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Re: [ARSCLIST] S-S-S and tape baking
Hi Lou:
Not to belabor, but I don't even think that's a good idea. Scotch 206/207 from any era and Ampex
406/407 from its early days but not after at least 1974 and perhaps earlier, are just not prone to
sticky-shed and can get damaged from baking. That's not to say there is no case ever of these tapes
not being SSS, but it's very rare and they're not considered at all likely SSS candidates. Here's my
ground rule: if it's back coated and brown colored oxide, I'm very suspicious. If at all possible, I
want to know exactly what type of tape that is (which of course usually has nothing to do with what
kind of box it's in since people mix and match tapes and boxes all the time). I find that SSS tape
feels somewhat greasy and doesn't slide easily between pinched fingers (my hands are generally dry,
so I'm not sure if this test works for sweatier fingers). Also, I've found that 1.5mil SSS tape, if
it can be spooled off the reel a few feet and hung in mid-air, will behave somewhat stiffly, like
curled acetate tape, when compared to non-SSS tape. None of this is very scientific, of course, but
and my general MO with back-coated/brown-oxide tape is to bake when the least bit in doubt.
Which brings up a question: are there any likely-SSS types of tape that are black-oxide/back-coated?
I've heard mixed reports about Maxell UDXL 1 mil tape, but I don't think I've ever had one go SSS on
me.
-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lou Judson" <loujudson@xxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, June 04, 2006 2:11 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] S-S-S and tape baking
I conceed the point, Tom. My usual practice is more to bake all
backcoated tapes, in general... I spoke a bit to o generallly.
Lou Judson • Intuitive Audio
415-883-2689
On Jun 4, 2006, at 10:46 AM, Tom Fine wrote:
My experience is that the recommended baking cycle (12 hours bake at 125-130 degrees, 12 hours
cool) -- as per 3M and Ampex various executives and published information -- is NOT a good idea
for non-SSS tapes. It DOES deteriorate tapes, usually not one or two cycles but over more,
definitely. SSS is not some "suspended animation" thing. A sticky tape should be baked,
transferred at high resolution and no bets should be made that it can be baked and play as well
again.
-- Tom Fine=