Top tip for reviving scratched CDs

Mac Man · 19-11-2005, 4:46 PM

Thought I'd share this tip as it works amazingly well.

I was initially highly dubious but thought I'd give it a go any way.

And the tip for reviving those scratched old CDs that don't play any more?

T-Cut

For those that don't know what T-Cut is, it is used to remove minor scratches from car bodywork. Can be bought from Halfords and other car accessory places. Costs about £5-£6 for a tube/bottle.

And it seems to have the same effect on CDs - I guess it just takes a very small layer off the underside of the disk. You just need to spread a small amount on and then rub it in well and polish the disk up.

Chris

shahedz · 19-11-2005, 4:47 PM

do you think it would work on ipods , similar material

phillfyspoon · 19-11-2005, 4:49 PM

most discs have micro scratches so it might work very well

shahedz · 19-11-2005, 4:50 PM

chris forgot to ask

do you have to leave the t cut on for a few minutes? or literally apply and buff?

Mac Man · 19-11-2005, 4:55 PM

You mean the casing and the glass screen?

I'd try it on a small area first though. It wont have much of an effect on scratches that you can feel, but I guess on the V. fine abrasions that accumulate over time it might well lift the grime off. T-cut will lift off a small layer of paint on a car so it may do the same on the plastic of an iPod.

T-cut works wonders, for example, on discoloured paint on cars - (if you've ever seen a car that has a milky white discolouration to it) - which can be lifted off with just one application of the magic fluid.

Mac Man · 19-11-2005, 5:07 PM

Just apply and buff off straight away. Just tried it on the top of my Mac - Mini which looks similar material to the iPod casing. Seems to have polished up ok - although it had no scratches to remove in the 1st place.

shahedz · 19-11-2005, 5:12 PM

cheers chris will try!

Doctorb · 19-11-2005, 5:59 PM

A few years ago i used T-cut on a deepish scratch on a CD-i game because it kept crashing, took a bit of elbow grease but it solved the problem!

10bii · 19-11-2005, 6:02 PM

Yep, plastic polish of different levels of abrasiveness can repair CDs or DVDs. CD repair kits are a waste of money.

In my opinion they make CDs and DVDs from far too soft of a plastic. I guess their reasoning is they would prefer them to be flexible to avoid cracking. Thing is, how often do CDs or DVDs get cracked? Not too often so surely they can increase the hardness of the plastic.

Another thing is people need to slap themselves in the head and simply learn to handle CDs and DVDs.

shodan · 19-11-2005, 6:16 PM

When I read the threadtitle my first thought was T-Cut! Great stuff! I've also successfully used furniture police spray. The Mr Sheen stuff.

fortean · 19-11-2005, 8:00 PM

I used to manufacture perspex display systems and we used Brasso to remove scratches and polish perspex. I have not tried it on a CD or DVD but then I don't have any scratched ones. Same principle as T-Cut though.