Lie berry dvds

[majormulatto]

i'm certain that this question has been asked & answered before, but since we are cautioned against exhuming moribund threads....,
i watch a lot of library dvds. they tend to have considerable damage, which is not the issue. i frequently see significant circular scratches, usually closer to the edge than the center. it is this which often makes them unplayable. but the scratch appears to be too "perfect" to be attributed to general carelessness or accidents, which suggests something mechanical encountered while the disc is in a machine. i'd like to know what would cause this. and i've tried the toothpaste trick, which doesn't seem to work because the scratches in question are rather deep. thanks up front for any wisdom.

[johnmeyer]

If you are trying to remove scratches, you can use a buffing machine to do the trick (I have done this). However, you have to apply almost zero pressure; you have to use an extremely non-abrasive buffing compound; and you have to be almost infinitely patient because even one too-strong press of the disc against the buffing wheel will melt the plastic.

Of course if it doesn't play, there is nothing to lose.

I think there may be dedicated buffing machine made for this purpose.

[redwudz]

Circular scratches on DVDs are sometimes caused by kids (Or sometimes adults) stacking two DVDs in a player at the same time
and running the player that way for usually a short time. I see that often on library discs. Discs with dirt stuck to them causes more damage.

With public library discs, you can't really do much more than clean them. I use Windex (Non-ammonia) or similar glass cleaner and
a soft paper towel. Works most times.

I tell my library when a disc is unplayable, but I have no idea if they have a polisher, or just toss them or just put them back on the shelf.

Not many music/CD stores still around, but they often have disc buffers and may do this for you for a price, but with discs you own.

[lingyi]

Try another player or reader, particularly a standalone player which tends to be more forgiving of less than perfect discs.

There are disc "polishers" (really, disc micro-scratchers / buffers), but the only ones that are acknowledged to work on badly scratched discs cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. In addition, since libraries and it's contents are the property of the entity funding it (Government, state or institution) it's vandalism to permanently modify the disc.

As redwudz recommended, the best thing you can do is to let the library know which discs are bad and hopefully they'll be able to either polish them or pinpoint the borrower(s) that may be the frequent cause of the damage.

[cornemuse]

Here the library put circular (donut shape) labels on older dvds. Some are slightly off center, enough to allow the disk to 'jump' off the spindle & rattle around, getting those scratches. I use (if washing does not work) a rubbing compound made for dvds/cds.Brand I use is "Scratch Out!" 3.5 oz = $4 from Frys