Can you fix a warped record?

[Fishtails]

Hi people

I have a record that has a "dish warp". It is not a super rarity or anything, but I would like to take the risk at fixing this warp. It is a standard lp from the 80's so not a 180g or anything.

I know I could use a record clamp, but am interested to hear if any of you have had any success flattening records and what methods you found best.

Thanks!!!

[MonkeyBoy]

There are a couple of companies that make machines which can heat records to unwarp them, but why would you buy one for just one or two records? What I did with the two records i have that are warped is to put them between two very large, heavy books for months. I just left them there. It didn't work.

Others have tried placing a record between two sheets of glass and leaving it in the sun for a while. Some have reported success with this method. Even if the very top of the grooves gets a little damaged the inside of the groove should remain untouched so if it gets the warp out you still have a playable record.

[fscl]

Did you catch this topic:

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=41070

I've got my oven thermo, have to get to a real glass place to buy some thicker than the usual 1/8" pane from the hardware store.

Stereophile's Steve Mejias tried the Vinyl Flat system and reported on it in the April 2012 issue. Flattened his LP and most of the sonics.......

Atomlow seems to have perfected his technique and has given some very detailed instructions with pictures......

Fred

[Phoca]

Lots of topics on this so do a search. I, for one, have used 2 12" black granite tiles with a glossy finish from Home Despot. A couple o' bucks for a flattening system. LP between the two glossy sides then put it out in the sun for a 1/2 hour or so (not too direct sun) and monitor for too hot. Then, most importantly, let the LP cool in the shade between the two slabs for a few hours at least. Most of my LPs have been fixed this way.

[lbgrrl]

My Hey Jude album was warped rather badly. It was sandwiched vertically in a pile of other albums for like 13 years. It isnt warped anymore! Kinda slow fix though

[megatrends]

Best way to fix it is to buy another record. I turned 3 of my warped records into wall decor in my listening room.

[megatrends]

Update ... I found tw sheets of glass, well three really ... one big one and two smaller ones to put on top. I figured this would actually be better because then the glass would fold over the raised center label area sort of.

Well not even 5 minutes after I put out it clouded up so no dice until tomorrow when the sun comes back again.

I think this will work though.

The record has a good warp in it too where the stylus jumps like the Dukes of Hazzard and skips. I bought this as a warped record for $1 to test this out with.

I am going to put a weight on the warped edge.

I already have Led Zeppelin's first record so if I can fix this I'll have two lol.

Wish me luck.

[megatrends]

UPDATE: I had it out today in the sun for a while, had a weight on the bad spot of the record and brought it in to cool to room temp with a weight on it so it would hold.

I went from not being able to play it at all from the stylus jumping to it being playable with just a few seconds of stylus hopping.

I am going to put it out again the next sunny day we have. It came around quite a bit, it IS working.

I had half and half clouds and sun today so it wasn't ideal but made progress.

Looks like another treatment or two and the record will be playable. In my opinion it will never be like normal and will have a defect no matter what but it will be playable and listenable.

I'll report back in a couple of more days of this treatment.

[EdAInWestOC]

You can also try this thing: http://www.vinylflat.com/vinylflatproducts.html. It is made to be used with a normal oven or you can spend an extra $60 USD (I did) and get the Groovy Pouch. That pouch is a haavy bag lined with heater elements that warm the LP in the Vinyl Flat up to a controlled temperature.

I have tried this on an original Apple first pressing of Abbey Road and it got it dead flat without harmimg the vinyl. Since that LP I've tried it three more times, all with success.

It is a lot cheaper than that thing that costs around $2000 USD and it is cheap enough to make sense to own. I have tried the two pieces of glass approach also and it works OK but you have little control over the temperature that the LP will get to.

The Vinyl Flat holds the LP dead flat and the groovy pouch allows you to heat it at a controlled temp. It takes several hours at the temperature the pouch heats the LP to but I have yet to loose a LP to the sun or oven doing it this way.

I have mine hooked up to a digital timer so I can set the duration of the heating.

Ed

[megatrends]

You can also try this thing: http://www.vinylflat.com/vinylflatproducts.html. It is made to be used with a normal oven or you can spend an extra $60 USD (I did) and get the Groovy Pouch. That pouch is a haavy bag lined with heater elements that warm the LP in the Vinyl Flat up to a controlled temperature.

I have tried this on an original Apple first pressing of Abbey Road and it got it dead flat without harmimg the vinyl. Since that LP I've tried it three more times, all with success.

It is a lot cheaper than that thing that costs around $2000 USD and it is cheap enough to make sense to own. I have tried the two pieces of glass approach also and it works OK but you have little control over the temperature that the LP will get to.

The Vinyl Flat holds the LP dead flat and the groovy pouch allows you to heat it at a controlled temp. It takes several hours at the temperature the pouch heats the LP to but I have yet to loose a LP to the sun or oven doing it this way.

I have mine hooked up to a digital timer so I can set the duration of the heating.

Ed

That is interesting for sure but I had to go and purchase a warped record as I did not own one. I cannot warrant the cost for so few of a use for it to begin with.

My test record worked, not 100% perfect but very very playable when it could not be played at all before.

I had a really strong hot day today here it was in the low 90s Fahrenheit.

This works, it does. I am pleased. Should I get another warped record I will use this method I did here.

Generally though like when my Led Zep Physical graffiti record sides 3 and 4 warped I just went and bought a mint replacement. This method will never make a record "new" again anyway.

I will use this on rare hard to find records until a replacement is found.

[megatrends]

For the "record' ahem .... don't forget it out in the sun all day as it over melts

This was out under glass for about 8 hours and just crinkled under the glass and also the record grooves glossed over AND there was misting on it somehow despite being under the glass.

Queen II experiment bites the dust in an epic fail.