Scratch removers
 

Those "scratch removal" kits sold for CDs and DVDs.... do they work? Are they worthwhile?

I've used toothpaste on scratched CDs. It works pretty well. Just rub with your finger perpendicular to the data "grooves." I've saved a few CDs this way.

Toothpaste? Isn't it kind of opaque?

Wash it off! "Scratch removal" is really just sanding down the edges of the scratch to make it less disruptive to the laser, and toothpaste can act similar to very fine sandpaper.

Or wait a year or two and get one of these.

Yeah, sorry, I should have been more clear. White toothpaste (not gel) has very fine abrasives in it. You squeeze a little toothpaste onto the scratch and rub with your bare finger for a minute or so, perpendicular to the data "grooves." This will polish the scratch so that it is completely removed or if it's real deep, it will just polish the edges so the laser is less likely to bounce off at some random angle. After about a minute or so of rubbing with your bare finger, wash the CD off with water, and dry with some toilet paper or kleenex, perpendicular to the data "grooves."

It may not work on every scratch, but I've done it on several CDs. It works particularly well when you are borrowing CDs from the public library and they are all scratched up from careless patrons. I feel like it's my public duty to fix these library CDs when I can, so I've done it a lot. It makes me feel better after pirating, um, I mean, listening to, the library's music collection.

Thanks, I'll give it a try tonight.

Also, before you use the toothpaste, just put it under warm soapy water and dry it off with a dry cotton cloth or t-shirt. Then try it. You may not even need the toothpaste and if you do use the toothpaste, you'll want to wash it off when it's done.

19 times out of 20 if I have a CD with a problem, the warm soapy water fixes it.

I've used T-Cut (the car restoring stuff) for re-working scuffed DVDs from Blockbuster before. Never failed to get one working yet. Only thing is, I always feel I should return it to the condition they rented it to me before I return it...

So is toothpaste wearing my teeth away?

Only the super abrasive whitening kind. :3_eyes:

I've heard plastic polish does well too. Haven't tried it myself though.

You can always get one of these.

If you have any reason to be in the North Wales area (technically North Wales, but more on the way to Montgomeryville, Stump Road is a cross street to Bethlehem Pike/Rte. 309) you can pick one up at the warehouse store yourself, and save the shipping charges.