Video Head Cleaning help needed

[Me2]

Can someone help me with cleaning my video heads? I've heard of a head
flush, special swabs with virtually no particulation residue, special
solvents to be used. Is there a good diagram or instructional guide on
how to perform this on a mini-digital?

50/50 mix of Tetrafluorothane Isoprpyl is the best used solvent.

The Chamois swab is the best applicator or a special tech wipe.

I also was told Heads should never be stroked up and down or they can
be broken, especially in the smaller units 8mm and dv. Movement of
swab or cleaner should travel in the same direction as the tape.


Any instructional information is appreciated or recomended URLs or
personal preferences.

Thanks

 

[Ken G.]

You have about said it all use any of those that work .

 

[gothika]

Can someone help me with cleaning my video heads? I've heard of a head
flush, special swabs with virtually no particulation residue, special
solvents to be used. Is there a good diagram or instructional guide on
how to perform this on a mini-digital?

50/50 mix of Tetrafluorothane Isoprpyl is the best used solvent.

The Chamois swab is the best applicator or a special tech wipe.

I also was told Heads should never be stroked up and down or they can
be broken, especially in the smaller units 8mm and dv. Movement of
swab or cleaner should travel in the same direction as the tape.


Any instructional information is appreciated or recomended URLs or
personal preferences.

Thanks

Correct about the direction. always round the drum never up and down.
The idea is to clean ot the grooves on the drum head as well as the
surface.

That's a good cleaning solvent as well.
If you have alot of heavy deposits that refuse to come off use contact
cleaner, just spray it on a swab and keep working the deposits until
they break loose.

 

[Sofie]

Isopropyl alcohol.... usually 91% or 99%, available a Pharmacy stores, is
best and safest. Stay away from the cheap, 70% stuff that is readily
available and prominent on the store shelves, too many impurities, too much
water, and it leaves a residue.
I would be careful about using "contact cleaner" unless you are certain that
it is safe for plastics AND that it does not contain a lubricant or other
things that are left behind as a residue which could damage the video tape
and/or the heads when attempting to load.

 

[Glenn Gundlach]

Correct about the direction. always round the drum never up and down.
The idea is to clean ot the grooves on the drum head as well as the
surface.

That's a good cleaning solvent as well.
If you have alot of heavy deposits that refuse to come off use contact
cleaner, just spray it on a swab and keep working the deposits until
they break loose.

As a TRUE last resort, solder flux remover. Did anyone mention xylene?
(xylene was the official recommendation of Ampex for the broadcast
machines)
I've used flux remover on nearly every format-- 2" quad, 1" C, 3/4"
U-matic, Beta, VHS, Betacam SP, Digital Beta, Digital S. BEWARE
however, excessive amounts can soften the glues that hold the pole
pieces in place. The glue will re-harden.
GG

 

[Shoreline Electronics]

After years of buying "special swabs" , we discovered that using a strip of
white paper ( Like your printer paper ) soaked in head cleaning solution ( I
buy the Chemtronics stuff....one bottle lasts a couple years) works
perfect!.

For tough ones , a soft tooth brush works to scrub the pickup areas. Scrub
gently

--
==========================
Jeff Stielau
Shoreline Electronics Repair
344 East Main Street
Clinton,CT 06413
860-399-1861
860-664-3535 (fax)
[email protected]
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"If you push something hard enough it will fall over."
Fudd's First Law of Opposition - Sir Sidney Fudd