by Record-changer »
Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:59 pm
You don't need a special machine. I have done it using several techniques with common materials.
- One method uses two pieces of flat plate glass 14" or larger on a side, an unabridged dictionary, and a month. Place the warped record between the pieces of glass, and put the dictionary on top. Wait a month.
- Another method uses those same two pieces of glass and the sun. Place the record between the glass pieces and put this sandwich on a perfectly level surface in the sun. The method works quicker, but is more likely to cause other damage. Do NOT use this method with RCA Dynaflex records.
- My favorite method of unwarping records requires no effort on your part. Proper storage vertically (standing on edge) within a group of albums is the key. I was amazed that it worked.
I discovered it accidentally. I bought a warped record at a garage sale. I wanted to use it test the compliance of tonearms I was designing, so they could play any record that was warped to that degree. My mistake was storing it with my other records. When I went to test another arm 6 months later, the record was flat! Proper storage between other record removed the warp.
One caveat on proper storage: The records at the ends of the group of stored records must be supported over their entire surface. Do not use small bookends. And do not intermix record sizes in the storage. Have a different storage area for each diameter.