DVD storage issue

[Cordy_Biddle]

I've bought some heavily scratched ex-rental DVDs in the past and all have played like new, with no issus whatsoever. DVD discs are actually much more robust than people give them credit for.

I've actually heard that scratches aren't as harmful as finger-prints.

[The_Iceflash]

I've bought some heavily scratched ex-rental DVDs in the past and all have played like new, with no issus whatsoever. DVD discs are actually much more robust than people give them credit for.

I've actually heard that scratches aren't as harmful as finger-prints.

I bought Snow White's platinum edition used last December and I opened it up to check it's condition and it was awful. It looked like someone took sandpaper to the disc. There were scratches that were so deep I can feel them. It also looked like it had crusted food stuck with finger prints on it from a kid getting a hold of it or something. It was disgusting. I returned it.

[DisneyFreak5282]

That's some really good advice, Ryan- thank you! Except for selling all your CDs- if you keep the music, then that's illegal (I've done research!). For now, I'm guessing that my Treasures & cartoon shorts DVDs will be fine in the CD wallet, since they've only been there for a few days. If anyone knows where cheap, bulk slim jewel cases are sold, I'd appreciate knowing! I looked the other day, but didn't see anywhere that had them cheap (online, anyway).

Check around stores like Target or OfficeMax, I've seen bundles with 100 (I think) jewel cases that were fairly cheap. Just make sure that there aren't blank CDs in the jewel cases!

Are there any cases (meaning situations, not physical cases!) where using a CD wallet is okay? Like if you keep them in a good temperature room? I don't mind minor scratches as long as they don't affect playback, but I don't want the discs becoming unplayable.

Well, no matter where it is stored it is always a good idea to keep CDs and DVDs in a good temperature room.

DVDs have a different structure from CDs, using a plastic disc over the reflecting layer. This means that a scratch on either surface of a DVD is not as likely to reach the reflective layer and expose it to environmental contamination and perhaps to cause corrosion, perhaps progressive corrosion.

So what does this mean? It's safer to keep DVDs in CD wallets than CDs?

Yeah, that's basically what they're saying. Although it says that it is harder to ruin a DVD, it's still possible with light scratches. I found that out the hard way just a few hours ago. I've had disc 3 of my season 2 set of "Friends" out on my night stand because I've been alternating between watching episodes of that and episodes of other TV DVDs. The "Friends" DVD got some pretty light scratches. Without paying much attention to it, I popped the DVD in and started watching it. About halfway through, I was like "oh, good, the scratch didn't ruin the disc!" then about 3 minutes later, it froze. So while some people say that light scratches don't affect the playability of a DVD, that's not always the case.

I think, essentially, I'm looking for someone to say that, under the right conditions, it's safe to store DVDs in CD wallets. I think that would save the most space, but I only want to do it if it's safe for the discs. I could only use every other page to store the discs if that will help their condition stay good over time.

That works. If you want your discs to stay good over time and you like both suggestions, maybe you could try putting the DVDs in CD/DVD wallets and putting your CDs in the slim jewel cases?

[Cordy_Biddle]

Yeah, that's basically what they're saying. Although it says that it is harder to ruin a DVD, it's still possible with light scratches. I found that out the hard way just a few hours ago. I've had disc 3 of my season 2 set of "Friends" out on my night stand because I've been alternating between watching episodes of that and episodes of other TV DVDs. The "Friends" DVD got some pretty light scratches. Without paying much attention to it, I popped the DVD in and started watching it. About halfway through, I was like "oh, good, the scratch didn't ruin the disc!" then about 3 minutes later, it froze. So while some people say that light scratches don't affect the playability of a DVD, that's not always the case.

That sort of problem will vary from player to player. Most DVD players have some degree of "error correction" they can employ when playing discs that have scratches. Most of the time I've played scratched discs there's been no problem.

[DisneyFreak5282]

Yeah, that's basically what they're saying. Although it says that it is harder to ruin a DVD, it's still possible with light scratches. I found that out the hard way just a few hours ago. I've had disc 3 of my season 2 set of "Friends" out on my night stand because I've been alternating between watching episodes of that and episodes of other TV DVDs. The "Friends" DVD got some pretty light scratches. Without paying much attention to it, I popped the DVD in and started watching it. About halfway through, I was like "oh, good, the scratch didn't ruin the disc!" then about 3 minutes later, it froze. So while some people say that light scratches don't affect the playability of a DVD, that's not always the case.

That sort of problem will vary from player to player. Most DVD players have some degree of "error correction" they can employ when playing discs that have scratches. Most of the time I've played scratched discs there's been no problem.

I know, my DVD player (it's a Magnavox DVD Recorder) usually plays a DVD if it has some light scratches on it, which is why I was shocked, because the scratches on that disc weren't half as bad as the scratches on other discs that I have played. Maybe I'll try the old toothpaste method, and see if it can save me from having to buy a whole new copy.

[Cordy_Biddle]

I alternate between a Samsung DVD player and Magnavox. The Magnavox is fantastic--and such a little workhorse!

[DisneyFreak5282]

Yeah, it's a great DVD player, except when it decides when it does and doesn't want to read through very light scratches!

