I tried (and failed) to flatten a warped vinyl record 

This reminded me of a quite badly warped record I had, I've not played it in a few months so I went to check it out and it seems that storing it upright in a quite packed shelf has somehow flattened it out... a miracle I say!

This is why I like you and have remained subscribed to you for all these years: you don't mind showing when things don't go to plan. This shows that you have the confidence to always keep trying.

I'm gonna say "whatever, vaporwave" to any inconvenience now. "Sir, we have to amputate your pinky toe." Whatever, vaporwave.

I stood a warped record in the shelf with my other records, all tightly squashed together. It actually flattened the warped record nicely.

This is why cassettes are the future!

I bought a Vinyl flat/Heating pouch and have fixed about 5-7 records . It's worth it !!!

I found an item about 8 years ago or so called Vinyl Flat. That's worked very well for me so far.

I have a record with that exact defect, probably from cooling too fast during manufacture. It was a QRP pressing. It's a common problem for them. Straightening has a better chance of working on vintage thin vinyl. I hate thick vinyl. Most of it has at least some warpage. Most of my old thin records are straight as an arrow. Kinda killed my enthusiasm for buying any more new records.

"Nothin' says lovin' like an LP in the oven".

My mom taught me the plate glass + oven technique! I had a couple badly warped DJ scratch records that wouldn't true with the weight + time method, so my mom said, "well, here's what we used to do with a warped record." We made sure the glass was smooth and very clean, and that everything was as DUST FREE as possible. Stuck the glass vinyl sandwich in the oven and let it warm to 180°F, the oven's lowest temp. As soon as it hit 180, she turned the oven off, and waited an hour or so for it to cool. It wasn't perfect, but it was a big improvement. Keep in mind this was with black vinyl. Color vinyl has different properties than black vinyl, and it could have a different melting point. Also, them being scratch records, I can't comment on how well the sound quality was preserved.

When you put a weight on it, the weights should be equal or greater size of the record surface. Also, new vinyl suffers from this a ton - I went through 3 copies of John Mayer's first album on vinyl before I gave up and just returned all of them because they were vaporwave city.

6:53 - "This thing WANTS to be curved" - - The ultimate rebuttal for the Flat-Earth assertion!

To set the record straight - you failed right? 😉😁

You should look into just getting a record weight or clamp. You place it over the spindle and it flattens the record out during play. It won't permanently flatten the record, but it'll keep it completely flat during play and could potentially improve audio quality. Just use it every time you play any record.

Well, nice, a new thing to add to the list of things I hope never happen to my vinyls.

Would like to see some more experiments on this. Maybe find some cheap old warped records and try all sorts of ways to try and flatten them

My experience has been so bad with the quality of new vinyl pressings that I've given up on vinyl again. I was all excited too. :(

I've done this before. LPs and Singles. But the trick is, you put it between two pieces of acrylic and put it in a hot car (in summer so you have a few consecutive days) covered in weights. You need to heat the vinyl for it to take a different shape.

If you own a 3D printer, you can use the heated bed as a make-shift heater to fix warped records. All you need are two sheets of glass, I used a pair of small bathroom mirrors. Raise the temperature slowly, not all at once and give it an hour or so to cool down afterwards. Works a treat.

Upshot is, if you ever want to be a foley artist, that vinyl makes a rather nice heartbeat. :)

I'm not sure if this would work for some but I was able to flatten a friend's vinyl by doing the glass thing. But instead of the oven, I left it on the roof for a week. I put a towel underneath the glass so that the hot surface wouldn't melt the vinyl. After that, I cleaned it up with my subwoofer-turned-ultrasonic-cleaner and my friend thought i just bought him a new vinyl.

I had a warped vinyl LP. The oven trick improved the warp but only slightly. I then went on ebay and discovered 2 places where for around £10 (circa $14) plus shipping you could send it to be professionally flattened using apparently a purpose built flattener. Whilst this was the most effective it still has a slight camber at the edge. Hope this helps.

