Shrink Wrap on Vinyl

[flaxman]

Anyone know if that by keeping your vinyl cocooned in shrink wrap you could harm either the cover or the record itself? I have heard that you can warp either the outer sleeve or even the record itself by keeping it in shrink wrap....or is this just an urban myth?

[kininigin]

hi john,

It might possibly damage the cover as it can be sticky,if im thinking of the same stuff as you.

Why would you want to anyway? What's wrong with conventional covers?

[The Grand Wazoo]

I've always taken it off as I've had sleeves badly bowed by it. This isn't too much of a problem, but if they're bowed open, then it can put strain on glued seams. Never heard of discs being warped by it, though I could imagine if you lived somewhere very hot or if you were a bit enthusiastic about heating your room, then it might be possible.....maybe!

[flaxman]

I am one of those saddo people that keeps SOME of my vinyl in shrink wrap to keep it pristine and maintain its mintness.....however I'm coming to the conclusion that this is not the road I want to travel down and that the real reason for collecting vinyl is to listen to it.

[kininigin]

Actually i have 1 record with the shrink wrap still on,i'd been sent 2 of the same records and haven't bothered getting it replaced as i cannot be arsed to send it back.

So unless you have 2 copies of the records in question,i say rip that shrink wrap off,life's too short :)

[Thing Fish]

I have several shrink wrap albums that I have never opened for one reason or another.

They include -

Queen's greatest hits 1
Queen's Grootsie hits 1 (same but German)
Queens Greatest hits 1 (Japanese version)

And a whole bunch of Queen 12" singles.

I don't need to play them as I have other versions so perhaps one day I will sell them. Who knows.

[The Black Adder]

I've had a few done in the past in the past. I'd recommend it if the album is old and you want to make it more stable in regards to wear. Of course, you must have another version to play unless you just want to stare at it and dribble...

I've got doubles of:

Spiritualized - Ladies & Gentlemen we are floating in space
Spiritualized - Pure Phase
Primal Scream - Echo Deck
Queen - A night at the opera
Teenage Fanclub - Songs from northen britain

to name a selection.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Apologies, I obviously missed the point. I thought we were talking about leaving the shrink wrap on but slitting it on the edge so you can remove the record to play it & enjoy the music as intended.
Silly me, I forgot there are people who buy records as an investment. Hmmmmmmm......OK, each to their own.

[RobbieGong]

Shrink on records is not good. In fact I have heard and read that plastic sleeves of any kind in general are not good. With regard to shrink on records it has a tendency to pull tight on the sleeve (think cling film effect) this then tugs on the cover / corners etc and puts a strain on the vinyl inside, resulting in not good things particularly where that change effect has been allowed to be over time. I've actually stopped buying sealed records as I've had to return a few back in the day original presses after paying top dollar and then finding them warped after peeling off shrink and opening :steam: It's all about damage limitation for me as I find vinyl is suseptible to all sorts of thinks like weight, stress, temperature change etc and warps even slightly, a lot easier than we'd like.

[St3v3]

I work in a pressing plant and have never seen or heard of shrinkwrapping affecting the quality of the inner record or sleeve itself. If the sleeve is bent, then the manufacturing house should have advised their customer not too bother going ahead with the shrinkwrapping! We do. Generally anything thinner than 405mcn/350gsm sleeves shouldn't be considered for it. As regards record warping, the record only passes through the low temp. shrinkwrap oven for 5-7 seconds; no where near long enough to warp it. If people do have warping issues when they've opened their record, they've either not stored them correctly or it sounds like a crappy press in the first place!

[RobbieGong]

I work in a pressing plant and have never seen or heard of shrinkwrapping affecting the quality of the inner record or sleeve itself. If the sleeve is bent, then the manufacturing house should have advised their customer not too bother going ahead with the shrinkwrapping! We do. Generally anything thinner than 405mcn/350gsm sleeves shouldn't be considered for it. As regards record warping, the record only passes through the low temp. shrinkwrap oven for 5-7 seconds; no where near long enough to warp it. If people do have warping issues when they've opened their record, they've either not stored them correctly or it sounds like a crappy press in the first place!

You may not have heard or seen but I have experienced it AND it definately makes sense to me that shrink wrap could, not will but could potentially cause warping to a record as I've described previously :)

[The Black Adder]

Shrink on records is not good. In fact I have heard and read that plastic sleeves of any kind in general are not good. With regard to shrink on records it has a tendency to pull tight on the sleeve (think cling film effect) this then tugs on the cover / corners etc and puts a strain on the vinyl inside, resulting in not good things particularly where that change effect has been allowed to be over time. I've actually stopped buying sealed records as I've had to return a few back in the day original presses after paying top dollar and then finding them warped after peeling off shrink and opening :steam: It's all about damage limitation for me as I find vinyl is suseptible to all sorts of thinks like weight, stress, temperature change etc and warps even slightly, a lot easier than we'd like.

It needs to be done properly. With some shrink wrap machines you can adjust the vacuum so it doesn't bend the sleeve. Some records were even sold with a card deformer to stop this from happening. Some cheap shrink wrap can become adhesive due to degrading but again you make sure that it's not the cheap stuff.

[St3v3]

You may not have heard or seen but I have experienced it AND it definately makes sense to me that shrink wrap could, not will but could potentially cause warping to a record as I've described previously :)

How so, out of interest? How would you know it's the shrinkwrap and not any of the dozens of other reasons records can reach you warped?

[RobbieGong]

Back to one of my first points Steve, damage limitation. As I've said, It also makes sense to me that shrink on the covers of stored vinyl can, not will but potentially can cause a problem - Have a look on the net re: shrink and plastic in relation to storing of your precious vinyl :)

[Thing Fish]

Silly me, I forgot there are people who buy records as an investment. Hmmmmmmm......OK, each to their own.

I personally have never bought a record as an investment or to make money, but I once bought some as a collector. Not for a long time though...:)

[RobbieGong]

I personally have never bought a record as an investment or to make money, but I once bought some as a collector. Not for a long time though...:)

Investment ? Good for them if thats what they want to do, not a crime. Personally I buy to listen to and enjoy - End of, I'm music mad and love the pleasure you get from good music, particularly vinyl hence it does my head in when one of my babies warps- Simples !! :lol:

[flaxman]

Thanks for some interesting and funny replies....I'm off to listen to my unshrinkwrapped Syd Barrett LP and dribble over my cocooned Tom Waits....in other words it seems like the jury is still out on this.