Messages

1

Tape Tech / Re: Tape Head Lubricant

« on: January 18, 2009, 03:39:25 PM »

Steve,

Thank you very much for your reply. I would have replied sooner, but I've been reading Richard Hess' paper that you referenced. Very informative!

I may be using the wrong terminology with respect to the squealing from particular cassettes. I just found a few web searches that characterized severe scrape flutter as resulting in audible squealing as well as audible modulation noise added to the signal (Tomlinson Holman), which is what I experienced. Either way, I am satisfied that the problem was tape to head contact, as using the tape head lubricant eliminated the problem until the next time I cleaned the tape path, at which time it would be necessary to re-apply the head lube in order for the problem tapes to play properly. Because of that, and the fact that the amount of head lube used is very minimal, I don't think that the lube was finding its way to the rotating parts in the cassette shell.

I found it interesting that Richard Hess commented in his paper about silicone lubricants and fluorinated lubricants for tape heads and other stationary surfaces. I have found commercial products that use one or the other of these. I would be curious to know what the primary product is in the Last Tape Head Treatment, not that I expect them to tell anyone!

I think that you have answered my principal question by the fact that you are using the Last Tape Head Treatment with good results. I was also curious to know if people "in the business", such as Doc B., Paul, technicians, or recording engineers, etc. also recommend using some type of tape head lube or treatment for improving the sound of tape machines. Of this group of people, I have only heard from one repair tech so far (in the Yahoo reeltoreel group) and he also did not have anything negative to say.

So, based on my research, previous experience, and input from folks such as yourself, I plan on staying with it.   

Again, thank you for providing useful information, both here and in your many other posts that I have searched through here.

Best regards,
Mike Hazel

2

Tape Tech / Tape Head Lubricant

« on: January 15, 2009, 11:54:04 PM »

Hello All,

First post here. I am seeking opinions and experiences with the use of tape head lubricant. I first used the product that Radio Shack used to sell when I had trouble with tapes squealing from scrape flutter, and it eliminated the problem. For the record, this is on cassette machines with older tapes of good quality (TDK, Maxell) that I expect have suffered from loss of lubricant in the tapes themselves.  I've learned quite a bit in the last few days just from googling "scrape flutter". I've searched the archives here and found quite a bit from Ironbut about the Last products, as well as a comment from Doc B. about "tefloning" the tape path on the  Technics decks, I believe. Can someone tell me what that means?

My research so far seems to indicate that taking steps to reduce friction in the tape path is a good idea. The question of how best to do it still seems a little unclear. I have gotten mixed comments to this question elsewhere, however the people who are sure that tape head lubricant is a bad idea also don't offer a good reason why, and don't state that they have ever used it. "It might attract dust" is about the only justification to avoid it.  So, I am hoping to get some input from members here, who certainly appear to be working at a higher level than the average hobbyist! Thanks in advance for any comments.

Best regards,
Mike Hazel