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How to Repair Warped Vinyl Records

Records are made of a type of vinyl that is extremely susceptible to heat and UV damage, so they often become warped under poor storage conditions. Maybe you are a serious collector who has found a rare, slightly warped record, or perhaps you have inherited a record collection with some warped disks that need to be repaired before you sell them. In either case, the situation is not hopeless; with a little care, most warped records can be repaired.

Things You'll Need

2 sheets of glass, approximately 15 inches by 15 inches
Warped record(s)
2 cans of food
Oven mitts
Oven or a hard, flat surface in the sun

Instructions

Repair Using the Oven
- 1
  Place the warped record between two sheets of glass.
- 2
  Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 3
  Place the stacked record and glass into the oven.
- 4
  Watch the record. It should begin to visibly flatten after a few minutes. Don't let the record overheat; overheating can cause permanent damage.
- 5
  When the record̵7;s warp appears to have been corrected, remove the record and glass from the oven using oven mitts.
- 6
  Allow the record to completely cool.
Repair Using Sunlight
- 7
  Place the warped record between two sheets of glass.
- 8
  Place the record and glass on a hard, flat surface in the sun.
- 9
  Place something with weight, such as cans of food, on each side of the warp if the warp is severe.
- 10
  Check the record every five minutes to see if it is flattening. How long it takes to flatten depends on the temperature and the severity of the warp being corrected.
- 11
  When the record has flattened, bring it inside to cool. Use oven mitts.
- 12
  Allow the record to completely cool.

Record Collecting