CD Lens / laser cleaners: Do they work?

[jfrog]

Do those CD Lens / laser cleaners really work? You know, those disks that are supposed to clean the laser?

Extra credit question: If they in fact do work, do they work on recording lasers?

Extra extra credit question: Is the recording laser a separate laser than the playback one?

Here's the problem: My CD Recorder is not working correctly...when I record a CD, it'll play on a couple of my CD players, but in others (like my car CD player) it sounds all static-y and eventually won't play the whole CD.

The guy at the electronics repair place suggested that I try the $10 solution (the lens cleaning disk) before I brought in there for a technician to look at.

[TexRoadkill]

They're bullshit. The disc doesn't touch the laser lense so there is no way it could clean it.

Your problem is most likely because of the discs you are using. Use high quality CDR's and try burning at 1x speed. Don't waste money on "Music" CDRs.

Some older CD players just don't like CDRs, period.

[dgatwood]

Originally Posted by TexRoadkill

They're bullshit. The disc doesn't touch the laser lense so there is no way it could clean it.

Actually, that's not true. The cleaning discs have a brush sticking down from the disc at 90 degrees that brushes against the lens. However, all they really can do is brush off dust. They certainly can't take care of smudges (which are pretty much only an issue on tray-loading laptop drives).

As for how effective they are... I couldn't tell you....

[Beck]

I've used them for years, in my studio and working in IT. The ones with the brushes work very well. I've recovered many PC CD/DVD players/recorders over the years with a cleaning disk and a few blasts of compressed air.

Record and play use the same laser in all that I've seen.

It may be that the player in your car needs the attention, but it’s good to have a maintenance routine for all your dust magnets such as floppy drives, CD/DVD units, Jazz drives, etc.

The 1X recommendation by TexRoadkill is good advice. I personally won’t copy at greater than 4X for audio and still use 650 MB CDs as long as I can find them. The whole speed-error continuum is another bit of lost wisdom. Faster is more convenient, but not necessarily the best result.

[COOLCAT]

yeah I've bought the one with the brushes. the prices can vary from >$29 to $2 bargain bin and their the same thing, from what I've seen.

Opening up the unit and using a cleaning tool and liquid is better, much more hassle though.

Some use the high pressure blow dust can too. $7 ish. Never did that yet.

[jfrog]

thanks for the responses. I might see if I can get a hold of the disks w/ brushes. Or maybe just open the unit up.

[COOLCAT]

Here's the problem: My CD Recorder is not working correctly...when I record a CD, it'll play on a couple of my CD players, but in others (like my car CD player) it sounds all static-y and eventually won't play the whole CD.

Sounds like you already partitioned out that the CD's are ok as they play on other decks.

Cars are in a dirty, dusty enviroment and if you smoke in it...more cleaning will help.

Its not brain surgery.
taking the car deck out and apart is 98% of the work. Wiping the tiny lens takes about 4 seconds....then your putting it back together. imo.
The damn plastic crap in the dash cracking and busting little cheap plastic clips is what makes it a pain in the ass, and often worth paying someone.

There's alot of differences in Lasers and quality too. And disc surfaces is another science. But if your CD car deck works most the time, a cleaning will help.

Are you using Blue Back CDR's or Silver?? MP3 or Wave??

[jfrog]

It's the recording deck...not the car cd player that's the problem. Older cd's I've recorded with my CDR deck still play fine in the car.

The cd's that I've recorded lately have had problems in other players as well. The car was just one of them.

The cd's I'm recording on are CD-music. Unlike a computer CDR, they're the only type that will work in a component CDR system.

I picked up one of those cd cleaners with the brushes, so I'll see if that helps.

[TexRoadkill]

If dust is the issue then just blast some compressed air in the drive.