Floppy disks - why store them upright?

[Herbarius]

Everyone who is into retro-computing or has had a Computer while floppy disks (especially the 5.25 inch) were still in use has propably heard the standard instructions how to best store and handle your disks to preserve them as long as possible.

 

One of those things does make me curious: That you are told to store them upright, in a vertical position, as opposed to horizontally. Okay, fair enough, but I'm still curious as to why that is. What exactly are the physical reasons behind this suggestion?

 

Can somebody help?

 

This question isn't really about whether it really is necessary to store them vertically or not, but rather to look into the physics surrounding this issue. However, feel free to post some experiences of disk lastability of floppies stored upright compared to ones that were stored lying, if you have any.

[dustfilledhobo]

Everyone who is into retro-computing or has had a Computer while floppy disks (especially the 5.25 inch) were still in use has propably heard the standard instructions how to best store and handle your disks to preserve them as long as possible.

 

One of those things does make me curious: That you are told to store them upright, in a vertical position, as opposed to horizontally. Okay, fair enough, but I'm still curious as to why that is. What exactly are the physical reasons behind this suggestion?

 

Can somebody help?

 

This question isn't really about whether it really is necessary to store them vertically or not, but rather to look into the physics surrounding this issue. However, feel free to post some experiences of disk lastability of floppies stored upright compared to ones that were stored lying, if you have any.

 

I don't know much about floppy disks, but I collect vinyl records, and it is recommended to store them vertically as well. The reason is that the weight of the records can crush the records on the bottom (or at leaste cause some hairline fractures). Could the weight of the disks crush the disks below (maybe not crush, but cause some sort of damage)?

 

Just my thoughts on your post.

 

Dusty

[Thorsten Günther]

I guess it's just derived from the record thing - while it does make sense there (records made of vinyl will usually not break, but they may bend if not stored thoroughly), it IMHO doesn't when considering disks, as long as you do not stack 5.25" or 8" disks a mile high, I consider it an UL, similar to this one:

 

Here in Germany it is still common to use plastic spoons for eating eggs due to the fact that silver(!) spoons tarnish - despite the fact that most metal spoons used today are 18/10 (or similar) stainless steel and are not affected by the sulphuric gases that cause the tarnishing effect.

 

 

Thorsten

[Keatah]

you basically don't want the uneven padding and liner in the floppy sheath to warp and cause undulations in the media. Sound advice!

[CGQuarterly]

you basically don't want the uneven padding and liner in the floppy sheath to warp and cause undulations in the media. Sound advice!

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

Chris

[Silntdoogood]

Everyone who is into retro-computing or has had a Computer while floppy disks (especially the 5.25 inch) were still in use has propably heard the standard instructions how to best store and handle your disks to preserve them as long as possible.

 

One of those things does make me curious: That you are told to store them upright, in a vertical position, as opposed to horizontally. Okay, fair enough, but I'm still curious as to why that is. What exactly are the physical reasons behind this suggestion?

 

Can somebody help?

 

This question isn't really about whether it really is necessary to store them vertically or not, but rather to look into the physics surrounding this issue. However, feel free to post some experiences of disk lastability of floppies stored upright compared to ones that were stored lying, if you have any.

 

I don't know much about floppy disks, but I collect vinyl records, and it is recommended to store them vertically as well. The reason is that the weight of the records can crush the records on the bottom (or at leaste cause some hairline fractures). Could the weight of the disks crush the disks below (maybe not crush, but cause some sort of damage)?

 

Just my thoughts on your post.

 

Dusty

 

Well, if you have enough records to keep some pressure, you store them upright. If you store them upright, but loosely, they warp. If you only have a handful of records and they are lying at an angle, it's better to lay them flat.

[Hatta]

It's easier to flip through a file of vertical disks than it is a stack of horizontal disks. Remember Ghostbusters? "No human being would stack books like this." Same for floppy disks. Even 3.5" disks are stored vertically, and their cases are rigid enough to negate any effect of pressure.

Edited August 11, 2010 by Hatta

[Ross PK]

I hear the same about CD's and DVD's. Supposedly they can warp when stacked flat.

Edited August 12, 2010 by Ross PK

[Herbarius]

If you only have a handful of records and they are lying at an angle, it's better to lay them flat.

