Are Vinyl Records Easy To Break?

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A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English), or simply a record, is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove. The groove usually starts near the periphery and ends near the center of the disc.

At first, the discs were commonly made from shellac; starting in the 1940s polyvinyl chloride became common, hence the name vinyl. In the mid-2000s, gradually, records made of any material began to be called vinyl records, or simply vinyl.

So are vinyl records easy to break?

When a vinyl record used to be made from shellac, it was easier to break into pieces just by bumping it or hitting a corner. Most of the vinyl records today are made from polyvinyl chloride, which can still be broken, but it is not easy to break these records at all. 

If you would like to know more about can vinyl records be broken, please keep reading or check out this video!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TFyYtcU3tA&t=1s

Vinyl Record Breaking Myths

Vinyl LP records in media break effectively in cases of being mishandled or thrown. At the point when they do break, they will in general break into little pieces simply like breaking glass. They even create a glass-like sound upon breaking.

This is known as The Coconut Impact for a large portion of its run. Vinyl records are not likely to be broken easily, and they certainly don’t sound like glass when they break. This is an echo from when those enormous round plates were shellac 78s, which do break. Shellac records and vinyl LPs look practically similar, and they coincided for a couple of years; when the majority of the huge round circles were vinyl, individuals continued looking forward to them to act like shellac in movies and television, as long as they were long-lasting.

Making A Vinyl Record

The procedure toward making vinyl records has its foundations in Thomas Alva Edison’s phonograph. The initial step is that a master recording is created, mostly inside a studio where specialists bring the recorded sound to perfection. At that point, an item called a lacquer is put on a record-cutting machine, and as it turns the electric signs from the master record travel to a cutting head, which has a needle or a stylus. The needle scratches a section in the groove that spirals to the focal point of the round disc. The engraved lacquer is then further sent to a creation organization.

Here, the lacquer is given a metal covering like nickel or silver in order to make it a metal master. At the point when the metal master is split-up from the lacquer, the subsequent disc has edges rather than grooves. The metal master is further used for creating a metal record, which is then used to shape the stamper. Stampers are the negative kind of the initial recording that will be utilized to make the real vinyl records.

Next, the stamper is put in the water-driven press, and vinyl is placed in the middle. The steam coming from the press makes the plastic soft as the stampers imprint an impression of the master recording on it. At last, that disc is solidified utilizing cool water. When the record is fit to be played, it will require an appropriate machine to play those perfect sounds.

Fixing Skipping

There can be different reasons why your valuable record is skipping. A few of these reasons can be garbage, dust, damaged stylus or lopsided turntable’s arm. Fortunately, these issues can be easily solved with little effort or cash. The main reason for skipping is the prominent scratches on the record that are hard to fix and might not be cleaned. You will need the following products for the repairing process.

• Toothpick
  
• Record cleaning kit
  
• Magnifying glass
  
• Lint-free fabric
  
• Distilled water
  

The primary thing is to find where the record is skipping and replay that section a couple of times to recognize the problematic spot. Knowing where the issues live is a critical step in fixing the record easily.

Take out the record only by touching it from its edges. Place your thumb on the exterior corner and your center finger on the label to avoid any kind of dust or oils on its surface.

By utilizing a magnifying glass, you can inspect the vinyl and find where the issue is. Search for dust that is stuck in the sections and for any unmistakable scratches. You will need to know whether there are scratches on the magnifying glass. Remember to clean any kind of dust or oil through the use of a lint-free cloth.

Moreover, rinse the record with tap water along with dishwashing soap to remove any dirt left behind. The best decision is to utilize distilled water and do whatever it takes not to get the record label wet, or it may strip off.

Let the record dry completely before you play it. You can utilize air drying or a delicate towel to make this procedure go quicker. Wet playing will absolutely harm the record so be patient and ensure that the grooves have dried up. Utilize a wooden toothpick to evacuate any dirt that is still stuck. Push the residue out of the spot cautiously without applying a lot of weight.

After drying, test the record and on the off chance that it is skipping, at that point, the issue may be from the stylus. On the off chance that it is completely damaged, you shall have to replace it. On the off chance that the issue continues, at that point, you will require an expert to adjust the tonearm or locate an alternate arrangement.

What Should You Definitely Not Do To Your Vinyl Records?

• Do not touch the surface with bare hands

This is one of the principal rules when it comes to handing vinyl records with care. The maze of furrows on our vinyl surfaces acts as a soil trap. The grooves on the vinyl surface trap the dust, oil and many other particles. Be careful about such issues and make an effort not to let your hands accidentally touch  the vinyl’s surface. You must be more cautious, and your ears will thank you for it over the long haul.

• Don’t play your vinyl records while they are wet

The theory is that when you play an old vinyl record while it is wet, you won’t hear the pops and the crackles. This hack might be successful short term, but not for a long period of time. Actually, this makes the water particles go down into the current scratches where they dry and turn out to be much a greater issue. Simply continue taking extraordinary care of your records and it won’t result in these horrible circumstances.

• Don’t pile up your records

Stacking up the records horizontally can mainly cause cracking and bending which does not sound good. To avoid such harm all you have to do is to set your vinyl records next to each other, like books, at a suitable temperature. In this way, your records will be safe and secure from any kind of damage.

Conclusion

When a vinyl record used to be made from shellac, it was easier to break into pieces just by bumping it or hitting a corner. Most of the vinyl records today are made from polyvinyl chloride, which can still be broken, but it is not easy to break the records. This has made many people happy as records today last far longer than they use to when they were first made.