160 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit
Vinyl records melt quickly! Do not leave the can in the oven for too long, as it may explode due to the heat. The vinyl will give off fumes as it bakes; these fumes are not safe to breathe in.
Don't store vinyl records in sunlightDirect sunlight can deteriorate the album artwork on the album covers and heat-up the vinyl records so that they get soft and potentially warped. Always keep your records away from direct sunlight.
Vinyl records need to be stored in an upright position to ensure they stay in good condition. Records that have been stored at a slant for an extended period of time can warp because of the uneven pressure that has been placed on them. This is why records are often kept in crates that position them upright.
Humidity will not cause records to warp, and unless the temperature in your apartment is rising to well north of 150˚F or so, it's doubtful that temperature will either. Store your records as close to vertical as possible to prevent warping.
Some say that LP records should be stored 100% vertically, with no exceptions. Others (even people who seem to have collected vinyl for a long time) doesn't have any problem storing them more or less leaning against each other.
You can certainly store vinyl records in your garage, but it is usually a bad idea. The environment is just too variable and harmful to vinyl. However, if you have a climate controlled garage, then it ends up being like the indoors of your home. In that case, it would be safer to store your vinyl there.
Vinyl records warp because of extra weight, heat and direct sunlight. It is very important to store and use your records carefully so that they don't warp. When records heat up they become soft. After they are soft they will warp with virtually any pressure that is applied.
A vehicle parked in the sun for one hour reached an average cabin temperature of 116 degrees. In a locked vehicle, a dark dashboard, steering wheel or seat can often reach temperature ranges of 180 - 200 degrees F, which then warms the air trapped inside a vehicle.
While there is no expiration date on a vinyl record, the answer lies within how well you take care of your records over the years. In order to keep your vinyl records spinning and beautifully displayable for years to come, there are a few maintenance factors to keep in mind while listening to music at home.
Seven Bad Habits That Will Destroy Your Vinyl Records
- Touching the record surface. Let's start with the basics: touching the record surface is a big no-no.
- Stacking your records.
- Leaving your records out.
- Carelessly returning the record to its sleeve.
- Bad cleaning practice.
- Cueing up records with your hand.
- Not waiting for the record platter to STOP.
Here are the general steps:
- Get two large panes of glass that will fit in your oven.
- Place the record between the two panes of glass, making sure the record is clean first.
- Preheat the oven to its lowest temperature setting.
- Put your vinyl & glass sandwich in the oven for 30 minutes.
- Turn the heat off.
Yes, even 135 records can be mounted on the ceiling or wall without a single nail, screw, or dab of glue! I found a few examples on Pinterest, but the tutorials recommended affixing the records with screws or liquid nails, and that just wasn't going to work for us!
This means that you can install vinyl flooring in a sun room, enclosed porch, or any other “outdoor” space where you can control the heat and cold. However, unlike laminate flooring, vinyl flooring is 100% waterproof and can handle liquid spills like a pro, making it a perfect choice for outdoor-type applications.
The records usually come in a special Amazon record mailer with good protection. And as others have said, the cold shouldn't cause any damage. Store them upright as you normally would and it should be ok.
One hand on top and one on bottom. You will be looking at the outside edge of the LP so it looks like a thin black line. You should notice on warped records that it is fatter somewhere because of the bow or warp in the record. If a record looks straight, move your hands a quarter turn around the edge and repeat.
