Vinyl Flattener Machine Recommendations

HighFi.ED

HighFi.ED

Well-Known Member
Anyone own a Vinyl Flattener Machine? I’m looking to buy one and wondering if any of you on here has experience with a Vinyl Flattener Machine. If you have any experience with Flatting Vinyl any advice or recommendations will be much appreciated. Thank you.
 
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I have perfected ;) the method of flattening warped records.
I use thick glass. I cut it to look like a record, round with a center hole. I use a bolt and flat washer to sandwich it all together, but the reality is two 12" squares will work just fine.
It will not work on records that have "melted" and are so warped that the grooves have distorted. Anything short of that, I'm at 100%, even some that wouldn't play.
The only thing else you need is a heat laser gun, cheap ones can be found at Harbor Freight.
Put the assembly in the oven at between 130-140 degrees F for an hour. Let cool in oven for about half hour or so.
Trick is to not let it get below the high 120's and never higher than 140. If you start freaking if it's getting warm just take it out for a minute and open the oven door.
Once the oven gets to temp, turn it off, it will maintain temp for around 20 minutes before turning it back on for about 30 seconds to get it back up.
 
grillebilly said:
I have perfected ;) the method of flattening warped records.
I use thick glass. I cut it to look like a record, round with a center hole. I use a bolt and flat washer to sandwich it all together, but the reality is two 12" squares will work just fine.
It will not work on records that have "melted" and are so warped that the grooves have distorted. Anything short of that, I'm at 100%, even some that wouldn't play.
The only thing else you need is a heat laser gun, cheap ones can be found at Harbor Freight.
Put the assembly in the oven at between 130-140 degrees F for an hour. Let cool in oven for about half hour or so.
Trick is to not let it get below the high 120's and never higher than 140. If you start freaking if it's getting warm just take it out for a minute and open the oven door.
Once the oven gets to temp, turn it off, it will maintain temp for around 20 minutes before turning it back on for about 30 seconds to get it back up.
Click to expand...
I’ve heard of this method and heard good things about it. Would getting something like Vinyl Flat work just as good as the glass you made? I don’t have tools and the time to make something like you did that’s why I was leaning more towards a Machine where I can just put the record in and let it do it’s thing. I have 50+ records that are warped and I can not find anywhere. If I do find them they’re are really expensive and most of the time they’re warped as well.
 
I had two records done in one of those high dollar flattening machines. Both were destroyed and rendered unplayable.

Never again.
 
I can strongly endorse the VinylFlat and GroovyPouch. They are not a machine, but a "device" and work as advertised/intended. I have had success with edgewarps and records with "just a little" warp, but otherwise not trackable. This one is an early version and I've found that 12hours on, with 12 hours off for cool-down is highly effective, given standard ambient room temperature and no moving air.

The (current) instructions seem to underestimate the time needed, probably in an intentional effort to not overestimate it and risk ruining your album simply by following the directions. I gather that each pouch varies a little so a couple of "test" runs will be useful before you put that priceless gem in it.

Tips:
1. Make sure record is very clean before it goes in. Like, really clean. (No sense baking, for instance, a cat hair in to the grooves if it can be avoided.) A good RCM pre-clean is suggested, and I keep a can of "compressed air" (computer air cleaner stuff) for a final "blow off" before it gets sandwiched.
2. Monitor the temperature, especially with the new pouch system that has the adjustable "heater" voltage.
3. The cool down time seems to be as important as the heating/baking time.

I've flattened $100+ LPs with perfect results.

Well worth the investment. Good luck!
 
HighFi.ED said:
Does it work on Vinyl that’s warped just a little?
What’s the average time does it take to do 1 record?
Have you ruin any?
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As per above ^ by DC.

Never ruined any but have had some vinyl that just won't go back to flat.

There are so many variables including original vinyl formula.
 
E.Man said:
As per above ^ by DC.

Never ruined any but have had some vinyl that just won't go back to flat.

There are so many variables including original vinyl formula.
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I think I might give this a try before spending $1000+ on a machine. I have plenty of vinyl I can use as test dummies. But seems like it’s fairly safe to use if you watch the temp and time. Thanks for the info.
 
HighFi.ED said:
I think I might give this a try before spending $1000+ on a machine. I have plenty of vinyl I can use as test dummies. But seems like it’s fairly safe to use if you watch the temp and time. Thanks for the info.
Click to expand...
You can do a shorter time and repeat for longer if unsuccessful.
I've put a few bulldog clips around the edge to add edge pressure too.
 
E.Man said:
You can do a shorter time and repeat for longer if unsuccessful.
I've put a few bulldog clips around the edge to add edge pressure too.
Click to expand...
That’s sounds like a good idea. That’s mainly where the wraps are on my records is only the edges. Do you still use heat with the bulldog clips?
 
HighFi.ED said:
That’s sounds like a good idea. That’s mainly where the wraps are on my records is only the edges. Do you still use heat with the bulldog clips?
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Yep , the whole lot goes into the heating pouch.
I added the clips specifically for the edge lip curls which I found could be hard to shift.
 
I haven’t had any that wouldn’t go back to flat, and haven’t needed to use binder clips around the edge to help, but I know it’s an effective aide for tough ones. (I’ve maybe flattened a dozen records at most.) Again, monitor time and temperature.

The VinylFlat website has their instructions easily viewable and downloadable, and they talk through some of the variables, too.

I think it’s basically “low and slow” for best results, though I think there is a temperature threshold that must be passed for anything to happen, no matter how long you do it.
 
DC said:
I haven’t had any that wouldn’t go back to flat, and haven’t needed to use binder clips around the edge to help, but I know it’s an effective aide for tough ones. (I’ve maybe flattened a dozen records at most.) Again, monitor time and temperature.

The VinylFlat website has their instructions easily viewable and downloadable, and they talk through some of the variables, too.

I think it’s basically “low and slow” for best results, though I think there is a temperature threshold that must be passed for anything to happen, no matter how long you do it.
Click to expand...
Agreed. It's always possible I have a pouch on the cooler side. I've had it a few years so it's an older variant if they changed and I've never bothered to check the temp.
 
I received the Vinyl Flat last week but just now getting to try it. Let’s see how this goes. Any pointers?
 
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