While it's off-topic, it nevertheless struck me, and I want to ask about that.

 

As a matter of fact, I've got only one record. Okay, actually, it's two, but one album (Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds)...

 

Why don't I have more? Well, I don't have a record player (at least not at the moment). Why do I have this one? Well, for once, it was a present, and furthermore, I've got personal reasons to think special about this album, and don't forget it's just plain awesome. Not being able to listen to the record itself (although I often listen to it in MP3 form), I hoewever thought I'd put it "on display" in my room, as the cover art is of course awesome as well. So it's now sitting on top of a small shelf, leaning at an angle against the wall.

 

You say this could be bad for the discs?

Edited August 12, 2010 by Herbarius

[jimarm]

Man, that is a great album/CD/mp3...whatever. Anyone who hasn't heard it, give it a try. If you like the Moody Blues and or SciFi, it will be right up your alley.

[Bruce Tomlin]

I have the CD, after having heard it back in the '80s. And there was recently a stage production of it, which you can probably find on DVD.

[madmax2069]

If you only have a handful of records and they are lying at an angle, it's better to lay them flat.

While it's off-topic, it nevertheless struck me, and I want to ask about that.

 

As a matter of fact, I've got only one record. Okay, actually, it's two, but one album (Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds)...

 

Why don't I have more? Well, I don't have a record player (at least not at the moment). Why do I have this one? Well, for once, it was a present, and furthermore, I've got personal reasons to think special about this album, and don't forget it's just plain awesome. Not being able to listen to the record itself (although I often listen to it in MP3 form), I hoewever thought I'd put it "on display" in my room, as the cover art is of course awesome as well. So it's now sitting on top of a small shelf, leaning at an angle against the wall.

 

You say this could be bad for the discs?

 

Awesome, Awesome album

[RodLightning]

Adding to what others have already said in reply, I remember that when 5.25 floppies are mashed flat, particularly around the hub; the drive can have trouble spinning them inside their shell. This can lead to belt slippage on an already decades old machine. 3.5 inch floppies are of course less susceptible to being squashed due to their sturdier design.

 

Gravity is on your side if you store disks upright, but I do recall having the same problem when cramming too many into a storage box, regardless of orientation.

[Herbarius]

Maybe that's one of the causes for some old 5.25" disks spinning "with noise" (I tend to distrust those and eventually throw them out).

[Silntdoogood]

If you only have a handful of records and they are lying at an angle, it's better to lay them flat.

While it's off-topic, it nevertheless struck me, and I want to ask about that.

 

As a matter of fact, I've got only one record. Okay, actually, it's two, but one album (Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds)...

 

Why don't I have more? Well, I don't have a record player (at least not at the moment). Why do I have this one? Well, for once, it was a present, and furthermore, I've got personal reasons to think special about this album, and don't forget it's just plain awesome. Not being able to listen to the record itself (although I often listen to it in MP3 form), I hoewever thought I'd put it "on display" in my room, as the cover art is of course awesome as well. So it's now sitting on top of a small shelf, leaning at an angle against the wall.

 

You say this could be bad for the discs?

 

Well, anytime just about anything is exposed to the environments like that, it's liable to sustain some age and possible damage. Depending on how long you leave it there, and the stand positioning are more of the factors. Leaving it out like that for a long time will enviably result in the colors fading, the sleeve will dryrot, and other stuff. If you lock it away in storage and preserve it though, than you can't see it and appreciate it. It is truly a double edged sword. I would think having just one out like that wouldn't be bad. I was revering to having maybe...8+ leaning at an angle. Then the weight compounds, and you have more weight pressing on the disks and sleeves than they can sustain. Just for the sake of preservation, you might want to consider a frame. Nothing professional, so you can take it out. If you get it professionally framed, you won't be able to take it out, and that's no fun! If you can find a frame to fit it to support it, or even just a thin piece of wood or something behind it, I would think you should be safe.

 

It's just a matter of having force, a week object, and a fulcrum. I have a sketch below because I am horrible at explaining stuff. I am by no means professional at preserving and collecting, I just have a love for vinyl. You should really find somewhere to play that. Records have a whole different feel than "perfect" digital music.