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Foam cleaning swabs for VCR heads?

J

Jim Adney

Jan 1, 1970
0
I have some foam-tipped cleaning swabs that I've been using now and
then, over the past decade, to occasionally clean the heads of DAT and
VCR tape heads. I got these at Radio Shack years ago, but don't see
them there now.

I bought them because they were all I could find at the moment, but
I've always wondered if they were really the right thing to use for
this purpose. The cleaning pads I've always heard about were supposed
to be some kind of synthetic chamois in the shape of a flat pad.

When I use the foam swabs, they tend to snag on the edges of the
heads. This makes me wonder if the heads are broken, leaving some kind
of burr there, or if this is just the wrong kind of swab. I'm very
careful when I do this; I just hold the swab still while moving the
head gently sideways, back and forth. If it snags I relax and let it
come free, rather than putting any real force on anything.

I think what I really need are rather flat pads made of something a
bit more substantial than these foam swabs. I believe MCM sells
something like this. Is this what I want?

If the foam swabs aren't for this purpose, what ARE they for?

Is the snagging a sign of any kind of problem with the head?

-
 
S

Sam Goldwasser

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim Adney said:
I have some foam-tipped cleaning swabs that I've been using now and
then, over the past decade, to occasionally clean the heads of DAT and
VCR tape heads. I got these at Radio Shack years ago, but don't see
them there now.

I bought them because they were all I could find at the moment, but
I've always wondered if they were really the right thing to use for
this purpose. The cleaning pads I've always heard about were supposed
to be some kind of synthetic chamois in the shape of a flat pad.

When I use the foam swabs, they tend to snag on the edges of the
heads. This makes me wonder if the heads are broken, leaving some kind
of burr there, or if this is just the wrong kind of swab. I'm very
careful when I do this; I just hold the swab still while moving the
head gently sideways, back and forth. If it snags I relax and let it
come free, rather than putting any real force on anything.

I think what I really need are rather flat pads made of something a
bit more substantial than these foam swabs. I believe MCM sells
something like this. Is this what I want?

Yes. :)
If the foam swabs aren't for this purpose, what ARE they for?
Is the snagging a sign of any kind of problem with the head?

Not necessarily. Some heads have a shape which will tend to snag anything
they can.

The ferrite heads are very fragile. You basically shouldn't feel any
kind of resistance as the cleaning pad goes over them.

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K

Ken Weitzel

Jan 1, 1970
0
Sam said:
Yes. :)




Not necessarily. Some heads have a shape which will tend to snag anything
they can.

The ferrite heads are very fragile. You basically shouldn't feel any
kind of resistance as the cleaning pad goes over them.

Hi...

Those original chamois pads were produced by Sony; they shipped
a pack with each 1" machine they sold. Blue packages, I still
have a couple laying around.

They were expensive though, so we made our own. Just buy the
kids a few popsicles, save the sticks, chop off one end after
they've dried to end up with one square end.

Next time you buy a new car drying chamois, slice off a
quarter or three-eighths inch strip off one side. Cut it
into half inch pieces. Then a little contact cement and
you have yourself a lifetime supply for virtually nothing. :)

If you feel this tip has any value, feel free to add it to
your wonderful website.

Take care.

Ken
 
J

Jim Adney

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hmmm, you've got me a little confused here: You say that some heads
have a shape that tends to snag, but that you should never feel any
resistance?

Are you saying that ideally there should be no snagging, but that it
just seems unavoidable with some head designs?

Those original chamois pads were produced by Sony; they shipped
a pack with each 1" machine they sold. Blue packages, I still
have a couple laying around.

They were expensive though, so we made our own. Just buy the
kids a few popsicles, save the sticks, chop off one end after
they've dried to end up with one square end.

Next time you buy a new car drying chamois, slice off a
quarter or three-eighths inch strip off one side. Cut it
into half inch pieces. Then a little contact cement and
you have yourself a lifetime supply for virtually nothing. :)

I love the idea of this.

