CD Scratch Removal

[Pat]

Can anyone recommend a product that works to remove scratches (that affect play) on CDs? Occasionally, I come across used CDs that may have a deep singular scratch that causes mistracking (on an otherwise nice disc). Any help would be appreciated. :rolleyes:

[Matt]

The CD-R FAQ on the web has plenty of suggestions, including some "home remedies." I've tried two. One involves using a light
abrasive like toothpaste and 'scrubbing'
the disc clean, motioning from center to edge. This seems to work well for scuffs and the like. The deep scratches, though,
the only thing that seemed effective was a polish, either Turtle Wax or Pledge Furniture Wax.

One product my office uses is a "Disc Doctor"(?) device where you wet the disc, place it inside, and turn a lever that essentially grinds off a thin layer of the disc. This works, too, but it leaves an
appearance on your disc that isn't very
attractive.

A similar but much more refined approach is to take your disc or mail your disc to
a store or facility with a disc finishing
machine. It also removes a thin layer of
your disc, but will also polish and refinish your disc, often leaving it looking like new (albeit a tiny, tiny bit thinner). If the scratch is really deep, it won't completely remove the scratch, but may still allow your disc to be read properly again.

[Unknown]

Hey Pat,

The best I have found is to take the CDs to a used-CD store. For about a dollar per CD they will "buff" out the scratches with a device that looks like a shoe buffing wheel. Nice thing about it is that is actually removes the cosmetic scratches, not just "fill" them in so the CD player can read them.

Not only do I have working repaired CDs, but they look nice too. ;)

[Doug Hess Jr.]

Haven't sent anything there, but here is a link to a place the repairs discs and sells the machines.
http://www.cdrepairman.com/

[BradOlson]

One of the home remedies that's been proven to work is to buy a kit made by CD 2000 entitled "CD Fixit," formerly CD Magic, for moderate scratches but I still recommend the machines as well.

[Sckott]

I've used carcanuba (sic) car wax to gently buff out some "hazy thick" scratches that effect play. Had a Playstation disc that didn't wanna "backup", because of the damage it sustained from being a used rental disc. I bought it, and my girlfriend at the time went weepy because it woulnd't track (she had this Japanese animie Tetris fettish for a whole year). Donno why I keep getting girlfriends who trash little innocent polycarbonate discs... :(

Now, don't repair discs that play fine, ok?

But, I used this gooey car Turtle wax and "waxed" the CD twice and it ran fine. I copied it then just fine, and although I've only run into one more nasty disc, I've been using this method:

Old teeshirt cloth (slightly wet), rub the cd in circular, gentle rubs with the paste, let dry, buff it with another dry cloth center-to-edge until clean. Worked for me*

*- Sckott thinks he's got something going for him, so if it works for you, great! If not, try other methods.

[Pat]

Thanks to one and all for the responses to my question...a very helpful bunch we have here! I'll have to give 'em a try. I use extreme care with discs that I buy "New", but as I mentioned, every now and then I get a "pre-owned" CD that has a boo-boo or two and it drives me nuts. Thanks again everyone! :D