Hip Hop

NathanRicaud said:
I do set the timer and most of the time, it doesn’t flatten my records unfortunately. It’s like I have to over cook my records to get it flat. I just put the Robyn - Robyn vinyl in there for 3 hours yesterday and it didn’t fix the warp at all - but that one had one of those really nasty small curves kind of warp.

I personally can’t recommend the vinyl flat. I think it’s inconsistent and that warps are too unique that something more professional is much better.

Agree that it would be the best thing for the average user with a modest bank account, but still wouldn’t recommend it. It’s made resulted in making some records skip that never skipped before. Plus, the surface noise and generally just getting records that don’t get much flat, after placing it in there for a few hours is frustrating.
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Personally, I've never had an issue w/ 2-3 hours of cooking. Closer to 1-hour never seemed like enough to me. The pouch reaches its peak temp (based on the setting you're using - should be medium) within twenty minutes or so; theoretically, you should be able to cook it for hours if you want, since it's not going to get any hotter over time (I once left a record cooking overnight - 8 hours or so b/c I forgot to set the timer option, and there was no bad effect). After the timer is done, I'll usually let it stay in the pouch cooling overnight or so.

Perhaps you're not properly cleaning it beforehand and cooking in some stuff?
 
Lord Diaper Baby said:
Perhaps you're not properly cleaning it beforehand and cooking in some stuff?
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Yeah, I remember even reading on the Steve Hoffman forum that people cook their records in the vinyl flat for around 8 hours and its no problem for them!

It must be because I don’t clean the records properly! I don’t know how to use a spin clean/dryvac properly because A) my records have more noise when I try to clean them and B) my records do get dry after I clean them as I use the dryvac after using the spin clean!

This is why I’m going to wait until I get a record cleaning machine until I use the vinyl flat again!

Can’t wait to get rid of the dryvac and spin clean! It’s bad for my back/posture and it’s very hands on, which I don’t like, especially as I do warehousing and do a lot of lifting etc.
 
NathanRicaud said:
Yeah, I remember even reading on the Steve Hoffman forum that people cook their records in the vinyl flat for around 8 hours and its no problem for them!

It must be because I don’t clean the records properly! I don’t know how to use a spin clean/dryvac properly because A) my records have more noise when I try to clean them and B) my records do get dry after I clean them as I use the dryvac after using the spin clean!

This is why I’m going to wait until I get a record cleaning machine until I use the vinyl flat again!

Can’t wait to get rid of the dryvac and spin clean! It’s bad for my back/posture and it’s very hands on, which I don’t like, especially as I do warehousing and do a lot of lifting etc.
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Because you say you have noise from cleaning, regardless of whether or not you flatten them? I'd remedy that problem and not worry about "overcooking". I'd actually say that there really is no overcooking regarding time (except the ridiculousness of leaving it in for hours upon hours); the real danger is in too high of temps.
 
Lord Diaper Baby said:
Because you say you have noise from cleaning, regardless of whether or not you flatten them? I'd remedy that problem and not worry about "overcooking". I'd actually say that there really is no overcooking regarding time (except the ridiculousness of leaving it in for hours upon hours); the real danger is in too high of temps.
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Definitely going to wait until I get the record cleaning machine because Baby Monster doesn’t know how to do a deep vinyl clean properly! 🥺

And I’m glad you said that there is no such thing as overcooking because when I use the vinyl flat again, I’ll be cooking the vinyl in there for around 5-6 hours on low heat. If I get any edge warps however, they will be getting the professional flattening treatment at my local as the vinyl flat cannot flatten those (even my local says it’s hard getting those nasty edge warps flattened!). Those big wavy warps are easy to flatten he says, but those edge warps are the hardest! 100% true because I tried to flatten my Robyn - Robyn Side A/B disc and it had an edge warp and it didn’t flatten after putting it in the vinyl flat for 3 hours on high heat!
 
NathanRicaud said:
you said that there is no such thing as overcooking
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Please do read this with caution. I haven't had any problems. I have accidentally left records in for many, many hours without problems.

I would not choose 5-6 hours as a default - it will be overkill. And I would never do high heat. My default is two hours (and that takes into account the time the pouch needs to reach its heat); maybe 3 hours if it is super bad.

My experience has been trouble free. But I don't want you ruining anything b/c my xp wasn't yours. Keep in mind the weight of the record, if it's colored, etc.
 
NathanRicaud said:
there is no such thing as overcooking
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This is wrong.
If the temperature is too high and you leave the record in for too long it has "cooked" too long. You can start to "melt" the pvc even on medium heat.
"Traditional product PVC has a maximum operating temperature around 140 °F (60 °C) when heat distortion begins to occur. Melting temperatures range from 212 °F (100 °C) to 500 °F (260 °C) depending upon manufacture additives to the PVC."
Colored vinyl tends to melt at a lower temp. and clear is even less.

Essentially what you are looking to do is heat the record just enough so that the weight of vinyl flat can deform it - making it flat.

If you are not cleaning your records well that is also a problem. I've never used a spin clean (I know others have had success with them) but one thing i don't like is that you are collecting the wash in the basin and then you keep running your record through it. Using a vacuum to dry and remove and loose debris is helpful.
 
Lord Diaper Baby said:
Personally, I've never had an issue w/ 2-3 hours of cooking. Closer to 1-hour never seemed like enough to me. The pouch reaches its peak temp (based on the setting you're using - should be medium) within twenty minutes or so; theoretically, you should be able to cook it for hours if you want, since it's not going to get any hotter over time (I once left a record cooking overnight - 8 hours or so b/c I forgot to set the timer option, and there was no bad effect). After the timer is done, I'll usually let it stay in the pouch cooling overnight or so.

Perhaps you're not properly cleaning it beforehand and cooking in some stuff?
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I think that there's some large variation in the temperature between each user. I don't know how factual that is but it seems like some people have one that gets hotter on the different settings. If I leave something in for 2 hours on medium heat it will "melt" the vinyl - just enough to distort the grooves. I've also had one or two heavier black records that needed to be in that long tho
 
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