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Are scratch LPs part of the game ?

Hi guys,

I noticed that some of my new LPs after a few weeks of playing gets some fine and medium scratches.
I'm very careful when removing them in and out of their plastic/paper sleeves.
despite of them i can see some scratches on the LP surface.
Is there a technique in handling these so that there will be no scratches at all ?
Although the scratches are not deep enough for the needle to jump or skip. It just irritating.
Is this part of the game or is there proper method of handling them ?
I also feel sometimes on brand new sealed LPs that when you remove an LP back from the sleeve that there is some sort of friction between the LP and sleeve-possibly some scratches happening. Again, is this something that can be done to minimize the scratches or this is part of law of physics (Friction) ?
Hoping some enlightenment.

Cheers-Noli
nolitan

Showing 6 responses by tvad

tvad
9,467 posts
 
Yes, scratches are part of the game.

Replacing paper sleeves immediately with plastic sleeves will help. Also, it helps to hold the LP with a finger on the spindle hole and your thumb on the outer edge of the LP and then to guide the LP all the way into the plastic sleeve rather than letting the LP drop into the sleeve. Some plastic sleeves are "soft" and others are harder and "crinkly". I avoided the hard and crinkly versions.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Also, when cleaning LPs with nylon brush, does this also contribute to the scratches ??
Nolitan (Answers)
Could be. I doubt it.

I used dry Pledge Dust & Allergen Wipes to clean dust from my LPs. I found brushes mostly moved the dust around rather than removing it.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
How clean do you keep your house? Your car? Are they always spotless? Do you make certain to remove lint from your suit before leaving the house? Shoes polished and immaculate?

If you answered yes to these questions, then LP scratches will not be part of the game provided you purchased the LP new.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Suits, shoes, cars segway to lps ?
Has2be (Threads | Answers)
Absolutely. Fastidiousness is required to maintain LPs without scratches. Fastidiousness in other aspects of one's life is an indicator of how likely one's LPs are to remain scratch free.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Well, I'm selectively fastidious, and I as an adult I was fastidious with my LPs. However, I still managed to let one or two slip through my fingers causing scratches.

Sold my LPs...
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Yup Stringreen.

Dropping the LPs might have had something to do with the metal tipped speed skating gloves I was wearing.

Dunno...
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