Keith.Gallie@FtCollins.NCR.COM (Keith Gallie) (08/18/90)
I have been told that cassette type head cleaners are not a good choice for cleaning VCR heads. (by a salesman who didn't try to sell me anything) Evidently, they will clean the heads for free if you bought the VCR at their store. Question 1: Are cassette head cleaners really not any good? Question 2: If the salesman can clean the heads I'm sure I can. How do I do it?( Buy a kit a Radio Shack? ) Question 3: What about the tape path? I would imagine VCRs have rollers and capstans similar to cassette decks? Thank you all in advance. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ Keith A. Gallie $ "I get up around seven, get out of bed NCR MPD Fort Collins $ around nine" 2001 Danfield Ct $ A. Rose Fort Collins, CO $ 80525 $ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- All thoughts, opinions, etc., are my own. Not that anyone listens to me. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
depolo@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Jeff DePolo) (08/20/90)
In article <KEITH.GALLIE.90Aug18130659@hendrix.FtCollins.NCR.COM> Keith.Gallie@FtCollins.NCR.COM (Keith Gallie) writes: > I have been told that cassette type head cleaners are not > a good choice for cleaning VCR heads. (by a salesman who > didn't try to sell me anything) > Question 1: > > Are cassette head cleaners really not any good? From what I've seen, most are not very good. The only one that I know of that does a really good job of cleaning the heads (not capstan, pinch rollers, etc.) is the one made by Scotch/3M. It displays a message that says something to the effect of "If you can read this, stop the player - heads are clean". This prevents over-cleaning. I've used both the VHS and Beta versions of this cleaner and it does a very good job of cleaning even completely clogged heads that had been yielding no video. > If the salesman can clean the heads I'm sure I can. How > do I do it?( Buy a kit a Radio Shack? ) > What about the tape path? I would imagine VCRs have > rollers and capstans similar to cassette decks? I've cleaned everything myself a number of times. The best tools I've found are the long foam-tipped swabs and 90% isopropyl alcohol, aka 2-propanol (kinda hard to find - most isopropyl alcohol in the drug stores is 70%). I would definately suggest NOT using cotton swabs. The cotton fibers will get caught on the tiny video heads and cause headaches (no pun intended). Cleaning the pinch rollers, capstans, audio and erase heads is very much like cleaning a normal cassette or open real deck. Cleaning the video heads should be done with extreme care and a gentle touch. Clean along the running path of the heads, not across them, using very light pressure. You will probably need to use one swab for the video heads, one for the audio and erase heads, and possibly quite a few for the pinch rollers and capstans, depending on how dirty they are. Be sure to let everything dry thoroughly before playing a tape. You can also use a can of compressed air (such as Dust-Off) on the video heads to blow out any dust and oxide particles that may have accumulated within the drum. Some manufacturers make cleaning solutions specifically for use on video heads. I haven't tried them, but then again, I've always had good luck using isopropyl alcohol. Someone who may have worked in a repair shop or has received manufacturers training may be able to clue you in on some other tricks. This method has worked fine for me. --- Jeff -- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Jeff DePolo N3HBZ Twisted Pair: (215) 386-7199 depolo@eniac.seas.upenn.edu RF: 146.685- 442.70+ 144.455s (Philadelphia) University of Pennsylvania Carrier Pigeon: 420 S. 42nd St. Phila PA 19104
henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) (08/20/90)
In article <28626@netnews.upenn.edu> depolo@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Jeff DePolo) writes: >... the long foam-tipped swabs and 90% isopropyl alcohol, aka 2-propanol >(kinda hard to find - most isopropyl alcohol in the drug stores is 70%). >I would definately suggest NOT using cotton swabs... A further caution: use cleaning fluids specifically meant for head cleaning, not whatever your drugstore sells as rubbing alcohol. You want something with zero, repeat zero, residue after evaporation, and generic isopropanol usually doesn't meet that spec. -- Committees do harm merely by existing. | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology -Freeman Dyson | henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry