How do vinyl records warp

Even if the warping issue is fixed, these particles could dig themselves into the grooves. Which may leave you off worse than you started. All methods really boil down to pressure and time.

Such as putting the record between two panes of glass with extra weight added on top. This sort of flattening could take days or weeks. Some of the more adventurous among the vinyl community heat up the vinyl record in an oven to soften up the plastic. Accelerating the process at obviously a higher risk of damage. Commercial products exist to aide in flattening records at home.

Although, they can be pricey and you may only want to consider such a solution if a large portion of your vinyl is warped. Some shops have machines that will heat and press the vinyl back to a flat shape. If you are lucky enough to have a local shop that offers these types of services. It could be the safest method of flattening your vinyl. Although this could be expensive, depending on the local retailers, it may be better to seek a replacement.

Make sure to talk to the shop about the risks before going through with it. I've been caught by the vinyl bug after the big resurgence over the past few years. I've been happily discovering music and groups that was "before my time. Providing guides and information to keep your collection and equipment at peak condition. Causes of Vinyl Record Warping Heat is one of the prominent concerns of a vinyl warping. How to Prevent Warping The most important thing you can do to prevent your records from warping is to store them properly.

Temperature Fluctuations For example, in a poorly insulated shed or garage. Sunlight Exposure More importantly, a place that will never be hit by direct sunlight. Preventing Warp During Transport Transporting records can be stressful and is never guaranteed that all your preparation is going to keep your collection safe. My Vinyl is Already Warped If you already own a warped vinyl record. Do It Yourself Before doing any sort of DIY repair, start by cleaning your record to remove any dust or other contaminates.

Contact a Professional Some shops have machines that will heat and press the vinyl back to a flat shape. What Causes Record Warping? How to Properly Store Your Vinyl Records Store your records vertically : The most common mistake made by beginner collectors, and even a few experienced ones, is storing your records horizontally in a stack. Keep your records at a controlled temperature : Just like humans, vinyl does not exactly enjoy extremes in temperature. Vinyl records much prefer the climate-controlled conditions of a 60 to 70 degrees 15 to 20 Celcius house.

Which means storing your old records in your attic, garage shed, or greenhouse is not an option if you want your vinyl to remain flat. Keep your records indoors : While this should already be quite obvious, making sure your records remain out of the elements is crucial for their longevity and playability.

Needless to say, it is fairly easy to keep your records in good condition. How to Repair a Warped Vinyl Record While several different ways for unwarping a record exist, the two easiest and most common methods for flattening a record are done by applying the very forces that warped them in the first place: heat and pressure. Method 1: Pressure The simplest and safest way of taking a warp out of a vinyl record is to apply pressure to the disc for an extended period of time.

The first step is to lay your bare record flat on an even surface between two towels Next, place on top of your vinyl a small sheet of plywood or any other flat object that large enough to cover your record. Take a stack of heavy, preferably hardback books and place them on top of the record as well. Other weighted objects will work too, as long as they are not overly heavy. Wait several days and allow for the weight of the books to flatten out the vinyl This process is not perfect, but it should work just fine for any small warps or dishing.

Method 2: Heat, Pressure, and Your Oven Before even considering this method, you should probably just consider buying a new copy or having it professionally dewarped. Purchase two tempered glass sheets that cover the entirety of your record. Once you have your tempered glass sheets, sandwich your warped record between them. Preheat your oven to around degrees Fahrenheit 80 Celcius.

Place your record and glass sandwich into your oven and wait anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes, or potentially longer if need be. Be watching your vinyl the entire time. Place 3 to 6 large, heavy books on top of the record and glass sandwich. After two or three hours, your record should now be cooled and sufficiently dewarped. Any longer than this and the record could melt.

Keep a close eye on the record as it warms. If you notice any strange smells or noises, remove the record quickly. Remove the glass and record from the oven. Use oven mitts as the glass will be hot to the touch. Place the glass panes on a flat surface, such as a table or countertop. To avoid damage to your surface, you may want to place a potholder, towel, or cutting board between it and the glass.

Place a heavy object in the center of the glass pane, over the record. This constant pressure, combined with the heat, is what will help repair the record. Leave the object on the glass pane until it cools. Once the glass has cooled, you can remove the record. Inspect the record carefully.

If the record still shows significant warping, try repeating the above steps until it has been fixed. Method 3. Store your records away from direct sunlight. Leaving them in sunlight or heat can cause warping. Keep the records away from windows and heating. Avoid stacking your records. Vinyl records are relatively heavy, and stacking them atop each other puts significant pressure on the records at the bottom of the pile.

This can cause them to get warped, scratched and scuffed. Make sure you store your records vertically to avoid this pressure. Keep your records away from humidity. While most people typically store their records in a basement, the typical humidity in these spaces will likely warp the records. If a basement is your only choice, you should consider installing a dehumidifier to provide a safe place to store your records. Should I use tempered or regular plate glass? Could I use smooth ceramic tile?

Use tempered glass. Ceramic tile is too thick, and you can't see the record. It will warp it even worse. Keep the record in the oven for about 5 minutes, and then pull it out with the tempered glass and put a 25 pound weight on it carefully so as not to break the glass.

Then let it sit for about an hour. Not Helpful 6 Helpful Why are my records warped when I stored them safely flat on top of each other? And why does the needle get thrown off the warped record? If you stack them horizontally, the 2 or 3 records on the top will be okay probably , but on a stack too large or left too long you will inevitably add excessive pressure on your records.

They are meant to be stored vertically with vertical support between each 6" of records. The needle gets thrown because it's meant to skate on a flat surface. A bump knocks against the needle and throws it off its course. Not Helpful 5 Helpful 5. How do I heat up an oven to fix my warped vinyl record if the oven only has a minimum temperature of F?

Turn your oven on to and let it rise to that temperature. Turn the oven off and slide your "sandwich" inside. Crack open the oven door and pull the "sandwich" out in 5 minutes, then let it cool down with the weights on it. You may have to try it again. If your oven is hotter, just shorten the time. Not Helpful 5 Helpful 1. Is my album warped? That sounds more like your player is broken.

A warped record will play the same part over and over again, or slightly change pitch as the disc rotates.