Re: arsclist Dry tape squeal...

["Graeme Jaye" <gjaye@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> From: Graham Newton <gn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

> Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions for this?  What
lubricant did
> the tape manufacturers use?

Leaving aside the reservations which Doug Rhodes has expressed
(and with which, I am inclined to agree) then I think I would be
looking at the type of products which are sold as mould release
agents for the plastics moulding industry.

These all seem to be based on silicon.  As an experiment (on a
length of *scrap* tape and using a domestic recorder) I tried
the application of one of these agents.  In my case it was a
product called 'FINE SIN DAL' and the can is labelled Pure
Silicon Mould Release.  This is sold by a company called
Eurobond Adhesives - which is UK based.  It was applied to the
tape using a piece of felt which had been previously been
sprayed with this stuff (it comes in a pressurised container).  

It certainly reduced the squeal, but it also managed to
distribute a fair amount of silicon over the heads and guides as
well.  Fortunately, I think I have managed to remove all the
silicon from the heads - at least there seems to be no
degradation of sound quality - but I would be extremely wary of
trying this on a regular basis and I would certainly not do it
on my usual machines.  Silicon is extremely difficult to remove,
as I have found.  The tape itself appears to have retained a
siliconised finish, as several subsequent replays have not shown
any re-introduction of the original squeal.

My conclusions from this rather ad hoc experiment;

1	Maybe, as a very last resort, this is a possibility
2	If undertaken, play the tape at least twice through a machine
where a coating of silicon is of no concern before risking it on
a working machine.
3	As noted by Doug Rhodes, silicon does get everywhere - even
very small quantities - and is difficult to remove.

Note:  Just in case anyone is wondering why I had a can of this
stuff in the first place, I use it to spray a leather gun
holster to improve the draw speed - in which application it
certainly does work vey well :-) 

Graeme Jaye
gjaye@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
Personal-CD - Affordable Audio Restoration
 
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