If I’d only known... Need some help!

[Daddyjt 8,902]

In thinking about some more entries for the “Stellar recordings” threaded, i was taken back to the late ‘80s, and my car audio heydays. I had acquired this test disc from a friend of a friend of an installer, and I swear, I must have played that thing 1,000 times in my car systems, and even in a few of my home systems. So I went down to my menagerie of a basement to see if I could find it. Sure enough, I located the wayward disc.  I pulled it out of the case and saw on the laser side the evidence of years of abuse at my ignorant adolescent hands:

 

 

 

Here’s where it gets interesting. I figured what the hell, I’ll just buy a new copy. Amazon - not available. Ok, eBay, where find two listings:

 

 

Well shit - as the title says, if only I’d known....  so I come before the greatest collection of audio minds and experiences that I know of, asking how is the best way to go about restoring this gem?  The disc plays fine, so should I just leave it alone?  Obviously, experimentation is not an option - if I restore it, it must be a proven method...

 

Thanks guys - if only I’d known??

 

[GarciaFan 293]

There are several places that will do it for 5 or 10 dollars. I can't remember which one I used several years ago, but the four CD's I sent out came back looking brand new.  Obviously, you'll want a lot of insurance for that disc if you ship it.  Good luck. https://www.google.com/search?ei=_6T8W5rkGarf5gLunbf4Bw&q=cd+resurfacing+service&oq=cd+resurfacing&gs_l=psy-ab.1.3.0l5j0i22i30l5.11259899.11266647..11270579...0.0..0.70.811.14......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j0i67j0i131j0i131i67j0i10.WjGW04bwlsk

[Daddyjt 8,902]

13 minutes ago, GarciaFan said:

There are several places that will do it for 5 or 10 dollars. I can't remember which one I used several years ago, but the four CD's I sent out came back looking brand new.  Obviously, you'll want a lot of insurance for that disc if you ship it.  Good luck. https://www.google.com/search?ei=_6T8W5rkGarf5gLunbf4Bw&q=cd+resurfacing+service&oq=cd+resurfacing&gs_l=psy-ab.1.3.0l5j0i22i30l5.11259899.11266647..11270579...0.0..0.70.811.14......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j0i67j0i131j0i131i67j0i10.WjGW04bwlsk

 

Great advice - I never knew such services existed. Thanks!

[RodH 4,859]

Are there any used CD/ record shops nearby? There was one here that just closed up a couple months ago that had a restoration machine. They charged $2 a disc and they always came out looking like new.

[Sk1Bum 10,539]

3 hours ago, Daddyjt said:

In thinking about some more entries for the “Stellar recordings” threaded, i was taken back to the late ‘80s, and my car audio heydays. I had acquired this test disc from a friend of a friend of an installer, and I swear, I must have played that thing 1,000 times in my car systems, and even in a few of my home systems. So I went down to my menagerie of a basement to see if I could find it. Sure enough, I located the wayward disc.  I pulled it out of the case and saw on the laser side the evidence of years of abuse at my ignorant adolescent hands:

 

 

 

Here’s where it gets interesting. I figured what the hell, I’ll just buy a new copy. Amazon - not available. Ok, eBay, where find two listings:

 

 

Well shit - as the title says, if only I’d known....  so I come before the greatest collection of audio minds and experiences that I know of, asking how is the best way to go about restoring this gem?  The disc plays fine, so should I just leave it alone?  Obviously, experimentation is not an option - if I restore it, it must be a proven method...

 

Thanks guys - if only I’d known??

 

 

Until you decide what to do with it, copy it, and use the copy. I don't play MFSL discs in my truck, of commercial discs of any kind. A 25 cent copy is cheap insurance.

[morris 389]

I have used Novus 1 and sometimes 2 on scuffed CD's. Use #3 with care.

Amazon link

 

[dennismiller55 4,738]

I have my own CD polisher.  Send it to me and I will restore it for you.  

 

[CT-Seven 764]

Back it up and then do what you need to do

[AndrewJohn 9,401]

Nice discovery, Mark !!  All I can say.

 

Wish I had something in my menagerie that had value like that..., maybe.   Hmmm.

 

On the other hand, what did the ebay "completed listings" say they are really selling for?

 

Also, do tell, is this worth duplicating and/or posting for members to experience?  (not trying to make more work for you..., but digital is sharable ? )

[compwaco 1,129]

I have a commercial resurfacer and can fix it if you send it here. It appears that there is no label side damage so it should clean up nicely.

[Zenith4me 1,441]

3 hours ago, dennismiller55 said:

I have my own CD polisher.  Send it to me and I will restore it for you.  

 

 

I didn't even know machines like this existed. Now I need to get one since I have have quite a few scratched discs.

 

Great....something else to spend some $ on.....lol.

 

Carter

[dennismiller55 4,738]

JFJ Easy Pro does a remarkable job for $140.  I have had it about 8 years.  I have tried other polishing compounds as a replacement for this companies expensive polish but their product work best.

 

I have rented Redbox/Netflix DVD's that had skips or would not load.  A quick polish saved movie night .

 

 

 

Amazon >  JFJ Easy Pro Video Game, CD, DVD, Blu-Ray Repair Machine 110V