CD Repair?

I've seen the machines advertised.
The 2 companies I mentioned in my original post (and I'm sure there are others) actually repair the CDs. You send them your scratched CDs, they repair and return them.
Anyone ever used such a service?

No machine can fix scratches that take away data. I have not had to send mine off for fixing, using the OTC methods noted above. Your local DVD rental place has a machine that fixes rental DVDs. They are expensive but effective and they may be helpful to you. Another way to go is to use Exact Audio Copy to burn a new copy, unless of course it won't play at all. I have used it on CDs that skip and because it continues to sample the music many times during error-checking, it has reconstructed the data that wouldn't play on a standard player. The new CD sounds better than the old one even when it was new, according to some including myself. Good luck.

I've read in an audio magazine years back,if the disc has a large scratch or hole,somebody suggested tapeing a peice of aluminum foil shiny side on label side to reflect enough light to make a copy.Make sure it is secure on label side. I have not tried this.

I have found that some of these cd repair kits can work well. There are others that are more hype than anything when you actually use them to try to repair scratches.

Seriously - toothpaste, rinse with water. And don't forget to go from the inner hole outwards, not circular.