It took four months to nail down, but I finished the first chapter of my third book a week or so back and am getting the line edits in the mail today. Psyched but tired.

I’ve been baking old, warped 78s in the oven while I work.

In case you’re wondering how to flatten warped 78s, the answer is (a) clean them first, so dust and grime doesn’t get embedded in them; (b) place them on a flat surface, such as a cookie sheet or pizza stone + parchment paper; and (c) bake them at 170 to 180 for five to ten minutes, then shut off the oven.

I’m on #3 of 4 today. All are cheap 78s from the 1920s and 1930s containing Japanese folk music. So far, so good.

Wood Goblin wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 11:47 am I’ve been baking old, warped 78s in the oven while I work.

In case you’re wondering how to flatten warped 78s, the answer is (a) clean them first, so dust and grime doesn’t get embedded in them; (b) place them on a flat surface, such as a cookie sheet or pizza stone + parchment paper; and (c) bake them at 170 to 180 for five to ten minutes, then shut off the oven.

I’m on #3 of 4 today. All are cheap 78s from the 1920s and 1930s containing Japanese folk music. So far, so good.

Stupid, potentially obvious question that could probably be answered if I tried to Google it, but would rather ask someone from PRF:

Does/should this work the same for newer records?

I have a badly warped copy of Meet the Beatles, and, uh, an unplayable copy of the Doobie Brothers' album The Captain and Me that I'd like to unwarp for... let's just say nostalgia.

Not sure, to be honest. It supposedly also doesn’t work on all shellac either; laminated 78s can be damaged.

I’d definitely look it up before trying it!

Yup ^^^, you can flatten normal LPs. Have never done it, but there are different methods.


My little detail: It's warmer here now than it is just about anywhere else in the country, and yet I felt the need to click the heat on for a moment. Much colder than this, for too long, and I might have to rethink my general misgivings toward summer. Part of what I might dislike about summer here, and in the age of climate change, is that it just drags on so long. Like ninety minutes worth of good TV padded out for three seasons. "Wrap it UP!"

jfv wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 1:19 pm

Wood Goblin wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2025 11:47 am I’ve been baking old, warped 78s in the oven while I work.

In case you’re wondering how to flatten warped 78s, the answer is (a) clean them first, so dust and grime doesn’t get embedded in them; (b) place them on a flat surface, such as a cookie sheet or pizza stone + parchment paper; and (c) bake them at 170 to 180 for five to ten minutes, then shut off the oven.

I’m on #3 of 4 today. All are cheap 78s from the 1920s and 1930s containing Japanese folk music. So far, so good.

Stupid, potentially obvious question that could probably be answered if I tried to Google it, but would rather ask someone from PRF:

Does/should this work the same for newer records?

I have a badly warped copy of Meet the Beatles, and, uh, an unplayable copy of the Doobie Brothers' album The Captain and Me that I'd like to unwarp for... let's just say nostalgia.

In my experience, yes, but you can't just put it on a flat surface--you put the vinyl record between two pieces of clean, flat glass. I can't remember the temp. You can probably find a tutorial online.