It's ridiculous that because record companies are greedily cashing in on the vinyl renaisance and rushing out faulty vinyl that we're now all talking about paying more money to flatten what should have been "flat" in the first place. :0)

I've had success by stacking about 30 pounds of my other records on a warped record and it worked. I did it with an old Pat Benatar album and an Anthrax picture disc (the one with their version of "Carry On Wayward Son").

I used my hot air rework stations in a circular motion around the record until it reached a consistent temperature then put a heavy set of books on it, worked great.

Oh nice a flatterner for records im interested! *it's $1000* you know what i like the warps it gives it character.... 😐

I read an article recently about this subject, flattening warped records. One method that was mentioned was sandwhiching the record between two very heavy books and waiting a long time to check on it and see if it worked. I may try that for one warped record which I own.

How did you manage to stretch this to 8 mins. Darn your soothing voice.

Ive never known a warped record to flatten from weight. Ive also found a couple of piles of unwanted records in the attic that were stacked on top of each other and to my surprise even after decades they were all fine!

I used some pretty heavily I tile and places outside in the heat for about an hour and it fixed mine

A record clamp would probably go a long way to fixing that. It may not remove the concave issue, but it might minimize it to where it's not a problem, and the convex side would likely be 100% resolved.

The orb is about 2% the value of my collection (by Dcogs estimates). The orb flattening can be sold as a service on ebay for example. In fact one chap has made money from doing just this and making his money back many times over!

I've done the "heavy book" method but on the top of my clothes dryer for a couple of warm (not hot) loads. And then let it cool until the dryer and glass were room temp again. Depends how old/hot your dryer gets. I'd try it on a lower temp dry cycle. If that doesn't work, try the next one up. Doesn't get as hot as an oven. I figured this out because accidentally leaving a new record sitting on top of it one evening (but *not* flat - there were a couple of towels with wrinkles underneath it) warped it. And I fixed it with the same dryer, flat with a heavy book on top.

You could put the warped record convex on a surface with an empty space in the middle, and put something very heavy on it and it might be able to work. I tried it and it worked for an OMD record.

Like finding some good 45 titles uncovered in a box at the flea market on a hot sunny day. Nothing left playable.

My best guess is to take 2 thin towels and wet them and go to your kitchen table and put a wet towel on each side of the record. Put your iron on semi-hot and gently press on the wet towel. Flip the wet warm towels and the record together and then do the other side and cycle for 20-mins. Redo if needed.

So sad I wish one day my warped vinyls can be restored:-)

You and me both, Every single new vinyl i got so far is like this. And it'll only play on one side because of this issue. depressing... So ill just record everything to cassette instead.

I haven't had this kind of problem with a new LP before. However I've had another odd problem with 2 copies of the same LP from The Midnight - Monsters. It had the tracks pressed off center, so there was massive and horrible wow and flutter. And since the first copy and my replacement had the same defect, I spent about 30 minutes with a luthiers centerline measure finding the exact offset for the tracks on both sides. I ended up using a drill bit that was 2.5mm larger than the center hole, turning it by hand with vice grips. Then marked on the top of the label where the turntable post should touch. It worked great, both sides were offset different directions, but the 2.5mm larger hole let me correct for both sides. I fixed both copies, and gifted one to a friend who also collects LP's and gave her instructions how to correctly place on the turntable. It seems modern QC on LP's is very poor, you would think it would be better than in the past with modern technology. But I think the very few pressing companies are just in the business of cranking out as many as possible as fast as possible to make profit.

Its like the outside edge shrunk or the inside expanded. Like when you fry bologna. :)

Its thanks to you that i discovered Dan manson

I have a 45 from a band called "Velvet underground" (not The Velvet underground) Malcolm Young (AC/DC) played in this band pre AC/DC, my friends uncle was the singer. It's fairly rare and it's warped, unplayable. I've attempted to flatten records in the past and never had any success (Actually ruined an original Australian Mono pressing of Revolver and melted a Status Quo record) So I'm terrified of trying to flatten this one, but I really want to. I also just received a limited edition copy of Band of Gypsys and it's probably the worst pressing In my collection, it's also unplayable on side 1. Terribly warped and it'll be going back.

