Reviving scratched CDs with toothpaste

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T

The Wizard Of OZ

Well-Known DJ
Dec 13, 2007
3,130
50
68
Tampa Bay Area
I know some of you already know this, but for the benefit of those who haven't tried it yet, you CAN remove scratches that may cause you CDs to skip or not play at all. A CD I recently bought off amazon that was described as in "near new condition" was anything but. I was really mad. Even though I only payed $4.50 for it, I really wasn't too keen on reordering from another seller. I tried using it in my laptop, but it wouldn't play past the first song and it wouldn't rip past the first song.

I remembered that there is a way to get rid of scratches and I had seen a video on Youtube a long time ago about it. I went back and found some videos using the toothpaste method. It's very simple to do. With my finger I rubbed the toothpaste all over vigorously, rinsed and then repeated until I was satisfied, put the CD back in my laptop and it ripped and played perfectly. There were still some light scratches, but they weren't severe enough to affect using the CD.

I don't think this simple method works on CDs with deep scratches, but for your average, run of the mill scratched up CD it seems to work just fine.
 
Though it does work to some degree, you're better of spending $30 for a Disc Doctor or similar device. The reason for this is that spot fixes cause uneven places on the disc surface.

The toothpaste works the same way as jeweler's rouge, to a lesser degree, abrading away the area around the scratch until even. This creates a spot of distortion on the disc- an uneven focal point for the laser. Sometimes this doesn't cause a problem, sometimes it does.

This can even happen with full re-surfacing ( these are the horror stories you might hear), but wouldn't if people remember the all important cloth buffer after the resurfacing, and do it properly ( perpendicular to the tracks).

If one were really serious about disc restoration, I offer the following:


The JFJ EasyPro resurfacing system http://www.jfjeasypro.com

It will fix ANYTHING short of actual label side destruction.

Keep in mind that every time you resurface, you make the disc thinner, so here is how I handle it:

I put the disc through the resurfacing procedure. When done, I put it into my MicroBoards QuicDisc duplicator. This is a stand alone with built in firmware- no PC needed.

I put set it on "Scan" mode, which scans the disc and fixes any minor errors that still exist. Than I copy in "safe" mode at 1x or 2x.

It has now been effectively remastered onto a brand new disc.

....and yes, disc backups are completely legal, as long as it's for single site use.
 
The powered disc doctor is what i use (mine was like $40), it does a CD in about 1 minute and it recontions all but the worst scratches. For those with really bad scratches there is a fix but the machines are pretty expensive.
 
Thunder said:
The powered disc doctor is what i use (mine was like $40), it does a CD in about 1 minute and it recontions all but the worst scratches. For those with really bad scratches there is a fix but the machines are pretty expensive.
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Steve, Check out that JFJ link in my post- you'll love it, and very inexpensive for what it can do.

Speaking of which, did you ever find that old DK-10 disc of yours?
 
JoeChartreuse said:
Steve, Check out that JFJ link in my post- you'll love it, and very inexpensive for what it can do.

Speaking of which, did you ever find that old DK-10 disc of yours?
Click to expand...

Yes I got it out it is the DK 2000 series but I think it has the song you want on it. I will make a copy to replace your broken one.
 
Since I'm only using my new discs one time and putting them away for safekeeping I'm satisfied with the toothpaste method. I'm not a disc based show so I don't have to worry about them getting scratched up once I've ripped them. As long as I'm good about doing backups to my PC and my house doesn't burn down, I should be OK.
 
Jon Tuck said:
I make dupes of all my discs to preserve the quality of that which I own.
Click to expand...

I normally do too. In the case of the DK-10, I lost the dupe - and some others- during a move to a new house. The original was actually snapped- no way to repair it.


STEVE: You're the bomb- Thanks!
 
You guys know you can just buy a new copy of the disc for a measley few dollars .....right? :) LOL.
 
Did you read any of this thread Proformance? Why would I buy another disc if I can remove the scratches in 5 minutes for basically no cost? I'm not a disc based show, I rip the disc and put it away and that's exactly what I was able to do. What about discs that you can't find anymore?
 
The Wizard Of OZ said:
Did you read any of this thread Proformance? Why would I buy another disc if I can remove the scratches in 5 minutes for basically no cost? I'm not a disc based show, I rip the disc and put it away and that's exactly what I was able to do. What about discs that you can't find anymore?
Click to expand...


Yes, I did. The reply is tongue in cheek.

How long does it take for you to complete this process from start to finsih (cleaning, ripping, etc.) ?? Would 45 minutes be enough?

That time is worth at least $65.63 to me.
The repair is not free, time not well spent has a real cost.

I'd rather just order a new CD for $10 new, $3 cutout/used, or download the tracks I want for $0.99 All of the above cost less than repairing the broken CD and takeas about 5 minutes ($7.29).

