Additional Articles
Two Types of Disc Top Damage
There are 2 types of top damage that can occur to your discs. Please read Understanding The Disc so you will understand why the top side or label/graphic side is so important to protect.1Top Damage: Type 1
This is the easiest of the 2 types to identify. Using the Light Test you will see pin holes or scratch lines of light coming through your disc. This means the top 3 layers (Graphics, Lacquer & Reflective Foil) of your disc have been removed. This disc will most likely not play perfectly again, even after it is repaired, but you will be able to play other tracks in areas that have not been damaged.
2Top Damage: Type 2
This type of damage is hard to see, especially when the bottom side of your disc is badly scratched. When this type of damage occurs, it leaves only single lines in the top side of your disc. These lines resemble those made with an ETCH-A-SKETCH toy. It is easier to see this damage once the bottom side of the disc has been repaired. Damage is caused by laying your disc, label side down on some surface. Dragging or bending the disc while picking it up begins to wrinkle the graphics, lacquer and reflective foil layers. This places a permanent scar in the top 3 layers of your disc. When you hold your disc up to the light, type 2 damage doesn't show. Once your disc has been repaired, you'll see it using The Reflection Test. Discs with this type of damage may play through perfectly, unless the foil damage runs in a radial direction. This will cause the laser to jump back or skip ahead, missing the data in the damaged area of your disc.
Determining Which Side Is Scratched
1The Light Test
Hold your disc 24 inches away form a 40 watt light bulb, label side facing the bulb. If you see light coming through pin holes or scratches, this disc is scratched on the label or top side.
2The Reflection Test
Hold your disc, bottom or play side up. While looking at the scratches on the play side, tilt the disc slightly, back and forth, and check each scratch for a reflection or double appearance. Scratches on the bottom of the disc will have a reflection. Scratches or wrinkles in the top side will appear as a single line only.