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Fixing Warped Control Vinyl

Beatnik1 12:54 AM - 4 October, 2013
Hey guys, I have a few pieces of control vinyl that are slightly warped so when I backspin on the record the needle jumps or the vinyl will start off slow when cuing up or will move to fast if I push off on the record too hard. Does anyone know of a way of flattening the vinyl? I wanted to try putting a towel over the record and taking an iron to it but I'm not sure if this will cause any damages to the code. If anyone was flattened their vinyl, please let me know and let me know of any pros or cons.

Thanks,
Beatnik1
halexutrex 8:49 AM - 5 November, 2025
Warped control vinyl can definitely cause issues with backspins, cueing, and overall performance, but using an iron directly is risky as it can permanently damage the grooves and the encoded timecode. A safer method many DJs use is the “weight and warm” technique: place the vinyl between two clean, flat surfaces with a towel or cloth in between, then leave it in a warm (not hot) area or under a gentle heat source like sunlight for a short period to help it flatten slowly. Some also use specialized vinyl flattening presses available online. Keep in mind, aggressive heat or uneven pressure can ruin the record, so caution is key. For more tips on vinyl care and DJ equipment maintenance, check out resources like The Flashy Info theflashyinfo.com .