wrinkle-free LD inner sleeve from your collection. A
3M-style lined paper type with center hole is ideal. Place the sleeve in
a warm place, like in the sun.

3. Using a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth, wipe all debris from the
disc. Wipe radially, from the inside out.

4. Warm the disc up to about 100 degrees F. Playing it for two hours will
accomplish this, but only if, a: the disc is still flat enough to play
without striking player parts and, b: it will actually play, rather than
being rejected by the player.

If the disc cannot be played for two hours, fill a sink full of water at
100F. Insert the disc in a jumbo size zip-lock bag and insert it in the
water up to, but not beyond, the zip closure. Keep it there for five
minutes, dipping up and down to circulate the water. When removing it
from the bag, take care to keep it dry.

5. Quickly insert the disc in the warm wrinkle-free sleeve and place the
sleeve/disc between the warm sheets of glass. Place the sandwich on a
towel on a firm flat surface. Stack a pile of books on top (about 10
pounds). Make sure the bottom book is close to 12x12 itself. Place the
stack away from sources of heat and leave it that way for two days.

6. If that fails, replace the book stack with a large pan or pot full of
water at 100F. Select a vessel with a flat bottom. If no joy, work up
five degrees at a time to higher temperatures, but don't exceed 140F.


> ...and is the fix permanent, or will it slowly return to being warped?

If the disc is a 3M (Imation) casting, made by the non-thermal "2P"
photo-polymer process, it probably will not re-warp. For all other brands...

It depends on why it warped in the first place. If it warped due to
"trauma", such as over-tight shrink-wrap or exposure to bending stress under
high temperature, it may remain flat. On the other hand, if it warped due
to release of inherent manufacturing stresses, then it may very well re-warp
when warmed up by your player. If you have an old gas-tube laser player,
the disc will experience more heat than with a contemporary solid-state
laser player, and will be more likely to re-warp.

If the disc has "cone" warp, and you have a two-sided player, always playing
it in the "cone edge up" configuration may prevent re-warp. Any tendency to
sag should cause the disc to resume being flat.

Disclaimer: Although I have a couple of discs with "cone" warp, I haven't
needed or tried the above techniques personally. These suggestions are
supplied without warranty of any kind. Your disc will probably melt and
catch fire. I would consult other sources before trying anything.
Batteries not included. Your mileage may vary. Simulated TV picture.


This info was taken from this web page

http://www.access-one.com/rjn/laser/legacy/ld13.txt
 
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