[sci.electronics] Video tape destroys VHS VCR

brian@ucsd.EDU (Brian Kantor) (01/29/89)

It isn't uncommon for worn tapes to shed enough oxide to clog the video
heads on a machine, although it happens much less frequently than it
used to as tape manufacturers come up with better glues ("binders") to
stick the magnetic material to the tape backing.

Often all it takes is cleaning the heads on your machine to cure
this.  I don't recommend that you try the technician's method,
which is a bit of Freon-TF and an applicator, as the heads are easy
to break if you push on them wrong.  One of the "cleaning cassettes"
might well do the job.  I have a preference for the wet kind (you
drip some cleaning solution on the cleaning band before running
the cassette in your machine), but the dry kind works well too.

A truely-reluctant clog will have to be cleaned by a technician.

	Brian Kantor	UCSD Computer Graphics Lab
			c/o B-028, La Jolla, CA 92093
			brian@ucsd.edu

wgb@inuxj.UUCP (Walter Burton) (02/01/89)

> to break if you push on them wrong.  One of the "cleaning cassettes"
> might well do the job.  I have a preference for the wet kind (you
> drip some cleaning solution on the cleaning band before running
> the cassette in your machine), but the dry kind works well too.
                                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

As someone who worked with VHS decks extensively in college,  I would
highly reccomend not using the dry type of cleaner.  These so-called
"Head Cleaning Tapes" are more like "Head Sanding Tapes".  The wet
kind is preferable but still can cause you problems.  
	Best yet spend the extra money to have VCR heads cleaned 
right or it could cost you some real cash (anybody know what current
VHS heads cost?) when you have to replace the heads or tape deck.

> A truely-reluctant clog will have to be cleaned by a technician.
YOU BETCHA!

*********************************************************************
* These are my opinions, not anyone elses.  AT&T Indianapolis       *
* Walt Burton  !inuxj!wgb    317-845-3665   GO  SYCAMORE`s!!!       *
* Hardware by education, software by desire, circuit boards to live.*
*********************************************************************