I need to get the printed front off of CD-Rs

[nonameo]

Well, I need multiple "highly reflective surfaces", but most of my scrap CDs are CD-rs and not factory stamped CDs. Anyone know of a way to get the printed part off of the CD-r?

Things I've tried:

lacquer thinner
some kind of goof off type stuff or something like that
heat(250F)
sandpaper(too much effing work and ruins the surface)
scraping(takes the foil with it)

any ideas appreciated

 

[ebaycj]

why not just mail order a spindle of the cheapest CD-R's you can find?

 

[nonameo]

well, A I have enough CD-Rs that are misburns or not used anymore, so I'd use those if I were to use CD-Rs. What I need is the shiny surface, and CD-R's usually have ink in there that keeps them from being as reflective as stamped CD-Rs. However, I could use CD-Rs if I could get the print off of the front(or back? I don't know) of the CD-r, because that side has no ink in it. So that's what I'm trying to do, get to the shiny side.

 

[Jeff7]

Why not just use the visible side that is already shiny? You're not going to get much of any improvement in reflectivity off of the other side.

Do you need to have both sides reflective?


How reflective is "highly reflective"? I'm guessing not too much is needed, as the CD-Rs I've seen are definitely not very reflective.
You might have an easier time just buying hard drive platters on eBay.

 

[Billb2]

The only thing that will remove the graphics is a buffing wheel and buffing compound for plastic.
Any solvent that removes the printing will distort the underlying plastic.
Any abrasive coarser than plastic polish will leave an ugly finish.
You could use plastic polish and a rag, but that would be as hard as the other methods you tried.

 

[rockyct]

Just buy a pack of these: *****/prodisc-cdr-40x-digital-audio-da-80r40m-np100b-blank-media---p-18213.aspx

My guess is that if you buff off the top layer, you'll take the data foil layer with it and then you'll just have a clear disk. DVDs have the foil layer in the middle so you could buffer the top off.

Wait, are you talking about the colored dye in CD-Rs or the top layer where you label the disk?

edit: Hmm, looks like Meritl1ne is blocked

 

[SagaLore]

Just turn it over.

 

[herm0016]

what do you need a reflective surface for? why not just go to home depot and buy a small mirror and cut it to size????

 

[lupi]

I have no idea what the hell he's trying to do.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Why not just use the visible side that is already shiny? You're not going to get much of any improvement in reflectivity off of the other side.

Do you need to have both sides reflective?


How reflective is "highly reflective"? I'm guessing not too much is needed, as the CD-Rs I've seen are definitely not very reflective.
You might have an easier time just buying hard drive platters on eBay.

Shiny!

 

[biggestmuff]

how about a fucking mirror?

 

[wiredspider]

wtf... the other side is already shiny and if you take off the printed side, you will likely take off the "foil" that makes that other side shiny...

I suppose you could glue some foil to make more reflective surfaces, but I have no idea what you are trying to do...

 

[MikeMike]

go to walmart, pick up one of the safety blankets made of mylar...

 

[octopus41092]

Glue them back to back?

 

[nonameo]

Jeez, the thing is, if I use a CD-R it is NOT shiny on one side. However, there's still a foil backing to it, but there's print on it that keeps it from reflecting light. If I can get the print off, it will be just as good as a regular stamped CD.

However, now I'm worried that the plastic may make this not work like I want it to. I'm going to build a miniature version and test it out tomorrow.

edit: also, I don't want to have to buy too much, because I'm trying to do this for cheap. If I were to buy things, I'd just buy real mirrors and do it like that.

 

[rockyct]

Originally posted by: nonameo
Jeez, the thing is, if I use a CD-R it is NOT shiny on one side. However, there's still a foil backing to it, but there's print on it that keeps it from reflecting light. If I can get the print off, it will be just as good as a regular stamped CD.

However, now I'm worried that the plastic may make this not work like I want it to. I'm going to build a miniature version and test it out tomorrow.

edit: also, I don't want to have to buy too much, because I'm trying to do this for cheap. If I were to buy things, I'd just buy real mirrors and do it like that.

Move on to something else if you think you can take the smooth, lacquer layer off a CD without taking the foil with it.

Maybe if you told us what the hell you're trying to do we could help you with different ideas on what to use.

 

[AMCRambler]

Still hasn't said what he's doing with them lol. I bet he's a really stingy serial killer and wants to glue them all over the walls of his house so he can watch himself murdering from all directions.

 

[herm0016]

mirrors are very cheap. buy a freekin mirror.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Shiny side of aluminum foil?

 

[0roo0roo]

cd coatings are delicate. you wil destroy it easy.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: nonameo
Jeez, the thing is, if I use a CD-R it is NOT shiny on one side. However, there's still a foil backing to it, but there's print on it that keeps it from reflecting light. If I can get the print off, it will be just as good as a regular stamped CD.

However, now I'm worried that the plastic may make this not work like I want it to. I'm going to build a miniature version and test it out tomorrow.

edit: also, I don't want to have to buy too much, because I'm trying to do this for cheap. If I were to buy things, I'd just buy real mirrors and do it like that.

What is wrong with the OTHER side of the CD?

If you need something that is shiny on both sides:

Originally posted by: octopus41092
Glue them back to back?

MotionMan