Disc resurfacing has never been so cheap and easy!

You have undoubtedly seen a number of scratched discs in your time, and often wondered if there is a cheaper and simpler way to get these resurfaced than paying a professional disc resurfacing outlet. Well, I’m here to tell you that there is!

One thing I’ve discovered over the years, is the power of connecting with others and exchanging knowledge and information of value. The secret “hack” to disc resurfacing was shared with me in one such conversation, and it was a game changer. I have now been able to successfully resurface and replay hundreds of old PS2 and Xbox 360 games, at a fraction of the cost I would have paid a resurfacing company for the job. “What is the secret ingredient?” I hear you asking? None other than Silvo.

Silvo Metal Polish Silver is “on tap” at most supermarkets for around NZ$13 for a 250ml bottle. My single bottle has lasted me for years and still going strong!

You will of course require a soft microfibre cloth for buffing, and be prepared to use a pinch of elbow grease to smoothly polish out the most visible scratches. Cruelly, the most frequently scratched discs are often the greatest games! I’m thinking The Simpsons Hit and Run, Rugby 08, and BUZZ JUNIOR JUNGLE PARTY  among the PS2 ranks, and Call of Duty Black Ops 2 and Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA V) from XBox 360. This makes sense in a way, when you consider that the most popular games are typically the most played games, and therefore more exposed to damage. But all is not lost.. Now that the secret is out, let’s get down to business.

Step 1: Gather Required Materials (Silvo, Microfibre Cloth, Scratched disc – must be a DVD disc, e.g. XBox 360 or PS2).

Step 2: Apply a thin layer of Silvo evenly over the disc surface (the underside of the disc).

Step 3: Gently apply the microfibre cloth, and buff the disc in a circular motion. Several rotations are necessary, but with subtle force. If you apply too much force, you will polish too deeply, and corrupt the data layer permanently!

Step 4: Check the disc surface. If the scratches are still visible, repeat steps 2 and 3. If the disc now looks shiny and smooth, try playing it in your gaming console!

Remember that this is a cheap alternative to a professional disc resurfacing machine, and will not always achieve the same results. But it does work for some (not all) scratched discs, and it will certainly grant you some more game time out of a selection of unplayable discs if you apply the procedure correctly.