[net.video] Cleaning heads

dca@iedl02.UUCP (02/15/84)

All that I have read about video equipment recommends that either
the heads simply not be cleaned or at most cleaned by the alcohol
and swab method.  All the advice I have read definitely indicated
that the head cleaner cassettes where not recommended, in fact,
more likely harmful.  There is good reason that video heads are
less likely to need cleaning than audio cassette heads.  The audio
tape players heads actually have a small gap which a field is
applied or detected which can become jammed with shedding oxide.
The video players have no such gap (or maybe the gap is filled
by a non-magnetic material, I can't remember).  Thus, the heads
are much more resistant to picking up garbage and need much
more infrequent cleaning.

David Albrecht
General Electric
iedl02!dca

stekas@hou2g.UUCP (J.STEKAS) (02/17/84)

Sony recommends that the heads of an SL-2401 be cleaned every ?? hrs.
with Sony's head cleaning cassette.  I'm ignoring their advice.

                                                    Jim

bill@crystal.ARPA (03/03/84)

>There is good reason that video heads are
>less likely to need cleaning than audio cassette heads.  The audio
>tape players heads actually have a small gap which a field is
>applied or detected which can become jammed with shedding oxide.
>The video players have no such gap (or maybe the gap is filled
>by a non-magnetic material, I can't remember).  Thus, the heads
>are much more resistant to picking up garbage and need much
>more infrequent cleaning.

Audio tape recorder heads have the same kind of gap as video heads, as
far as I know (my experience is only with audio recorders).  The 'gap'
on audio heads is filled with a non-magnetic material.  

Oxide shed from audio tapes varies quite a bit; first-quality tapes
generally have little shed.

I would guess that video heads need cleaning much less often because the
spinning motion would make them somewhat self-cleaning (??).

For audio recorder heads I use either isopropyl alcohol or a spray can
of Freon TF (extremely pure versions are available for head cleaning).
My can says
	Rawn Chemicals TF Tape Head "no residue" cleaner
	..no residues, low surface tension, high density and high
	dielectric strength...safe for all electrical insulations,
	coatings and elastomer parts.
	Rawn Company, Inc, Spooner, WI 54801
This is a low-force spray can.  I have used FreonTF for all sorts of
electrical and electronics cleaning and have been very happy with it.

	bill cox
	bill@uwisc
	...seismo!uwvax!bill