For the past ten years or so, compact discs (CDs) have been the preferred media format for music enthusiasts and the record industry alike. Compared to their earlier analog counterparts, they provide superior sound quality and are much more durable. Unfortunately they are not indestructible, as many consumers have come to realize. While there is no tape that gets torn and tangled, the read-side (playing side) of the disc can become scratched and interfere with the playback of the disc. Sometimes this may only create a minor skip and sometimes it results in the disc being completely unplayable depending on the kind of damage and severity.

The most common form of damage is a scratch in the read-side of the disc. What many people dont realize is that this side of the disc is actually just a protective coating for the digital information stored underneath. This turns out to be great newseven though the CD may be currently unusable, this is only temporary and the actual data or music remains undamaged!

In the past few years a number of methods for repairing scratched CDs have surfaced, some more effective than others. One of these methods attempts to fill the scratch with a liquid gel that dries and leaves the surface smooth if applied properly. While inexpensive, this method is often not all its cracked up to be. Even if you manage to apply the material correctly, many times the laser still cannot read the disc properly. The scratch is filled and smooth, but the laser gets refracted and the CD continues to skip. Another more expensive alternative requires a hand-cranked CD repair mechanism. These devices generally cost about $30 and attempt to grind the scratch out using a hand-crank. These are often successful at removing the actual scratch but end up leaving major scuffs on the rest of the CD surface.

The most effective form of scratch removal for CDs and DVDs applies the same concept as the hand-crank device but takes the idea a step farther. These are professional scratch repair machines that use powered motors and specially made CD buffering pads to remove the scratch and restore the disc to its original shine. The process begins by buffering the CD with a coarse, sandpaper-like material that removes the actual scratch. Progressively more fine pads are used until the CD is finally resurfaced with a polishing compound to remove any remaining scuffs created during the scratch removal process. All this may sound very technical, but it is actually very simple.

Think of it as the same process you might use to repair a scratched coffee table. First, remove the scratch with a powered sander and then polish and refinish the affected area. While these machines are too expensive for the average consumer to purchase ($500 and up), it is becoming more and more common to find them in used CD stores and rental shops. You can usually have your CDs and DVDs repaired for a mere $3-4, a small price to pay when compared to buying a replacement disc.

Digital media formats, such as mp3s, are the latest form of distributing music and are becoming more popular all the time. With these digital formats the hassle of scratches will be a thing of the past, but compact discs are still the preferred medium by most consumers. There are still thousands of albums that arent available on mp3 as well. So for now, customers will have to continue to be careful how they handle their discs or find an inexpensive, reliable way to have their movies and music discs repaired.