LaserDisc Database
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New user looking for tips and tricks
https://forum.lddb.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=6358		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  akiba1953 [ 07 Jun 2016, 18:58 ]
Post subject:  New user looking for tips and tricks
Hello everyone, I am new to the site. I have been wanting to get into laserDisc for years. I finally found a Player in my price range. I had a few movies that I had picked up cheap and stored with my Records. I was able to get my hands on a Pioneer CLD-3070 with 80 movies for $40. The guy was moving and just wanted to get rid of them. Unfortunately there is no remote. I need to get one but im more focused on movies for the moment.

So with that introduction out of the way. I mainly collect Old video games from early 80's to now. I find very conflicting Tips on cleaning laserdisc online. Things like use windex, Don't use windex, Use car polish, Don't use car polish. So at the moment I have been testing cleanings on my duplicate movies to see the effects. I use "ArmorAll" on Disc based games and for cleaning consoles. I use the spray with a microfiber cleaning cloth.

Below is a list of things I tried on my duplicate movies from thift shops that were scuffed/ dirty.

I used windex with microfiber cloth to clean finger prints. It worked ok but didnt get scuffs.

I used a magic eraser to get some of the scuffs. This worked ok but if its over done It puts tiny scratches (It's a form of sandpaper)

ArmorAll Spray with a micro fiber cloth is what works the best so far. It cleans and polishes the LaserDisc.

I know that the disc is two pressed pieces. So im very hesitant to use anything with alcohol that can dry out or get in a crack evaporate and cause splitting.

I have found that some of my movies sticky edges. I try to clean what I can with my fingers. I read to just leave it.

What are your tips for cleaning?

What chemicals do you use?

What chemicals do you avoid?
Author:  signofzeta [ 07 Jun 2016, 20:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: New user looking for tips and tricks
When LDs cost as much as $150 per movie nobody ever got them dirty. LD as a dumpster find is a new thing, so I don't think there's much data on this.

A lot people seem to think Windex will cause your LDs to crumble to dust but I've been using it for over 20 years so personally I don't buy into that. They must have access to some really potent Windex in their neighborhood or something. HOWEVER, I'm from the old school, and as I said, when LD was state of the art and expensive as hell and not a weekend curiosity or some kind of money making scheme for trailer park eBay kings and queens there wasn't anything to clean unless some meathead relative or whatever touched your LDs. In those 20 years I've actually cleaned an LD maybe 20 times, probably half that. The disc should ALWAYS be in its jacket, preferably on the shelf, or it should be in the player. Between these two states treat the LD as if it were an in-transit human organ donation and you'll never have to worry about how to clean it without messing it up. The same goes for camera lens, photographic negatives, and of course human organs. Picking lint out of a kidney is no fun. This does not apply to records though because records simply cannot stay clean. :)

Armor All: I don't know if this will cause an actual problem but it seems like the wrong idea. Armor All cleans, sure, but not any better than dish soap. AA's main draw for a lot of people is that it leaves a slimy slick sheen on your dashboard...because people apparently enjoy that...and that's not what you want. You aren't out to beautify or modify, you just want it to be, if possible, a perfectly clean and original example of a Laserdisc. Add nothing. It seems like that slime AA puts on everything is just going to cause problems, maybe stick to the bag, I don't know, I've ever used it because the seems like the wrong product.

