scratched disc repair

[tz101]

Collecting many used game discs from thrift stores, and of course I come across many scratched and gouged ones (I often wonder exactly what these kids do to these things in their bedrooms). There are expensive buffing machines that only a few video rental places seem to be able to afford. Other than that, does anybody know of any "home remedies" for scratched game/music/movie discs? I bought a paste and soft cloth system from a video store, but it only works on minimally scarred discs. Since the discs appear to be made from acrylic or a similar substance, you would think a company might offer a "zamboni" type of device that simply uses a razor blade to shave off the top layer of the scratched disc surface, much like the ice at a hockey rink. Also, is super glue an option for filling scratched areas? It dries clear and is acrylic-like after it sets up. The only question with that approach is how to smooth the filled in area to match the surrounding smooth disc surface.

[Atari Dogs]

I have a ZDAG disk repair system. http://www.dvdrepairmachine.com/catalog/ZDAG-101-orderby0-p-1-c-249.html

 

It looks like it costs $115 now, but it has worked really well for me. I went through a couple of the Disk Doctors, before I bought this one, and it works much better than the disk doctor.

[Richard H.]

Brasso metal polish is the best. I've brought many a CD / DVD back to life with it.

[+RevEng]

Yes, brasso is quite good. For really bad ones I start with toothpaste and end with brasso.

 

That said it doesn't work 100% of the time, and you should always carefully inspect the label-side for damage first. If the label is scratched through to the plastic, the disc is garbage. Also, you need to be careful not to make any cracks near the edge of the discs worse with hand buffing.

 

I haven't tried it, but others swear by Turtle Wax.

 

Gamestop used to "resurface" discs for a fee, but stopped it a while back. If you have a games reseller near you, you might as well ask anyway. I can guarantee they have one of the uber-expensive resurfacing machines sitting around somewhere.