📰 New article from RetroRGB
RGR EZBuff: Open Source Disc Buffer/Resurfacer
https://retrorgb.com/rgr-ezbuff-open-source-disc-buffer-resurfacer.html
Tired of watching your favorite retro game titles gather dust because of a scratched disc? The frustration is real, but thanks to Dennis van den Broek (aka Pointer Function), you might just be able to save them without breaking the bank. He’s just dropped the RGR EZBuff, a fully open-source optical disc buffer and resurfacer that you can build yourself at home.
The genius here is simplicity and cost. You don’t need expensive industrial gear; just standard off-the-shelf parts and a basic 3D printer with a single kilogram of filament. It’s designed to be affordable enough to build or buy, solving a massive gap in the market where options were either hand-polishers from the nineties or professional kits costing upwards of $2,000.
Before you start polishing your rarest finds, though, take a breath and read the safety notes. Discs vary wildly in thickness and composition, so always practice on cheap, disposable CDs first. Dennis recommends a “slow and steady” approach: start the motor slowly for just a minute and let things cool down between sessions. You can even swap felt pads for sandpaper if you need heavy resurfacing, though he suggests keeping the two processes separate to avoid cross-contamination.
For retro gamers and small game stores alike, this is a game-changer. It turns disc repair from a costly service into a manageable DIY project. If you’ve got a shelf of unplayable gems, the RGR EZBuff might just be the resurrection kit they’ve been waiting for.