I can't remember how many years it's been since I've encountered a track that "wasn't availabe" somewhere?

PS: I have 4 extar CD libraries, (original discs) wedding ready with at least 5,000 popular selections. Two were never put in service and the discs are brand new. Who wants to make an offer on one?

Sample here: http://www.proformancedj.com/download/music/catalog1.pdf
 
Proformance said:
Yes, I did. The reply is tongue in cheek.

How long does it take for you to complete this process from start to finsih (cleaning, ripping, etc.) ?? Would 45 minutes be enough?

That time is worth at least $65.63 to me.
The repair is not free, time not well spent has a real cost.

I'd rather just order a new CD for $10 new, $3 cutout/used, or download the tracks I want for $0.99 All of the above cost less than repairing the broken CD and takeas about 5 minutes ($7.29).

I can't remember how many years it's been since I've encountered a track that "wasn't availabe" somewhere?

PS: I have 4 extar CD libraries, (original discs) wedding ready with at least 5,000 popular selections. Two were never put in service and the discs are brand new. Who wants to make an offer on one?

Sample here: http://www.proformancedj.com/download/music/catalog1.pdf
Click to expand...


Actually the powered disc doctor takes all of less than two minutes to refinish a CD I have done hundreds of CDs with mine. After the origional cost $39.95 the only materials needed is water.

So yes it is much cheaper and less time consuming that even downloading a song at $0.99 each.
 
And to add to what Steve said, some discs ( like DK-10 ) are no longer in production. The ONLY way to preserve them, besides good care, is through repair.

If you CAN find, say, the full set of DK-1 thru DK-99 in pristine condition, check the price. Repair is the better alternative by far.
 
The time that Proformance spent typing his posts trying to educate us common folk about how the real high class DJs do things cost him $323.37 cents. I'm surprised he would take valuable time away from his business to do this. Proformance could you pass the Grey Poopon my good man? My post was tongue in cheek of course Proformance, hardee, har, har
 
If you CAN find, say, the full set of DK-1 thru DK-99 in pristine condition, check the price. Repair is the better alternative by far.
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I paid about $40 /disc for the original DK 1-99 some years ago. So what?

You can get all of those tracks in other collectons for much less money now. In fact, you can even download mp3+g tracks for about $1.25

Unless you're the curator of the karaoke museum it's worth what you can buy it for TODAY - nothing more.

I can see repairing a disc if all you want to do is rip it, but for CD sets from which I DJ - forget it. The last thing I want to worry about when I cue a CD is whether or not it needs it's teeth brushed again.

If you want DK 51-99 call me - I'll sell you mine for about $45. (#'s 1-50 were stolen and I haven't missed em')

Life moves pretty fast - you don't stop and look around once in a while you could miss it.
- Ferris Bueler
Click to expand...

Actually the powered disc doctor takes all of less than two minutes to refinish a CD I have done hundreds of CDs with mine. After the origional cost $39.95 the only materials needed is water.
Click to expand...

It sounds like something I'd rather have in my toy box at the event - in case I'm stranded with a bad CD. Unlikely I'd want to spend time refurbishing used CDs at home.
 
Proformance could you pass the Grey Poopon my good man?
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Must have bumped your insecurity button? ????

Just pointing out wizard: a roll of gaff tape costs more and doesn't last anywhere near as long as a CD.

There comes a time when you gotta tell yourself: "I got my money's worth and it's time to move on."
 
Thunder said:
The powered disc doctor is what i use (mine was like $40), it does a CD in about 1 minute and it recontions all but the worst scratches. For those with really bad scratches there is a fix but the machines are pretty expensive.
Click to expand...

Where can I find one?
I did a search for "disc doctor" but found nothing matching your description.
 
Proformance said:
I paid about $40 /disc for the original DK 1-99 some years ago. So what?


If you want DK 51-99 call me - I'll sell you mine for about $45. (#'s 1-50 were stolen and I haven't missed em')
Click to expand...


Well, nowadays they go for HUNDREDS of dollars, being considered karaoke gold. However, Since you made the offer, I will be happy to pay $45 for your ORIGINAL DK51-99 disks! PLEASE PM me your phone # and we can go over details...
 
I'm at http://www.proformancedj.com/contact.html

Send me the shipping and billing addresses, or call me if you want to use a credit card.

There are people who pay $100 for old Coke bottles too. Usually for sentimental reasons as opposed to a lack of suitable containers or name brand cola.

I suppose, if I listed each individual DK disc on eBay and had the patience to wait many months I could find such people to buy them. But I'd rather spend time some other way, and I've got what I originally sought to get from those discs. It was never my intetion to get into the "antiques" business. :)
 
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