Re: [ARSCLIST] Dry tape squeal problem

[Steven Smolian <smolians@xxxxxxxxx>]

This seems premature.  The first question is if the tape is acetate or
polyester.  If the latter, is it backcoated or not.  Can the brand and
product number be determined?

Only then should the variety of remedies suggested to deal with ills
specific to that product be considered.

Steve Smolian


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Steven Smolian    301-694-5134
Smolian Sound Studios
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Copeland, Peter" <Peter.Copeland@xxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 10:09 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Dry tape squeal problem


> Dear Ed,
>     Having used silicone fluids for another purpose (damping the
resonances
> in disc-recording cutter-heads for LPs), I can conjecture what is wanted,
> and I cannot see what harm could be done. (Although, as always, I'd try it
> on a section of unrecorded tape first, if you have any).
>     I used silicone fluid from a company called Midland Silicones here in
> Britain, which was available in various viscosities (that is, internal
> frictional stiffness). I usually used 60 centistoke, and when resonances
> weren't sufficiently controlled, 200 centistoke. For reducing dry tape
> squeal, I would say that you would need something less viscous - say about
> 20 centistokes.
>     The fluid is quite difficult to keep in place - it would "soak into"
the
> magnetic oxide of any magnetic recording tape - so I would advise you only
> to use it on tapes of your own property, and then to get the sound off as
> quickly as you can.
>     Both aims might be served by the invention of Marie O'Connell and Noel
> McGinnity of the National Sound Archives of New Zealand
> <moconnell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>. She used an intravenous drip bag to coat
> the tape as it played on a Studer B67. In her case, she was attempting to
> deal with the more-usual type of "sticky tape" using isopropyl alcohol;
but
> I cannot see why the same idea should not be used for silicone fluid. This
> was made feasible - with Kiwi ingenuity at its best - by running the tape
> across a car windscreen-wiper blade before it reached the takeup reel!
> Peter Copeland
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Edward A. Falk [mailto:falk@xxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: 24 January 2003 17:15
> To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [ARSCLIST] Dry tape squeal problem
>
> Hi all; I'm involved in an audio restoration project.  In 1999 there
> were some messages on this list about the problem, but I haven't
> been able to find any definitive answers.
>
> Note that "dry tape squeal" is not the same as sticky-shed.  Dry
> tape squeal happens when the tape's original lubricant has dried up
> due to age.
>
> Is there any approved process to re-lubricate a tape?  I'm loathe
> to go out and buy any random silicone libricant or whatever and
> start spraying.
>
> There was an article out of the library of congress
>
>   http://www.unesco.org/webworld/ramp/html/r9704e/r9704e11.htm
>
> which says to apply a "silicone solution or Krytox" but I'm not entirely
> sure what this even means.  (Krytox is an entire product line from
DuPont.)
>
> Can anybody tell me what the approved solution is?
>
> ADVthanxANCE,
>
>         -ed falk
>
>
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