Optical-Media Repair for CD and DVD: Worth the Fuss and Price?

Introduction

Disc repair is based on a principle of buffing out scratches and gouges to a point where the reading laser can, once again, track the data correctly.

For this article, I will concentrate on inexpensive, manual treatments. Many of these treatments come with similar components: applicator pads, buffing compound, and an after-repair protective fluid.

A plethora of expensive, automated, machine-based solutions are also available from a handful of manufacturers. Unless you are going into the disc-repair business, these devices are probably going to be too expensive for you. If you have a damaged disc with critical data, and the manual solutions (below) don't work -- or you would rather leave the repair to a professional -- consider contacting a service listed in this directory.

A relatively inexpensive ($40.00) motorized disc-repair system is available from Digital Innovations, but I do not have experience with this product.

Treatments Used

CD Doctor -- a fine-grit buffing fluid is the basis for this repair treatment.

CD/DVD Playright -- one of the best-rated manual repair kits. This repair system consists of several small sheets of fine-grade sandpaper (aka emery cloth), a fine-grit buffing creme/polish, and a petroleum-based finishing polish.

Damaged Discs -- Better-Handling Habits is the Best Policy

Important note: please keep your discs in their jewel box or a protective sleeve when you are done using them. If you listen to CDs in a car, consider a multi-disc changer. Single players are okay for single, compilation discs. But if you like to change discs frequently, the one-at-a-time disc-changing routine is way too cumbersome (and as dangerously distracting as a cell phone). In this scenario, many people just leave discs lying around in a car. Given the car's dynamics (starts/stops), these discs really take a beating. In fact, most of my "damaged-disc collection" was created in my car!

I'm only going to test and repair pressed audio CDs in this report. The main reason for this is that I do not have a single knowingly damaged DVD or CD-ROM (data disc) in my collection.

Symptoms

Clicking, skipping or "hung-up" audio tracks.

Repair Procedure

CD Playright is the best of the two repair kits I have experience with. I pretty much stick to its application directions. I do spend extra time with the "sandpapering" part of the prescribed regimen, since this is by far the most important part. If a scratch does not diminish acceptably during an initial buffing, I will repeat the process.

You may be wondering about application time. For the tested discs below (which were quite damaged) I spent roughly one hour per disc. Was this much time worth spending on these particular discs? For the sake of testing, yes! Read my comments in the Conclusions section.

Lab Tests

Disc: Disc One, Mozart Adagios (Decca 289 460 191-2)

Before CD Playright:

After CD Playright:

I really wanted Track 6 (a personal favorite on this disc) to play smoothly, so I'm glad it was fixed after the hour-long repair session. But end-of-disc SNAFUs were actually "amplified" as a result of the repair effort.

Disc: John Miles -- Millennium Edition (Deram 844 958-2)

Before CD Playright:

above: This disc got trashed during a sudden car stop, in which inertia threw the disc-carrying Case Logic case from the front passenger seat on to the floor in front of it. The CD was not in its own pouch (sleeve) -- it was sandwiched between sleeved pages:

After CD Playright:

above: Although the "repair" procedure improved tracking for the first 11 or so tracks, it actually made things worse towards the end of the disc! Given time (and patience), the errors towards the end of the disc may have been repairable. I'm sure most of us have better things to do!

Conclusion

Although the repaired sections were substantially improved, I could still hear soft clicks in certain "repaired" and "good"-scanned tracks.

These days, our free time is a precious commodity. And time = money. Given the expense of the repair kits, the time involved to repair damage, and the "soft-click" issue noted above, it may simply be cheaper and much more convenient to replace the disc. Or better yet, initiate the better-handling habits noted in the Introduction, and avoid this hassle altogether!

Application Standards?

I've been applying many of these treatments for years, so I think I have a pretty good "feel" for how to carefully do so. If one is not careful, one can damage the disc during the application process. Scratches are an example (the worsening of the John Miles CD above is a prime example!). Please read the Owner's Manuals for each of these products carefully before use.

Previous article: Optical-Media Treatments for CD and DVD: Worth the Fuss and Price?