Blank CDs DVDs

walldaja · by **walldaja** » 2023-12-12 4:39 p.m.

Any one have any use for blank disc's? I've got a bunch looking for a home.

Thanks

AtomicClock · by **AtomicClock** » 2023-12-12 5:04 p.m.

They may be useless. Blanks have a 5-10 year shelf life.

walldaja · by **walldaja** » 2023-12-12 8:04 p.m.

Never knew that, thanks

u_2bobone · by **u_2bobone** » 2023-12-12 10:12 p.m.

If you use "Archival" CDs, the discs supposedly have a 200 year life [who figures these things out ?]. I have always put any recordings of value onto CDs that use a phthalocyanine [Sp.?] dye. They have a gold appearance. You can supposedly lay one of those discs in direct sunlight for months and it will still play perfectly. Instead of $.10 apiece for a regular CD, an archival disc is about $1.50 when bought in bulk of 50 or so. Since switching exclusively to archival CDs I have had no "drop outs" or loss of material on any of my recordings. A good investment in my view.

Matt_K · by **Matt_K** » 2023-12-13 9:53 a.m.

Cost per GB is still fairly high compared to other mediums. Cold storage is a surprisingly tricky problem to get right, especially for the typical consumer.

timothy42b · by **timothy42b** » 2023-12-13 10:18 a.m.

I found an interesting article that was less optimistic about lifespan.

<LINK_TEXT text="https://www.arcserve.com/blog/data-stor ... eally-last">https://www.arcserve.com/blog/data-storage-lifespans-how-long-will-media-really-last</LINK_TEXT>

I'm wondering how long our movie DVDs (that I'd like to cull but can't afford the family reaction) will still play.

sungfw · by **sungfw** » 2024-01-01 6:27 p.m.

[quote="AtomicClock"]They may be useless. Blanks have a 5-10 year shelf life.[/quote]

Maybe as storage media: they'll still work as shooting targets. Buddy of mine uses them to sight in his scopes. (Amazing how he can put every shot right through the center at 100'. :tongue:)

ghmerrill · by **ghmerrill** » 2024-01-01 7:04 p.m.

I've heard that you can hang them in trees that you want to keep raccoons out of -- or on fences for deer deterents. But based on our experience, I'm a bit skeptical. And I'm pretty sure it won't deter a 'possum. An electric fence worked on the raccoons, but the 'possums just went right through it. However, they really don't like the combined strobe light/ultrasound repellers. So maybe CDs combined with some other technology would work. But I see that I've digressed.

AtomicClock · by **AtomicClock** » 2024-01-01 7:22 p.m.

[quote="2bobone"]If you use "Archival" CDs, the discs supposedly have a 200 year life .[/quote]

I believe (I read it on the very reliable internet, so it must be true) that those long lifespans are for disks you've successfully burned. The (unburned) blanks may still age quickly.

BrassSection · by **BrassSection** » 2024-01-02 12:49 p.m.

I second using them for target practice! As for garden pests, primarily groundhogs here, what the 22 doesn’t get used for, the 12 gauge does. As far as intended use lifespan, can’t vouch for unburned ones, got a bunch of old ones but don’t burn anything anymore. Old CDs still working fine, but then again my grandson has actually seen and held 8-tracks.

AtomicClock · by **AtomicClock** » 2024-01-02 1:22 p.m.

[quote="timothy42b"]I'm wondering how long our movie DVDs (that I'd like to cull but can't afford the family reaction) will still play.[/quote]

Some of my (factory pressed) DVDs have gone bad, both released in 2005.

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