what do resurfaced discs look like???

[CasioTech]

I went to my local used game store and somehow all their 'used' game discs are all in mint condition, either they buy mint games only, or they find ways to restore discs. So what are good signs to tell if a disc is resurfaced and does it make the disc look like new? how do those machines work??


also, I couldn't find good psp games at my local gamestops so I went with a cool blockbuster 2 for $10 deal. So I rented manhunt2 and GoW and I get to play them for 8 days. Can't beat that deal I don't think.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

a light swirl pattern

 

[RandomFool]

In general, they're round with a small hole in the middle. Usually the top has some sort of logo or design on it. That helps you to know what game is contained on the disc. Most of them tend to be silver colored on the bottom but I've seen some that are black too.

 

[Frodolives]

lol@foo'

Well, I have to throw in my two cents here, as a local pawn shop has a very nice machine for this (supposedly worth about $4,000).

The machine has several buffing and grinding wheels that can be changed manually, and the condition of those is important. There are also a couple of fluids used. The short answer though, is that if the equipment is in good shape and properly used, the disks look like new afterwards. No swirls, no nothin'!

In the case of disks that have data on both sides (such as dvd's with both wide and fullscreen included), the removal of even a slight amount of the disk surface will also damage or remove the indica band near the center of the disk. That has no effect on the disk performance, I'm just saying that it is evident.

 

[randay]

it should look like new but be a little bit thinner then original. resurfacing is just polishing. and there should be nothing wrong with buying a used game that has been polished to new condition.

 

[holden j caufield]

where can I use one of these machines?

 

[Frodolives]

At the local pawn shop I mentioned I can have a disk resurfaced for $2. If you cannot find a local business that can do this for you, there are also businesses advertised online that will resurface disks by mail, although the last time I checked that was quite more expensive.

 

[CasioTech]

I've seen some games at gamestop that had a swirly pattern and I don't even know if the consoles could read them.


there has to be something noticeable about resurfaced discs as originals melted plastic stamped down or something like that which causes the really smooth, shiny, water-like surface, buffing it in any way should leave some kind of texture.

I remember there used to be that dumb device which you put some solution and you buff out the scratches (solution fills in the scratches) but it didn't work, did it?


anyway the local gamestore not only has mint discs but the manuals are mint too. The boxes are generic ones which have mint cover inserts. So I dont' know what's going on but it's run by gypsies so I don't want to even ask.

 

[Frodolives]

Yes, there are quite a few cheapish home devices for polishing, mostly junk. I wouldn't bank on any of them to leave a nice looking surface, but some of them apparently can have a beneficial effect now and then. Seems like I recall a $20 Memorex motorized one.

I must disagree about buffing necessarily leaving a texture though. At a microscopic level, sure you could probably see something, but a top notch pro machine leaves them absolutely beautiful.

 

[spidey07]

I've had to hand polish fiber optics before where even the slightest scratch is bad mojo.

Absolutely you can achieve a mirror finish on plastic. As mentioned it just requires the correct buffering materials and solution.

 

[CasioTech]

yeah I guess if you buff it really fine and use some kind of gel like solution to polish the disc it wouldn't be noticeable.

 

[MrPickins]

The cheapo "Disk Dr.", etc. do work work well to make a disc readable, but the surface always has swirlies.

 

[Oyeve]

Toothpaste (white only) for rubbing out the scratches and a nice piece of felt for polishing. Thats what I use.

 

[CasioTech]

I just got a response from some games I bought... THey had some gooey stuff on the inside ring so I inquired about that, here is what he wrote:

The gooey stuff on the bottom is from a cleaner. They wipe that on the bottom and then the game is resurfaced. Do both of the games work okay? Sorry for the delay in response. Wayne

they look absolutely awesome.