Fact of Fiction of Label removal?

[TheRybot]

Now, I know that it's fact that labels are bad to use on DVD-Rs, I know first hand, because I have hundreds of them, all with labels that I am going to be spending the next week or so removing. So with that said, I was wondering if I could get some feedback from people who have removed labels before.

I have heard of many different techniques on these boards for removing the labels. Many suggestions have been made, and many have been discounted on the grounds that it may ruin the data on the DVD. Here is a list of the different things I have heard, and I would just like to know what's true.

Many have said to use WD-40, I have read that you spray it on the disk, leave it to sit for about an hour, and then the label peels right off, adhesive and all. This method is the one I am most fond of, because I could do 20 or 30 at a time, and leave them to sit, and then do anoher batch, and have them all done in no time. I have heard that this method can ruin the data on the DVDs. I need to be absolutely certain that I do not ruin the data on most of these disks, because many of them are irreplacable.

I have also heard that soaking the disk in Rosinal lighter fluid for about 10 minutes works well, and everyone seems to think this does not damage the media at all, the only problem with this method is that from what I have read you need to use another cleaner (Goo Gone or something) to remove stickiness from the disk afterwards, I don't really feel like scrubbing over 300 disks clean with Goo Gone. I have also heard that Goo Gone can damage the disks too.

These are the 2 main methods that I was looking into, if anyone has any insight to this, or any personal experience with me that would help me out, please let me know. Thank you all very much!

-Ryan

[Bodyslide]

Try here
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=254850

Also do a search for Label remover...

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=209846

[nic2k4]

If your discs are that valuable, why waste time and risk destroying them? Juste copy them to a new disc.

All I can tell you for sure is that any scratch on the top surface is bad. Bending a disc will cause the reflective surface to separate and oxidize. Chemicals can eat through the reflective surface and the dye.

All this can lead to trouble immediately or can go undetected for weeks.

[TheRybot]

Well see the whole reason I am removing the labels is because I can't back the disks up again, because of the labels.

[Bodyslide]

I would try doing one or two just to see how it goes.
Good Luck

[Prot]

Before you possibly ruin one of your disks removing the label, try again making a copy of it, but copy the FILES to your hard drive, one by one. You have nothing to lose on this method, and if it doesn't have to try and read the whole disk in one sweeping attempt, it just might work.

[TheRybot]

I tried the copying one file at a time, the last file still would not copy. So I Finally bit the bullet and went out and got some WD-40, and it worked like a charm. Took the labels right off, and the disks appear to be perfect. I already backed one of them up again, and it worked fine. Thanks for everyone's help!

-Ryan

[koolaidwa]

u gotta remeber one thing, removing labels u put on the cd will ruin the cd, but dvd are made differntly, the top coating isnt the part written on, so uf safe there, but why not just copy

[fritzi93]

Full size labels are a terrible idea. The disc may play fine at first, but it WILL become unreadable eventually, maybe unrecoverable as is. Been there.

Since you're bonding two dissimilar materials, it's probably a matter of warping over time as the paper responds to the environment. I've made such discs playable again after doing the WD-40 trick. Best to immediately recover the data and burn to a new disc. Blanks are cheap, fortunately.

P.S. Hub/core labels don't seem to cause problems, AFAIK

[DaveS]

I'd copy those DVDs once the labels are off...you should check w/ a chemist, but to me, the petrolium based solvents can't be good for the polymers that make up the disk..even if they are ok, now, I wonder whether the solvent over time will break down the materials..copy now while you still can..the extra DVDs and time spent will be nothing compared to losing the disks (from what you said)...

[Fandim]

DaveS...you wash teh solvents off afterwards, just FYI. (Or at least, you should).

[chuckz]

I successfully removed labels from DVD in 2 min by heating them for a short time with a hair dryer, then the label goes off easily. The procedure might be repeated twice. The whole thing takes 5 min. Just trying to share my experience - before doing that I searched the forum and found descriptions of sofisticated methods using solvents, etc.
No need at all.

Anyway, thanks to this forum I was able to find the problem of no read errors... The disk plays well now.

[kiki]

The wd-40 works like a charm.
I use liguid dish degerant after the label
is removed. This will dissolve any residue.
Did 100 disks this way more than a year ago.
They still play fine today.
Best of luck

Kiki

[Mirot87]

Hair dryer works for me. You might have some goo marks on the disk but it will at least be playable so that you can copy it and back it up.

Hot dryer for a few minutes then peel off the label.