2 pieces of tempered glass, place the record in between and leave outside in the sun for 8 hours. Preferably around 75 degrees. Bring the record inside , still between the glass and let cool for 2 hours. This should remove 90% of the warp and play just fine. I’ve done this to numerous albums that had extreme warps and it fixed them.

Sucks that you weren't able to fix it, but at least you were able to get a replacement

To flatten records i put them in 2 sheets of glass and leave them outside on a hot summer day. works always for me. but only when we have sun...

Full disclosure, I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I'm going to brainstorm. Has anyone considered a pane of glass that would lay on top of the album (cut to size), while you spin the turn table, (obviously don't put the needle down), then use an SMD rework station to precisely heat it from the middle out. Glass would provide equal distribution of weight and keep it flat, more evenly disperse the heat, and the rotation would ideally prevent any hotspots. Maybe worth trying on a junker album or two?

Once read an interview where Dj Evil Dee of The Beatminerz said that leaving a record spinning on a platter of a turntable with one of those clear plastic cover’s out in the sun for a day fixed warped records. Never tried it but I might now, for science.

Ive actually had the same problem with 2 different vaporwave releases bought via 100percentelectronca. One of which was bad enough that it caused skipping but I was able to compensate by messing around with different combinations of the various weights, clamps, and mats I have. One method Ive been thinking of that I want to get around to trying is to actually trying is to do something similar to the method of pressing it between 2 pieces of glass and heating it. The rough idea being that the more controlled and directed heat is the main missing component so flatten it out then use a hot air gun to slowly heat up the record and only in the locations it needs to reform similar to how you would do a hot air rework. Slowly heating up the general area by moving the hot air around the spots then getting closer as it heats until it reforms. The issue Ive predicted so far is that this would be a very "by feel" approach that would require some decent trial and error to get the skill down if it works at all because Im not sure how else you'd be able to monitor the heat as you do it.

Get a food dehydrator for like $30 on Amazon, put a flat (round) discs on either side of the record, put a couple rubber bands around the "sandwich" and then put it in the dehrydator for however long you feel like. Those things are terribly insulated and the don't get too warm either.

If you know the precise temperature needed, a Diy press should be easy enough: Two thick glass sheets, with reptile heat mats on the outside of each sheet. The thermostats for these are designed to be accurate to with one or two celcius and have remote probes. Then pop a further sheet of packing (polystyrene or ply maybe) on the outside of this, and finally a equal distribution of mass to apply the pressure. Final sandwich top to bottom would be: Mass, Ply Heat mat and probe Glass Record Glass Heat mat and probe Ply Planet earth etc. Even if you don't know the temp I suppose you could start low, give it an hour, check, then increment up a coupe of celcius until it starts to work.

Have you checked for "record clamps"? Not DIY at all, but it is one of those solutions between DJ and audiophile circles. There are ones pressing tightly the record towards the plate and stabilizes the vinyl.

6:45 *Rolf Harris wobbleboard intensifies*

put record in cover between two 13x13 ceramic tiles. Add 10-15 pounds weight on top and let sit outside on a hot humid day for 4-5 hours. Add weight /time as needed. worked for me.

I've used two plates of glass. After record is in between plates, place 5 LBS. of pressure on top. Place a heating pad underneath bottom plate on medium heat for about 20 minutes. Let cool and check. If needed, place on heating pad additional 10 minutes or so until record is flat. the record will NEVER be completely flat in these methods because the center label area is raised a bit higher than the groove area. If you really want to try to do something, have someone who knows how to use tools cut wood boards and gently machine out the area where the label area goes so it sits lower into the boards used to sandwich the record and apply light heat just enough to warm the styrene or vinyl to straighten.

Look for the Michelle record clamp (made in England). It works for playing the record in a flat position but won't permanently flatten it.

My Clarion tape player ate 6 cassettes of mine. I removed the tape deck from my car, went up to the woods and shot it with my AK. Problem solved!

