I know, you spent $15 to $20 of your hard earned cash on a cd only to scratch it, leaving you with major skip problems. Well, before you go out and blow more dough, I have a relatively easy, safe and inexpensive way that you can repair most cds, dvds, cd-r's and game console disks.


Materials needed:

      1 dry soft rag
      A sink (any running water source will do)
      A can of Brasso (less than $3 at your local hardware store)
      Latex gloves (optional)

Most scratches that are superficial can be repaired. The bottom of the cd (part w/o writing) has a several mm thick coating of polycarbonate.  The top usually has a much thinner polycarbnate layer, or just a label.  As long as the scratch does not actually tear the data holding membrane and aluminum backing (either from the top or from the bottom), then the cd can more than likely be saved.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. Methods:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Hold the CD with the underside (scratched playing surface) facing up, with your index
. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . finger in the center hole to help stabilize the CD during scrubbing.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Pour a small amount (about a quarter (2cm) diameter) onto the scratched underside of
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . the CD
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Either with a finger* or the cloth (a finger works better), rub the cd firmly while bracing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . other side with your free hand or something soft (you don't want to create more
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . scratches during this process)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. - DO NOT RUB IN A CIRCLE! Rub from the center of the CD out to the rim like a
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . radial. (see the pictures below for the direction of scrubbing)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. - Thoroughly rinse the CD with water from the sink.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. - Wipe excess water from the CD and make sure it is completely dry before testing in your
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . CD/DVD player, computer or game console.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. - If the CD continues to skip, one of three things is to blame:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1- The CD needs more scrubbing and it will be good as new
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2- The CD's data-containing membrane has been damaged (hold the cd up to a bright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . light, if you can see light through the scratch, then the CD is irreparably damaged.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3- The scratch is too deep to be repaired, or covers too much of the laser's path
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scratches that are radial in direction are easier to repair.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOOD LUCK!


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .* FOOTNOTE- Brasso does have toxic properties and can cause a skin rash. Heed all
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . warnings on the can. The gloves noted in the optional area are listed to take care the
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . hands, but other precautions may be necessary. I have used Brasso on my bare skin
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . for shining brass and for fixing CDs many times and have never had any problems, but . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . the risk IS there, so please use caution.