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You want to store vinyl records in a cool place—not too cold, but not too hot. If the vinyl is exposed to high heat for extended periods of time, it can lead to warping and other damaging effects. If you have a temperature-controlled attic or storage unit, that can be a great choice.
How should vinyl be stored flat or upright?
The best method of storing your records is upright in the supplied sleeves and outer jacket, preferably in a poly sleeve. If you do not store them upright, you run the risk of warping or damaging your vinyl records. Storing them upright in a poly sleeve also prevents ring wear to the outer sleeve.
Is it OK to store records flat?
Records shouldn’t be stored horizontally, or flat. Storing vinyl records flat can place too much pressure on the records lower in the stack causing damage over time. Never leave records leaning at angles when in a box or on a shelf, this will cause the vinyl to warp.
How do you store records so they don’t warp?
Store your vinyl collection in an upright position. Records that have been stored at a slant for an extended period of time can warp because of the uneven pressure that has been placed on them. This is why records are often kept in crates that position them upright.
How do you store a large record collection?
To recap: put the record in a plastic sleeve and the album cover in a plastic sleeve. Turntable Lab has sets of inner sleeves, outer sleeves, and combo packs. Ensure your shelving is sturdy enough to support the weight of vinyl records, which average 35 pounds per shelf-foot.
How tight should you store vinyl records?
This is the correct answer. This. You should be able to pull your records out with ease, yet they should stand up nice and straight too and not be leaning over from being too loose.
How do you store records without sleeves?
Put paper or a cloth between each record You don’t want records to be touching and scraping against each other as you will scratch them when you pull them in or out of the box. Put a soft paper towel or even better a piece of scrap cloth in between each record to keep them from touching.
How can I protect my vinyl?
Vinyl records should always be stored in a dry, cool environment. Avoid storing them in direct sunlight, as the light and heat can fade the jacket artwork and warp the record. In addition, avoid storing in areas where the record will be exposed to a lot of dust or airborne particles.
Do milk crates fit records?
A staple of simple record storage is the old milk crate. You can probably picture a hip-hop DJ hauling his goods around in one of these, and understandably so: milk crates hold records almost perfectly, they have handles, and you can fit 40-50 albums per crate.
Should I keep vinyl records sealed?
Nothing will happen to sealed vinyl records most of the time unless you don’t store them properly. One thing that vinyl enthusiasts emphasize is storing vinyl records. If vinyl records are not stored properly, they are prone to warping, discoloration, and damages to the grooves.
At what temperature does vinyl warp?
Warping also has a different temperature than melting. Warping occurs at 140°F (60°C), while melting occurs at 212°F (100°C). Remember that once the record has melted, you cannot restore or reverse it. The heating process will completely ruin the record, and a new one will have to take its place.
How do you warp off vinyl records?
Here are the general steps: Get two large panes of glass that will fit in your oven. Preheat the oven to its lowest temperature setting. Put your vinyl & glass sandwich in the oven for 30 minutes. Turn the heat off. Let the record cool down to room temperature. Determine whether or not that fixed the warping.
Can a warped record be fixed?
Fortunately, warped records can often be fixed, so you can be back to rockin’ and rollin’ in no time. You’ll need two sheets of glass larger than your album, but small enough to fit in your oven. Heavier or thicker glass tends to work best.
How long do vinyls last?
Your vinyl records can last anywhere from a year or two and up to well over 100 years. If you’re aiming for the latter, it really comes down to how well you care for your record collection.
Where should I keep my record player?
It’s vital to place your turntable on a flat and level surface to prevent any tracking issues when your records are spinning and also prevent tonearm friction. This means your records and record player components will last much longer and also benefit from improved sound.
Do paper sleeves scratch vinyl?
Paper inner sleeves can create small scratches / scuffing as you move the vinyl record in and out of the sleeve. They also create paper dust which can settle in the groove causing noise. The best record inner sleeves are made using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic which is soft and does not cause scratching.
What is a vinyl sleeve?
A record sleeve (not to be confused with a record jacket/cover) is the outer covering of a vinyl record. Alternative terms are dust sleeve and album liner. A record sleeve can be made of paper, cardboard, rice paper, polypropylene, etc. It may be acid-free or anti-static and also contain an inner liner (polylined).