Vinyl flat is an affordable and effective option for anyone looking

What about a curved plate (that you eat food on), or a very flat bowl or something (that is as curved such as the record would fit there with the bulge downwards), put the record on top of it, but with the bulge upwards, and then a heavy weight on it. So you bend it MORE than straight, as a "hysterieses", and when it have been there for a couple of weeks, when you remove it, it will now return to the straight position.

Surely you would need to bend the record beyond flat to straighten it? I suppose you would need some sort of 12 inch ring so the record sits on it just at the edge. Then put a weight on it, with something under the record so that it can't be bent too far in the other direction. Ideally in a warm place, maybe a car on a sunny but not too hot day. I think the trick would be to check the results often enough to catch it when it's flat. Nothing to lose.

I know on certain types of ABS plastic you can put it in a freezer and it'll straighten back out might be worth a shot

Try laying something heavy on the record and using a hairdryer to warm up the record. I've never tried this. It's just an idea.

put the record onto of a table bowl or cup, with the bowed side of the record up. check every hour, every day, it will droop and you will need to catch it going down before it goes to far.

Had a record badly warped once.....put it in the oven (not to high mind you) with an even and heavy enough weight on it so that the heat AND weight flattenend the record good as new!

I have a collection of 45's that I tried the pressure method to no avail. I cooked one, but it ended up cooked, as in melted. I guess they meant to stay warped forever!

Vinyl aside, the format of this video like "Fireside chat with Colin" was pretty cool. If it's easier to record ~10 minutes dialog and edit in occasional pan/zoom still pictures, I'd love content like that. Just shoot the breeze about some topic that interests you.

Buy a rubber Spin Doctor which is designed for 10" records but buyba piece of silicone rubber abd make one. It's a ring that cushions the record and supports it while playing.

There's one of the reasons I'm not a huge fan of new vinyl. Others being clicks & pops, right-out-of-the-box & my all-time pet-peeve: if by mail, the record breaking through the album spine during shipping.

And by the way : Did you know that > the depth of the groove stores the Left channel , and the horizontal zig-zag is the Right channel < ? So, the stylus senses up & down moves as L and left/right motions as R ! TRUE FACT ! Unless I confused L/R into R/L ! (But everything else here is given FACT !)

I would not try to flatten the warped record. I've tried some of the methods that suggested in comment section here, but I've never been successful. I'd use outer ring record weight clamp. They are very expensive, but it is very safe way to resolve the issue, and it works on most of warped records. Well, maybe it is not an option for him, because he uses a belt drive turntable.

The inner edge of the record probably stuck to one side of the press and the outer edge probably got stuck on the other side as it opened, pulling the inner and outer edges into that shape. I can't say I've seen that short of issue before -- usually warping is just like if you tried to fold it on half You could try using glass sheets and a heat gun too, just have to try to be even

What about using a hairdryer? You have control over the temp , place a towel over a bucket with roughly the same diameter so that only the edge or close to it is supported. Blow with the hairdryer hot air on the record until the center is a little concave, let it cool and see what it does, if it still convex after cooling heat it a bit longer, if it cools down to flat, nice, if it remains concave, Oops flip the de record and reheat it. I never tried myself so I don't know what will happen , either you fix it or it remains warped or it is ruined. 😟😟

Get one of those burrito shell warmers like they use at Chipotle.

(I know its not a record) but I bought a strat with a cheap replacement pick guard, and I held it over a open flame and sat something heavy on it while it was warm (trying not to melt anything of course)

Buy a Record Pi, it’s hands down the best flattener and is much cheaper than an Orb flattener. The Orb also in my opinion will not fix records with bad warps or dishes.

I’m surprised you didn’t come across the VinylFlat in your research. Doesn’t cost anywhere near $1000. Despite this, I still really don’t find it necessary. Warps tend to even out over time when just stored normally on your shelf between other LPs - might take a few years, but any vintage discs I have with dish warps like these have almost totally flattened out, or at least they aren’t anywhere near as severe as they once were… and I’ve seen some that were practically bowl shaped - some African pressings come to mind. Best solution? Periphery ring weight for your turntable. Won’t fix the warp but it will temporarily make it non-existent. All vinyl records can use this to some degree, no matter how flat they appear - the playback surface is almost never as uniform as the original master lacquer

Its called a Dish Warp and its the easiest to fix. The best way to fix it is the opposite of what you did, the warp should be upwards and the whole record surface should be weighed down. A few weeks should solve most of the warping.

