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Re: [ARSCLIST] Reel-to-reel preservation supplies?
Hi David:
I've seen mold eat acetate tapes -- I mean there's nothing left but noxious dust.
If it's just on the edge, you can wipe with a clean cloth not too wet with isopropynol. Try it on a
tape you don't care too much about to make sure it won't eat the tape with the mold. It shouldn't
but if Richard Hess has proven one thing about old tapes, it's that "shouldn't" is pretty
meaningless on an individual basis.
Your fingers method works OK but I'd recommend a clean non-abrasive wipe moist but not wet with
isoprop.
I don't think the box causes the mold to grow on the tape. I think the box acts as a "transmitter"
by holding moisture, having mold on itself and thus making a great environment for mold to move to
the tape. So the box isn't technically damaging the tape but it is not protecting the tape, which is
its function.
Has anyone tried a plastic bag around the tape with a dissicant (sp?) packet in it? Is that a good
idea or introducing more problems? I've considered that for my few really precious old reels.
-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Lennick" <dlennick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2006 7:51 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Reel-to-reel preservation supplies?
Tom Fine wrote:
As for boxes, I have never seen damage to tapes from boxes, per se. BUT, I have noted that some
old
kinds of boxes absorb and retain moisture and grow mold. So replacing boxes is good.
You haven't seen my moldy tape boxes..the tapes and reels therein definitely pick up mold when the
boxes
take on moisture. Although the reels are easily cleaned. Anyone have a good method for "cleaning"
tapes?
I just fast forward them through my fingers* (outside the head assembly)..same method I use for
determining whether a tape is going to be sticky.
* Okay, wise guy, BETWEEN my fingers.
dl