Btw, since it's sure to come up, don't throw away your ECs and replace them with paper plastic hybrids. It's just going to cause problems for the next noob you sell your collection to.
Author:  akiba1953 [ 07 Jun 2016, 21:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: New user looking for tips and tricks
Hi signofzeta, I dont know if it's just me but you reply seems very condescending with a hint of disdain to someone new to the hobby. {If it's just me then let us move on}.
That aside, I know the general care for LD. But unfortunately I dont have the money to buy sealed or pay high prices for movies. So I was just asking general tips for cleaning and preserving this media. My big hobby is to take old beat systems and games and to breathing life back into them again. I know the frustration of having people in a phase or resellers come into a hobby and jacking up the prices and everything becoming "RARE". Most of the movies I will probably be buying will be used and from a in person shop. I have always had trust issues with buying machines and optical media offline. So with the case of me buying from a shop they will have finger prints, missing EC, small scuffs. My professional trade is repair. I looked up to see what chemicals people have used and if they had any negative effects. The LD are a form of resin and plastics. Some cleaners no matter how mild can cause discoloring or become brittle. My reasoning for using ArmorAll is because it has polish in it, its cheap, its easy to use and cleans up nicely if you know what you are doing. It also helps with scuffs and scratches. Not all formulas leave a oily residue.

So back to the main topic if you still wish to discuss, is How to clean and maintain your LD.
Author:  je280 [ 07 Jun 2016, 22:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: New user looking for tips and tricks
Hi akiba1953,

Cheers from across the pond :thumbup: .

If it is of any help I have found a light buff with no more than the most lukewarm water is fine for removing most marks, very mild washing liquid/detergent if really badly marked - scuffs & scratches I have found (unless they are really bad) rarely affect the disc playback so I usually don't attempt to polish them out.

Years ago I tried a few differing techniques & potions to see how they reacted as cleansing agents on the LDs & would use no chemicals as such now, the mild liquid detergent does the job just fine for me.

I really hope your enjoy your player laserdiscs & the format in general.

Regards
Author:  signofzeta [ 07 Jun 2016, 22:58 ]
Post subject:  Re: New user looking for tips and tricks
I do have a problem with noobs for exactly the reasons you suggest. You are correct. I'm sure when I was a kid I ruined other people's hobbies too, I guess that's the circle of life or whatever.

I suggest if you like LD that you consider buying online from known good sellers, like the sellers on lddb.com. For the most part none of these sellers are going to sell you a single defective LD. I mention this because the easiest way to have clean LDs is to not get them dirty or let anyone else get them dirty, this includes previous owners.

LD wasn't like DVD or Playstaion or other formats with huge mass appeal, it was for super dedicated movie freaks. There is nothing like it available today since the home video market is primarily concerned with "value". Anyone who didn't pay attention to LD handling instructions would soon be rewarded by having all their stuff quickly fail. In general, if someone has been into it since the mid 90s or earlier (i.e. people who usually paid full price but rarely more) and they never got so bored with LD that they stored it in a shed or basement or whatever then you'll usually find that everything is flawless. Not to be morbid, but estate sales are a good bet since many of LDs biggest fans weren't exactly young when they were collecting and now 20-30 years later many are leaving us.

By the time LD has made it to a pawn shop it's going to be rough going most of the time. Buying directly from OG collectors is best since, like I said, everything will be clean. Also, buying from Japan pretty much guarantees a clean disc. If you can find OG collectors in your neighborhood that's a good bet too. If it's some guy from the Nintendo Age forums selling you something he's only owned for a week it's a crap shoot. The whole thing could be warped or covered in chip grease.

As for cleaning, like I said, Windex if it's not something you're doing every time you handle the disc. Dish soap works perfectly well also but you'll have to dry it by hand. The goal should be to get the disc working, not to make it pretty. It's already pretty, it's an LD. :)
Author:  akiba1953 [ 08 Jun 2016, 01:01 ]
Post subject:  Re: New user looking for tips and tricks
je280: Hello from the states. Thank you for your experience with cleaning the LD. And I've been enjoying the format and the LD greatly. I just need to buy a remote. :lol:

signofzeta: I completely understand your frustration with noobs. I have been collecting video games, comics, and toys for 15 years. Once it becomes "the thing" Everyone wants it and you get re sellers popping up jacking the prices. Just like records are a thing again. I insure you This is something I have always been fascinated with. My Grandfather was a huge movie person. He had a LD player with only a few movies. I in his shoes am a huge movie and sound person. I know that LD are not like regular cd and dvd. That's why I wanted to tips on keeping them in the best shape that I can. I have already bought one LD from here and waiting for a offer to be accepted or declined. There are movies that I want on LD and don't mind spending the money on those in better condition off of here than ebay. But I'm just starting my collection So i've just been buying up what I can cheap. The local used music store had LD for $0.95 to $1.95. I they are decent but I already plan to upgrade to the criterion collections of them. I'm Sorry you have a dislike for noobs but I hope that you and I can get along on this site. :thumbup:
Author:  akiba1953 [ 08 Jun 2016, 01:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: New user looking for tips and tricks
Hey guys just another general cleaning question. Is there by chance a LD laser cleaner? Ive seen them for cd and dvd. I already need to open my player and need to clean and grease the tracks. I only want to open and clean it once. I would like something that helps with basic maintenance.
Author:  signofzeta [ 08 Jun 2016, 03:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: New user looking for tips and tricks
You don't need it or want it, but they do exist. You can also clean/ruin your player with a regular 5" CD if the player is compatible.

There are a couple of really good LD repair guys here. I'm pretty sure they'll say the same thing.
Author:  akiba1953 [ 08 Jun 2016, 05:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: New user looking for tips and tricks
signofzeta: excellent incite. I think I'll just manually clean it with the maintenance I'm about to do.
Author:  je280 [ 08 Jun 2016, 11:09 ]
Post subject:  Re: New user looking for tips and tricks
akiba1953 wrote:
Hey guys just another general cleaning question. Is there by chance a LD laser cleaner? Ive seen them for cd and dvd. I already need to open my player and need to clean and grease the tracks. I only want to open and clean it once. I would like something that helps with basic maintenance.


Hello again akiba1953,

Really sorry if this is an obvious one but sometime in the past I was told this & I am pretty sure it has been mentioned on the forum here in the past but.....

if cleaning the laser lens then please check first if you are considering using isopropyl alcohol as the lens apparently has a coating (blue?) that is not a protective coating but it is there to help keep the beam consistent/in line or something like that - pretty sure someone else here will be able confirm or correct but I do think there may be a possible issue with iso as a lens cleaner with laserdisc players.

After saying that I believe some users here have used it to clean their players lens with no issues so I may be way off the mark on this, I am also perhaps a little paranoid with chemical/solvent cleaners on any type of lens with any coatings at all.

Again sorry if this isopropyl as a laserdisc lens cleaner thing is totally wrong but if someone here more in the know than I am can advise more confidently/correctly that may help.

Cheers.
Author:  audioboyz1973 [ 08 Jun 2016, 14:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: New user looking for tips and tricks
signofzeta wrote:
I do have a problem with noobs for exactly the reasons you suggest. You are correct. I'm sure when I was a kid I ruined other people's hobbies too, I guess that's the circle of life or whatever.

The goal should be to get the disc working, not to make it pretty. It's already pretty, it's an LD. :)


Ahhh signofzeta, you will get used to his insightful but cutting comments, of which the dry/sarcastic/cynical tone has at times left me in stitches of laughter, though open to misinterpretation. Or is he really just a grumpy old man and I find that funny?????
Author:  Guest [ 08 Jun 2016, 16:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: New user looking for tips and tricks
For the most part, anything used to clean eye glasses/camera lenses should be fine. When I have a really dirty disc I break out the Novus #1 cleaner and a good (and I stress GOOD) microfiber cloths. I've had cheap cloths and paper towels put minor scratches on the disc surface, which won't affect playback at all but I'd prefer not to do it. I also have some Novus #2 scratch remover that helps out with minor scratches.

I've never considered using Armor All, but I stopped using that on my cars years ago. On car dashs, it leaves a waxy buildup over time that is really hard to clean off. You don't see it if you keep reapplying every few months, but don't add it for a year and the surface becomes disgusting, and it's the old Armor All, not the actual dash. That can't be good for a LD surface.
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