[OPLINLIST] disc repair machines

[Joel Walters]

We also have had good success with the RTI machines. We purchased an
ECO-Junior a few years ago and upgraded to the ECO-Senior at the end of
2005. It is my understanding that they no longer make the Junior and have
replaced it with an improved product called the ECO Smart. We have repaired
close to 1,000 discs on the Senior so far and probably twice that many on
the Junior with only two very minor repairs to the machines (one each) which
were covered by the warranty. Below is their website if you need it
http://www.discchek.com/
 
 
Joel Walters
Technical Services Manager
Clermont County Public Library
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Regensburger [mailto:jregensb at worthingtonlibraries.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 5:36 PM
To: oplinlist at oplin.org
Subject: Re: [OPLINLIST] disc repair machines



Gail,
 
I didn't notice an alternate e-mail address, so I'll respond to the list.
 
Our tech service manager offers the following tips on disk resurfacing
machines:
 

 " Perhaps a good place to start is the Library Journal article from 5/15/04
that rates resurfacing machines.  It gave its top recommendation to JFJ's
dry machines (cheaper than wet machines, but not as likely to repair
consistently well as the wet units) and to RTI's machines (from the article:
"This unit is extremely durable, yet has a relatively small footprint. Its
precision controls consistently turn out a disc in top condition. Eco-Junior
is the best overall choice for most libraries looking for a more-expensive,
wet-method machine.")
 
Worthington Public Library looked at all the options at ALA, called
libraries with machines, and considered the LJ article; we bought an RTI ECO
Senior (newer than when LJ came out, when only ECO Junior was available).
 
It was not inexpensive--the RTI machine and a disc checker (an accompanying
computer that reads the discs for errors, so one does not have to play them
in a DVD or CD machine) cost $8,995.
 
It also requires maintenance: 4 pads resurface one disc at a time (one can
buy a more expensive model to resurface and check 50 discs at a time--great
for a major metropolitan library, perhaps); the pads must be changed, and
more must be purchased about every 6 months or so; the machine must be
stocked with distilled water and two types of resurfacing compound.  One can
set it on any of 6 settings, from a simple clean down to a deep grind that
will attack nearly any deep gouge. 
 
It makes a thumping noise at times which some staff find unpleasant.
 
Does it work?  Oh, yes!  It will not fix cracked discs, which must be
replaced.  Since purchasing it, however, we have successfully resurfaced
1,234 of the 1,396 discs we have put into it--88.4% successful.  It takes
discs with scratches, baby tooth marks (yes . . . and what parents let their
children do that?), gouges, and the general appearance of having been used
as a Frisbee and makes them look and play like new.  CDs can seemingly be
resurfaced an infinite number of times.  DVDs, at least on the deepest
setting, can be resurfaced about 15 to 20.
 
Why won't it fix all discs?--well, some are simply too badly damaged to fix,
goged nearly all the way through.  If the top of a disc is badly scratched
and the data is corrupted, nothing fixes it very well.  Sometimes running a
disc through a second time on the "deep" or "medium" mode fixes scratches
not removed on the lighter modes. 
 
We calculate that even after buying supplies, it has saved us over $20,000
(about $21,595) in replacement disc costs.  That figure does not count the
extra costs associated with acquisitions and processing staff--it is simply
disc cost.  It has paid for itself twice over in 11 months.  It has never
given a hint of mechanical trouble.
 
One could (though we have not) perhaps recoup some of the costs by charging
25 or 50 cents to repair patrons' discs, only charging if the machine is
successful at resurfacing them.
 
Some of the less expensive dry machines might work well.  The ALA Trade Show
still has several different vendors with competing prodcuts.  We are not
saying the RTI is best.  We have experience only with the RTI and have not
done a detailed comparison.  We will say that the RTI ECO Senior works
excellently and has saved us a considerable amount of money."
 
Hope this helps,
 
Jeff Regensburger on behalf of Michael Blackwell
Worthington Libraries

  _____  

From: oplinlist-bounces at oplin.org [mailto:oplinlist-bounces at oplin.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 1:38 PM
To: oplinlist at oplin.org
Subject: [OPLINLIST] disc repair machines


Hello, list ~ 
We're looking for references on cd/dvd repair machines, what to look for,
cost, which work best, etc. If you have one, we'd love to hear from you. 
Thanks, 
Gail Cummings, 
Wakeman Community Library

  _____  

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