Re: [ARSCLIST] Reel-to-reel preservation supplies?

[David Lennick <dlennick@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Actually I also use a hunk of paper towelling or, if I remember where I've stashed it, a "tape cleaning"
ribbon which looks like a roll of scotch tape but is actually some kind of thin cloth that the CBC's
tape reclaim department used when they were respooling tapes. A piece of that a couple of inches long
and folded over the tape as it runs through traps tons of crap and you can easily stop the forwarding to
change to a cleaner part of the ribbon.

As for tapes stored in plastic bags, I was advised years ago never to do this. I don't know if adding
the dissicant (sp?) would make a difference. I don't even like to use plastic as record sleeves (the
packaging we used to get on LPs before shrink wrap came along).

dl

Tom Fine wrote:

> 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