It’s the most commonly asked question among vinyl enthusiasts and lovers: can a vinyl record be fixed completely? Well, there’s been quite the arguments on online forums about this topic, claims and counter claims.
If we’re truthful though, the short answer is: no. You can’t ever really restore a deeply scratched vinyl record back to its pristine form no matter what every other person says. In truth, every record gets scratched eventually. But with proper care and maintenance, you can make your record last for quite a while.
Some scratches might not have a major impact on overall sound quality though, and these are the kinds that can be ameliorated.
First, let’s take a look at what goes on when a record gets scratched.
Typically, when you place a vinyl record in the groove of a record player, the needle grazes the surface of the record along a pre-set path to play the sound. When your record scratches, this pre-set route is interrupted, and the needle either jumps over the gap in the vinyl or cuts through it to produce either the skipping effect or a horribly distorted sound, depending on the extent of the scratching.
If it’s really bad, you have to throw the damaged record away and get a new one. If it’s not, there are a few tricks you can try out in fixing them; that’s what this article is about.
First, though, you need to do a few preliminary checks.
Rinse your record with water. Use hand wash or any other mild washing soap for unyielding dirt. Don’t use alcohol (except isopropyl alcohol—that’s fine) or hard water to avoid ruining the integrity of your record or accumulating minerals in the grooves.
Take care to not wet the label so that it doesn’t crack or peel off. Then You have to detect exactly where the scratch is coming from. To do this, replay the record a couple of times. Note exactly the point the record keeps skipping the use a magnifying glass to locate the scratch point.
The wood glue method
This is one of the more popular ways to repair vinyl record scratches (source). To prep your vinyl for cleaning, you have to first of all clean it with a soft lint-free brush and non-alcoholic cleaning liquid or water. Some people use toothpicks to remove persistent gunk, if you use this method, be very careful.
When you’re ready, simply place your record on a table and squeeze the glue onto it. Alternatively, you can apply the glue on the record while it’s playing so that the rotating motion helps spread the glue evenly across your record.
The wood, glue and cardboard method
This is more or less a more practical variant of the first wood glue method. The difference is that you are using cardboard to spread the glue so that you can spread the wood glue more evenly. Cut cardboard into a small square (2 x 2 inches should do) and apply the glue onto it. Clean the record as described in the first technique, then touch the glue smeared cardboard to the edge of the vinyl record while it’s still spinning. Don’t worry about moving your hand; the glue will spread itself. This method is usually more effective than the first method because the surface of the vinyl will be smooth and will cover every cranny.
The needle method
This technique is as sensitive as it is risky. One slip and your record could be rendered totally useless forever (source).
First, attach a cone to a sewing machine. The importance of this step is to examine the site of the scratch on the record. Use the needle to gently follow the groove—you could do this by angling the needle either towards or away from the record or forth depending on the direction of the scratch.
The principle of this method is based on changing the depth of the original groove so that the scratch has less of an effect on the overall listening experience, however, as earlier mentioned, it is extremely sensitive and could ruin everything in a moment if you slip. There’s no margin for error, and you need extremely steady hands. Any slip and at best you’d make your record noisier even though you successful remove the skip. Worse, you could create a loop by mistake.
The sandpaper method
This method uses wet relatively fine sandpaper to clear out scratches. You know the way a sandpaper’s rough surface is used to smoothen wood for furniture? That’s sort of what goes on here too.
Start by wetting the sandpaper to reduce the friction. You can add a bit if hand wash to further lubricate it. Wet the record too (be careful of the record label—don’t let water touch it, whatever you do). Using curved strokes and following the path of the grooves, sand each side of the record with as little pressure as possible, or you’ll only end up roughening up the vinyl. It’s better to sand the entire surface of the record and not just the areas around the scratches so that you get an even result and a uniform look.
This method is not the neatest (as you’ll definitely take quite some shine away from the record), and it might also affect the overall sound experience, but it’ll do the job and make it playable again, at least.
The ice cube method
This is simple and straightforward. Use an ice cube to rub over the scratch in gentle movements parallel to the vinyl grooves. How this works is still sort of a mystery, and it has a pretty low success rate from information available. But people hypothesize that the ice melts and assumes the shape of the grooves, therefore minimizing the effect of the scratch on the record.
Keep in mind too, that water’s density is too high to get to the bottom of the grooves, so this is basically a temporary solution, and you’re at best only altering the tops of the grooves. Sometimes, it doesn’t even work, but you could get lucky. There’s a reason this method comes last here.
Just don’t worry, Ice Cube won’t be pissed you melted him on a record.
Anonymous
Applying wood glue to an LP while it’s playing? Are you insane? It will gunk up the needle for sure, and ruin your record player cartridge, Einstein.
Ray
I agree. Is this chap being serious with virtually all these weird, potentially damaging suggestions??
Anonymous
Common sense! No ones said that you have to place the needle while the record is spinning in the wood glue method, just start the turntable to use the rotating motion in your favor.
Anónimo
Common sense! About the wood glue method, no ones said that you have to place the needle while the record is spinning, just start the turntable to use the rotating motion in your favor.