Are these reusable? If so, how do you clean them between machines? I
was under the impression that these cleaning sticks were to be used
onec and discarded, just to assure a clean stick for the next machine.

-
 
N

N Cook

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim Adney said:
I have some foam-tipped cleaning swabs that I've been using now and
then, over the past decade, to occasionally clean the heads of DAT and
VCR tape heads. I got these at Radio Shack years ago, but don't see
them there now.

I bought them because they were all I could find at the moment, but
I've always wondered if they were really the right thing to use for
this purpose. The cleaning pads I've always heard about were supposed
to be some kind of synthetic chamois in the shape of a flat pad.

When I use the foam swabs, they tend to snag on the edges of the
heads. This makes me wonder if the heads are broken, leaving some kind
of burr there, or if this is just the wrong kind of swab. I'm very
careful when I do this; I just hold the swab still while moving the
head gently sideways, back and forth. If it snags I relax and let it
come free, rather than putting any real force on anything.

I think what I really need are rather flat pads made of something a
bit more substantial than these foam swabs. I believe MCM sells
something like this. Is this what I want?

If the foam swabs aren't for this purpose, what ARE they for?

Is the snagging a sign of any kind of problem with the head?

-

No-one mentioned about only wiping in the rotational sense rather than up
and down which although logical, that way is the weakest direction for the
ferrite.
I've only ever used a piece of clean copier paper slightly moistened with
methylated spirits held matching the curvature of the bottom cylinder and
rotating the heads individualy back/forth over the paper, not allowing the
heads outside the edges of the paper, so cannot catch the edges.
Anyone else use a cut down kids plastic microscope to actually inspect the
heads?
 
M

Michael Gray

Jan 1, 1970
0
Those original chamois pads were produced by Sony; they shipped
a pack with each 1" machine they sold. Blue packages, I still
have a couple laying around.

They were expensive though, so we made our own. Just buy the
kids a few popsicles, save the sticks, chop off one end after
they've dried to end up with one square end.

Next time you buy a new car drying chamois, slice off a
quarter or three-eighths inch strip off one side. Cut it
into half inch pieces. Then a little contact cement and
you have yourself a lifetime supply for virtually nothing. :)

If you feel this tip has any value, feel free to add it to
your wonderful website.

Take care.

Ken

Yes, I concur, for what that's worth.

Real chamois is the best.

They don't last long with isopropanol solvent though, so be generous
with your disposal regimes.
 
E

Eric

Jan 1, 1970
0
I use good / reasonable good quality paper does it very well, I used to use
chamois but paper is the in thing before VCR go away from this world.




I have some foam-tipped cleaning swabs that I've been using now and
then, over the past decade, to occasionally clean the heads of DAT and
VCR tape heads. I got these at Radio Shack years ago, but don't see
them there now.

I bought them because they were all I could find at the moment, but
I've always wondered if they were really the right thing to use for
this purpose. The cleaning pads I've always heard about were supposed
to be some kind of synthetic chamois in the shape of a flat pad.

When I use the foam swabs, they tend to snag on the edges of the
heads. This makes me wonder if the heads are broken, leaving some kind
of burr there, or if this is just the wrong kind of swab. I'm very
careful when I do this; I just hold the swab still while moving the
head gently sideways, back and forth. If it snags I relax and let it
come free, rather than putting any real force on anything.

I think what I really need are rather flat pads made of something a
bit more substantial than these foam swabs. I believe MCM sells
something like this. Is this what I want?

If the foam swabs aren't for this purpose, what ARE they for?

Is the snagging a sign of any kind of problem with the head?

-
 
G

G. Louie

Jan 1, 1970
0
Personally, I think the foam swabs are a VCR disaster for the reasons you
mention. I prefer to just buy chamois-style flat sticks by Chemtronics,
sold by many major electronic sales outlets. Yes, they are expensive, like
50 cents each or something. But they are clean and consistant, and save me
the trouble of buying chamois, popsicle sticks, and gluing my own.