Let's wait for couple years, by then this record will be very valuable....

Heat sand in oven, allow to cool to correct temp. Place hot sand on top of glass sandwich.

Its crazy but i used to collect thousands of records, and the only ti e i had warled vinyl was from cheap test press whote labels. Ost my collection is heavy thick vinyl. Its sad to see qualify control slipping to this point.

1980s had a few warped records (vintage mid-60s), tho not like yours. Glass on top of the records & a hair dryer pointing up from underneath. Tested on one that was worthless, to hot, trashed. Next was hair dryer further away, that worked. Each record took (IF i remember) near an hour each. 1/2 hour heat up & 1/2 hour cool down. One record actually shrunk! ya, trashed.

My grandpa put alot of heavy boxes on it it work it was 100 pins in total

put the record in warm water. first it wil flex even more but when it cools the record wil be flat again. dont let the label get wet ofcourse.

Why am I not surprised this was a vapour release you were talking about? 😁

Maybe the combination of a gentle heating using a hair dryer and some weight in the center can do the trick.

Man, i dont really know if any of my Vinyl are like that since they all do is live pressed down with the weight of their fellow brothers, but i hate the repair shops around my city since i wanted to fix my dads Vinyl Turntable and they didn't want to repair it and only wanting to buy it from me "As'-Is" and a couple others wanted me to search for the pieces and then they will try to repair and i was like "how im suppose to look for the right pieces if i dont know whats wrong with it?" at the end i ended up repairing myself after like 5 years of wanting it to work properly, and is still does (Technics Quartz SL-1200MK2)

What about a heat-gun, like the kind that electronic technicians use? Those should provide a lot more control and precision of heat-control.

Maybe a record weight? There's some that even have clamps that really press the record down

I wonder if you could use a 3D Printer heated bed to even heat it to a precise temperature with a pane of glass ontop to get it to the right temperature?

If ur a computer horder, just leave it wedged between several computer towers over a long period of time and turn up the heat in that room and see if that works all jokes aside about running it over with a steam roller.

That type of warped is fixed pretty easily with a cheaper flattener called the Vinyl Flat.

The solution is to get an arduino, temperature probe, and 240v 30A relay; learn C; figure out how to wire up the relay and probe; and write a program to PWM the oven so you can set it to any temperature. Then you have to sandwich the record between two thick pieces of glass, stick the temp probe to the middle of that, and wrap the entire thing in insulation. Wire your oven up with the relay controlling the power. Then figure out what the absolute minimum temperature is at which the record would take (and retain) a new shape, and heat the oven to that temperature exactly... and leave it like that for an extended period of time. EZPZ

Put on your dryer with heavy blanket evenly folded for a week then flip and do the other side

So did you find a record shop to flatten it or not?? Even if you got the replacement, even more incentive to try to get a record shop to flatten your "spare". 👍

Keep the record in it's sleeve and pile 30 other records of so (in their sleeves) on top of it. Should flatten out within a week. Putting pressure on the centre of the record alone will not be enough. You've got to flatten out the entire surface area.

You can try to put it on the 3d printer bed and use the printer as the heater.

If you know someone with a large enough 3d printer may be able to use the heated bed for heating the record. Can fine tune the temperature you want it at very precisely and the bed should be (relatively) flat to be able to squish it with some books then?

Plastic/Materials tend to want to go back to their original condition. I would assume that you problem is, that the vinyl is factory warped. The "flatten with weight trick" would work much better with an improperly stored record, that was originally flat.

What if heated with a blow dryer just warm enough and then placed between two pieces of glass clamped together? Just an idea 💡

I heard about the glass option but use the sun and not the oven....

I would think using some heat source (like a heat gun) to warm up the record (like reflowing a circuit board ) and then immediately putting an even weight across the whole record