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How to "Unwarp" a record?

Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 1:34 pm
by oldphonographsteve
Hello everyone,
I have several early disc records that I would like to play but are just too warped to for me to be comfortable doing so. I have heard that putting 78s in the oven can soften them up enough for you to flatten them, but I have been just too nervous to go about doing this. Is it true that this works? Is there a better method? :monkey:

-Steve

Re: How to "Unwarp" a record?

Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 1:54 pm
by victorIIvictor
try this thread:

http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... ing#p40239

Also, search under "warped" or "Flatten."

be patient and use caution!

Best wishes, Mark

Re: How to "Unwarp" a record?

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 1:16 pm
by Joseph Clack
I have unwarped records by just placing the record in an album on a shelf with other albums and leaving it there for a couple of years. If you are patient, 90% of the warp will smooth out.

Re: How to "Unwarp" a record?

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 1:35 pm
by epigramophone
The plate glass sandwich method works well for me, but both the glass and the record must be free of even the smallest loose debris such as pet hairs, otherwise they will be permanently embedded in the record surface as it softens.

Re: How to "Unwarp" a record?

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 8:24 pm
by Curt A
It's not necessary to sandwich the record between two pieces of glass, as one piece will work. Put your record on the glass and lay it out in the sun for maybe 20 minutes - enough to heat it up. Then bring it in and let it cool to room temperature. The record should now be flat - if not, put it back out for a little while longer. This method has worked for me for the past 30 years and it doesn't risk baking odd things into the record, nor does it take 2 years to complete...

Re: How to "Unwarp" a record?

Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 12:35 am
by donniej
78's are soft at 120*F and very pliable at 160*F. I like to put a piece of ¼" thick steel plate on top of a pot of hot water, then place the warped disc on the warm steel plate. This is probably overkill but I have lots of steel plates and laboratory hot baths laying around :D

Re: How to "Unwarp" a record?

Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 3:30 pm
by Gatyam
In one edition of his American Premium Record Guide, Docks writes the following:

Preheat oven to 200 degrees
Place warped record on a straight, flat surface (for example, a cookie sheet) and place in oven
Carefully watch for the record to "relax" (usually within 2 to 3 minutes)
Quickly pull the record out of the oven and slide or pour it onto a hard, very flat surface (for example, and old pane of glass, slab of polished granite, etc.)
Allow the record to cool completely and check it for any remaining warp
Repeat if necessary

I've tried this on old 78s and it works well. You might want to try it on a nothing record first.

Re: How to "Unwarp" a record?

Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 11:41 am
by Swing Band Heaven
Whether you use sunlight or an oven as your heat source I would strongly advice against sliding or "pouring"!!?! the record into another surface to flatten out once the shellac has relaxed. You run the risk of inadvertently bending the disk and deforming the grooves resulting in a swishing sound when played. If you heat a disk up I would leave it on the flat surface it is on rather than trying to transfer it to another surface.