On anything but the head drum and pole pieces, I just use cotton swabs and
be careful about leaving cotton threads behind.
 
A

Andy Cuffe

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hmmm, you've got me a little confused here: You say that some heads
have a shape that tends to snag, but that you should never feel any
resistance?

Are you saying that ideally there should be no snagging, but that it
just seems unavoidable with some head designs?

There should be no snagging. If you notice any snagging, use
something else, or be more gentle.

I normally use either copier paper, or a piece of a paper towel.
Anything reasonably soft that doesn't snag on the heads will work.
Andy Cuffe

[email protected] <-- Use this address until 12/31/2005

[email protected] <-- Use this address after 12/31/2005
 
J

Jim Adney

Jan 1, 1970
0
Personally, I think the foam swabs are a VCR disaster for the reasons you
mention. I prefer to just buy chamois-style flat sticks by Chemtronics,
sold by many major electronic sales outlets. Yes, they are expensive, like
50 cents each or something. But they are clean and consistant, and save me
the trouble of buying chamois, popsicle sticks, and gluing my own.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. I'll buy a few of the chamois
sticks, and stop using the foam swabs, unless I'm trying to clean
something other than the heads.

I like the clean white copy paper idea. It's probably got just about
the right amount of abrasiveness, and using a large piece which the
head can't get out from under is something which I'll try. It is also
appealing in that it should make it clear how much stuff is actually
getting removed from the head.

I'm a admitted cheapskate, but I only do this occasionally for my own
use, so I probably won't try to "roll my own" even though the thought
appeals to me.

Is there a better source for the chamois sticks than MCM?

-
 
A

Asimov

Jan 1, 1970
0
"Jim Adney" bravely wrote to "All" (05 Sep 05 17:25:22)
--- on the heady topic of "Foam cleaning swabs for VCR heads?"


Call me crazy but I find using any kind of swab on a head chip as
flirting with disaster. I especially cringed when I read words like
"snag" in your message. You have no idea how fragile a head chip is.

My favored way to clean heads is using ordinary copier or printer
paper. I cut it into strips about the same width as VCR tape and about
2 to 3 inches long. I put a drop of 99% alcohol on it and wrap it
around the drum in the tape path, then I gently turn the drum so the
heads rub under the paper. I keep doing this with fresh strips until
the strip comes out clean.

When all the heads are cleaned then I clean up the rest of the drum
surfaces with a swab until all shedded materials are removed, also in
the line grooves as air must flow through these freely.

A*s*i*m*o*v


JA> From: Jim Adney <[email protected]>
JA> Xref: core-easynews sci.electronics.repair:341435

JA> I have some foam-tipped cleaning swabs that I've been using now and
JA> then, over the past decade, to occasionally clean the heads of DAT and
JA> VCR tape heads. I got these at Radio Shack years ago, but don't see
JA> them there now.

JA> I bought them because they were all I could find at the moment, but
JA> I've always wondered if they were really the right thing to use for
JA> this purpose. The cleaning pads I've always heard about were supposed
JA> to be some kind of synthetic chamois in the shape of a flat pad.

JA> When I use the foam swabs, they tend to snag on the edges of the
JA> heads. This makes me wonder if the heads are broken, leaving some kind
JA> of burr there, or if this is just the wrong kind of swab. I'm very
JA> careful when I do this; I just hold the swab still while moving the
JA> head gently sideways, back and forth. If it snags I relax and let it
JA> come free, rather than putting any real force on anything.

JA> I think what I really need are rather flat pads made of something a
JA> bit more substantial than these foam swabs. I believe MCM sells
JA> something like this. Is this what I want?

JA> If the foam swabs aren't for this purpose, what ARE they for?

JA> Is the snagging a sign of any kind of problem with the head?

.... That was a fascinating period of time for electronics
 
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