@clearthinker , "better than a jump." That is the first time I have heard that. It must be the British term for a skip? Not only is the toothpick to big as you suggest but the wood is too soft and dull to shave the defect blocking the groove any way. In the case of a severe scratch multiple grooves are probably blocked. At any rate you would have to have great light and magnification and a cutting needle to have a prayer of clearing the skip/jump. It is certainly cheaper to buy a new record.
My wife will use the system but she stays way clear of the turntable even though I have tried to teach her how to use it. Good female instinct. Now I'm going to be banned from twitter.