Vinyl Flat (Heat or no heat?)

[dfunghi]

This question is aimed at those using a Vinyl Flat.

I have had mixed, but mostly very good, results. My worst was using the oven method and ruining a Tom Waits LP (was smooth when it came out), my best was weeks in the hot sun.

I want to add a heat element to help speed the process but do so safely. An oven is never going to work for me, too hard to control temp.

I am thinking of adding this https://www.bodymedproducts.com/products/bodymed-digital-moist-heating-pad?variant=28161724168 and placing that around the flattener and the whole thing in an insulated shopping / cooler bag. I know the VF folks sell a "pouch" but it is kind of pricey and has very mixed reviews.

Any folks using heat care to weigh in?

TIA,
D

 

[DustyOldPile]

I had a period of time when I was experimenting with flattening records. My methods used great care and a lot of science and engineering, and my results were such as to inspire me to give it up and just buy new copies of my damned warped records. It was far cheaper and less trouble. Your mileage may vary.

 

[dfunghi]

I had a period of time when I was experimenting with flattening records. My methods used great care and a lot of science and engineering, and my results were such as to inspire me to give it up and just buy new copies of my damned warped records. It was far cheaper and less trouble. Your mileage may vary.

Happy to say I have had much more encouraging results than you did. Sure no sense going nuts flattening a mid 70's or 80's RE of a common title, but an early pressing of something a bit harder to find....... you bet. My most recent save was a very early (tri color reprise) Hendrix that had a nasty warp rendering most of it unplayable on my 1G cart set up.

 

[Paully]

I have used the Vinyl Flat Groovy Pouch with good results. I end up leaving the record warming in the pouch a little longer than recommended to get the best results. I have ruined at least one record using it but only because I forgot about it and left it in for half a day.

 

[Montycat]

I wish I could just borrow one for a week or so. I only have a few records I need it for and they are rarities. My Talking Heads Rauschenberg for example, not that I need to play that one.

 

[dfunghi]

I wish I could just borrow one for a week or so. I only have a few records I need it for and they are rarities. My Talking Heads Rauschenberg for example, not that I need to play that one.

I had a pair of those sealed, bought on release at Tower in NYC, left with family (in laws) to store and they tossed them both when they moved w/o telling me. Still it can be had for about $40 I think.....

If it were not such a long, drawn out process (unlike a US wash) I would offer to do it for you. But it is slow going and I have a pile already.

 

[Montycat]

Yes, I know it's not super rare and I have the regular release so don't play it anyway. It's just the fact that I wish I could. Some other records are similar, and even less mainstream.

I'd almost offer to buy one and rent it out to local AKers, sharing the financial burden so to speak.

 

[olddude55]

I use the Groovy Pouch. Put the record in for 12 hours, then take it out of the pouch and give it another 12 hours to cool before you take it out of the Vinyl Flat.
It does a great job.

 

[dfunghi]

Yes, I know it's not super rare and I have the regular release so don't play it anyway. It's just the fact that I wish I could. Some other records are similar, and even less mainstream.

I'd almost offer to buy one and rent it out to local AKers, sharing the financial burden so to speak.

Problem is shipping is expensive because it is heavy........

 

[Montycat]

Problem is shipping is expensive because it is heavy........

I'm thinking very local, as in "lets meet at the coffee shop".

 

[robgmn]

What about a set of groovy rings, a couple of 12" square granite floor tiles, and an oven set to 115 degrees?
Warm up the tiles, let them cool to 105, and make a record sandwich. Put it in an insulated food bag, and let it cool slowly.
I warped a few records by mistakenly rinsing with 125 degree water, hence the suggestion for 105.

 

[JJCalvillo]

Just bought one to fix an edge warp on an otherwise clean copy of Deja Vu. First 2 hr/medium heat session showed improvement, but not quite flat. So trying a second session.

 

[captskippy]

I've had a vinyl flat with the heating pad/pouch for a number of years now, and it works well once you figure out the do's and dont's. For example do not torque the wing nut tight, it will deform the grooves. Also like was said above do not leave it on (heating) for a long time, for me nothing past 3 hours. Depending on the warp, and after a good cleaning of the record, I will start with the wing nut making light contact with the upper plate, seal the bag, let it go for 2 hours, turn off the switch and let it cool down naturally (about another hour or two) within the sealed bag, remove and inspect. After it is fully cooled, if still not flat go at it again for another 2 hours following same process. In my experience, this is a process that cannot be rushed, as we are looking for the least amount of collateral damage to the vinyl. Out of about 200 or so flattened, I've had one that I cannot completely eliminate the warp, and screwed up 5 or 6.

 

[jeanmarie]

I use heat with mine all the time and it works great!!!!

 

[JJCalvillo]

My first & second attempts flattened the vertical warp. Sadly there's a horizontal warp as well so the tonearm does a hard side to side when it gets to the problem area and skips. I used it on medium heat and turned it to low when it got to 55º C, for 2 hours and then 2 + ten minutes.

Conclusion is the VF works, but the record was unrecoverable. That's fine, there are more where that came from.

 

[jsisk]

I bought the Vinyl Flat with Groovy Pouch almost 15 years ago. Used it twice. It worked great.

It would have been cheaper to replace the records.

 

[dfunghi]

I've had a vinyl flat with the heating pad/pouch for a number of years now, and it works well once you figure out the do's and dont's. For example do not torque the wing nut tight, it will deform the grooves. Also like was said above do not leave it on (heating) for a long time, for me nothing past 3 hours. Depending on the warp, and after a good cleaning of the record, I will start with the wing nut making light contact with the upper plate, seal the bag, let it go for 2 hours, turn off the switch and let it cool down naturally (about another hour or two) within the sealed bag, remove and inspect. After it is fully cooled, if still not flat go at it again for another 2 hours following same process. In my experience, this is a process that cannot be rushed, as we are looking for the least amount of collateral damage to the vinyl. Out of about 200 or so flattened, I've had one that I cannot completely eliminate the warp, and screwed up 5 or 6.

I bought the Vinyl Flat with Groovy Pouch almost 15 years ago. Used it twice. It worked great.

It would have been cheaper to replace the records.

Not always though. Sometimes a truly collectible record could be found cheap because of a warp.

My experiences with VF have been pretty dismal sadly.

 

[JJCalvillo]

Second missionis a success. Have a copy of “In search of the Lost Chord” I got when I bought a turntable. Had been using it as a test record (“If can track this…!”). It’s flat now and sounds great after a cleaning.

 

[krautmaster]

Easiest way for me to tame warped records was buying an Oyaide BR-12 mat and a Rx Doctor record clamp. The mat is higher at the rim and lower in the center (not much, just 1 degree, but it is enough) so that when you clamp the record down it pretty much flattens it out making unplayable records work fine. You do need to add a bit more anti-skate to make up for the sloped mat: on my Technics tables with Audio-Technica microline stylus carts with the stock mat a little less than 1/2 the VTF worked well - for a 2 gram VTF, I set the anti skate to approx 0.8. With the Oyaide mat I need set the anti-skate to 1.5

BR-12

5mm thick butyl rubber turntable mat with taper angled vibration-damping

www.oyaide.com

 

[TConnelly]

I went to the Vinyl Flat web site and took a look at their video, My most badly warped records look just about like their “after” example. They play just fine but visually, not so great. Has anyone seen it make records that look like that perfectly flat?
Also, a few of my records are a bit dished. And on the changer they give it a bit of trouble. They slip. Has anyone that’s used the Vinyl Flat successfully eliminated a dish warp?
Cheers……………….Todd