And I just tried the toothpaste method, and of course - no luck Anybody have any other DVD-cleaning methods that work?

[blackcauldron85]

If you have a CD Warehouse near you (or other used CD store), you could ask if they have a DVD cleaner (sorry- I can't remember the name) that they could clean your DVD with. You might have to pay, I don't know, though.

[blackcauldron85]

So, yesterday I spent more money than I should have on slim jewel cases. The whole issue was frustrating me, so I just did it. And it's not that hard to "ruffle" through the DVDs, I guess, or maybe I should take a few from the top shelf and put them on the next shelf so they're not as tight, to make it easier to look through. Those cases are such a space-saver! All my movies and CDs are on my bookshelf, with plenty of room to spare! And I kept the cases of movies that I'd want to rebuy if the newer editions were great (I kept cases for all animated movies and hybrids, and my favorite live-action films [except both The Parent Traps, since they have really solid sets], and some films that I haven't watched yet but I may want a new edition.

So, thanks to all the advice- I do appreciate it!

[PixarFan2006]

This year has got to be my most expensive year for DVDs hands down. I bought a few shelves to put them on, but eventually, I ran out of room so I bought a little dvd bookcase to put more dvds on. That too filled up in just a small amount of time. I ended up having to buy a DVD storage cabinet that cost about $120.00. It fits most of my dvds, but I fear I will soon run out of room for DVDs again .

[blackcauldron85]

It's such a hard tradeoff- buy more DVDs (or CDs), or use some of that money towards storage!

[Cordy_Biddle]

I bought two more cheap bookshelf units from Big W a few weeks ago because I was running out of room - and now because of Blu-ray I need even MORE space!

[milojthatch]

Ok guys, I may be able to help. I'm part of some groups that make custom DVD covers. I myself am working on a set for all my Disney DVD's. But, check out www.rixgrafix.com and I think you'll find some cool custom covers and links to other such places.

So far as containers to place your DVD's in, I had been using Unikeep, and may still for some stuff, but I'm kind of going back to good old fashioned DVD cases.

Check out:

www.unikeep.com

www.genesysdtp.com

www.effectuality.com


I hope to put my covers up soon to see what people think. I've just been busy. But hope all of this helps for now.

[blackcauldron85]

So...I have a lot of DVDs up for sale right now, and I put my Disney DVDs that I'm keeping back into their cases, and they're on my shelves. It is a lot easier this way to find them, and to watch the bonus features right after the movie (since they're once again in the same case).

I had sold the digital copies (with the cases) for Bolt and Wall-e, so I need to find artwork to print, I guess, to put in the blank cases (but I have no color ink, unfortunately, in my printer...

The main reason I'm posting this is, I just had a thought. For the non-Disney DVDs I'm keeping, I don't even have the artwork at all, since I recycled all of the non-Disney DVD artwork (hey, I thought I was going to just keep them in slim jewel cases!). But since I'm selling (hopefully!) a lot of DVDs, I have more storage space once again and can use normal cases where I can have artwork. So, I guess I need to find websites that have artwork to print (the one that Milo posted seems to only have a few options?)

Ugh, I sidetracked! No! Okay, So I had a thought in a thought above. My original thought, the reason I'm posting this is: Does a case exist (a hard case, like a big double-wide DVD case {but like 7x wide case, or whatever} that I could hold more than 2 DVDs? Like, a normal DVD case, but it'd be larger to hold, I don't know, maybe 10 DVDs or so? Or more would be even better? I have no idea what it'd be called if it exists, but any help would be great!!! I had given away a bunch of DVD cases, and I probably don't have enough left for the non-Disney DVDs I'm keeping, so that would be really helpful. Thanks in advance!

*edit* cdcovers.cc is helping with the cover art situation, so I guess I just need advice on whether the kind of case I mentioned exists!

[PixarFan2006]

I have bought SO many DVDs this year, that I recently got a cabinet to store them. I also bought a few more shelves, but I am still close to running out of space.

[dvdjunkie]

I know a lot of you still live at home and that can be a problem with space for storing your DVD's and CD's.

I have over 6,000 DVD's, 2,000 of which I have converted to SlimCases, which saves an enormous amount of room. I just have devoted one room in my house for all my music and movies.

If you count my CD's and add them to my DVD's, which I have to do for insurance purposes once a year, my grand total comes to 13,460. That is a lot of stuff to store.

Closet organizers are great, but you are still limited on space, unless you don't want to have your clothes looking like you slept in them.

Best deal would be to sit down with Mom and Dad and discuss the situation and look into building your own shelves using 3/4" plywood and mortar-garden bricks for spacers. They work wonders and are so easily expandable.

I will NOT take my Blu-Rays, DVD's, or CD's out of their original cases if I can't move all the inserts along with them. I want everything to be complete. Especially my Disney collection, which I have separate from all the other movies and music.

[slave2moonlight]

Didn't want to start a thread for this, but does anyone know where I could purchase DVD cases that hold 4 discs. I'm not looking for slim cases, as I'm looking to replace a broken case and still use the insert for it, so I want a regular sized DVD case but that holds 4 discs. Online suggestions are good, though actual stores that sell such cases would be even better, so I can just drive over and get one or a pack. Thanks for any help!