The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Has any one used plaster to fill in the chips on a Diamond Disc?

I believe it would be way too soft and would be easily dug out by the stylus.

Better to use a dab of super glue?

Thank you!

Inigo wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2023 6:38 am Better to use a dab of super glue?

Better to not risk diamond damage by playing chipped records

I will say up front that I have absolutely no positive experience here with reconstructing chipped disks and none whatsoever with Edison disks or cylinders.

As for negative experience, I have experimented with building up damaged areas of standard 78s with Weldbond glue and reconstructing a path for the needle using a dissecting needle and a loupe. I have managed to get a temporarily playable disk, but one that does not wear well and thus becomes unplayable again. It also looks unsightly.

If I were to continue such experiments, I might consider trying a paste of fine slate dust and thick shellac.

http://www.delaboleslate.co.uk/buy-indu ... nerals.asp

https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/to ... 1-shellacs

No guarantees or warranties expressed or implied.

Edisonfan wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 6:36 pm Has any one used plaster to fill in the chips on a Diamond Disc?

If you mean filling up stress cracks in the playable area, I do not recommend doing anything. The crack is a little canyon with acute edges that develops when the plastic surface is pushed out by humidity. These edges act as knives on the diamond, and will eventually chip it. Any glue or other material you may add to fill the gap will be pushed away by the enormous pressure that the head exerts on the groove, and will expose again the edges. Therefore I dispose of all records with such cracks. For the chips in the rim area, I use a great product called Capt Tolley's (recommended by Soundgen).

CarlosV wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2023 2:18 pm

Edisonfan wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2023 6:36 pm Has any one used plaster to fill in the chips on a Diamond Disc?

If you mean filling up stress cracks in the playable area, I do not recommend doing anything. The crack is a little canyon with acute edges that develops when the plastic surface is pushed out by humidity. These edges act as knives on the diamond, and will eventually chip it. Any glue or other material you may add to fill the gap will be pushed away by the enormous pressure that the head exerts on the groove, and will expose again the edges. Therefore I dispose of all records with such cracks. For the chips in the rim area, I use a great product called Capt Tolley's (recommended by Soundgen).

It’s the chips on the rim, not cracks in the grooves.

Edisonfan wrote: Tue Aug 22, 2023 2:33 pm It’s the chips on the rim, not cracks in the grooves.

OK, then try this Captain Tolley's, it's made to seal cracks in ships, it is very watery but settles in one hour or so and becomes very hard. I use it on shellac to stabilize cracks and on flaking rims of diamond discs.

This sounds great, I must try one.