sealed tape.....but old?

[antispatula]

So is there any general rule with this? What if tape is sealed? Does it matter? Is the determining factor of wether it's usable or not in it's age? What do you think?

[Beck]

The date of manufacture is the key. New old stock, sealed tapes will have sticky-shed right out of the box.

[antispatula]

hm ok. So what's the oldest a tape can be while it's still good?

[Beck]

I was presuming Ampex when I replied to the first question, but it depends on the brand.

For Ampex 456/457 and 406/407 it should be made 1995 and later. Technically it’s late 1994, but anything before ‘95 is a gamble.

It’s not quite as easy as a date for 3M/Scotch 226/227, etc because the later batches, even late 80’s can be ok, or not. To be safe I would only get that in the black boxes marked 3M.

AGFA/BASF/EMTEC tapes like 468, 526, 528 and 911 don’t have sticky-shed, but 469 does. I have AGFA 468 that is 25-years old and is good as new.

Maxell doesn’t have sticky-shed.

[antispatula]

sweat! Maxell is the brand!

[dodgeaspen]

ATR is going to be the tape to buy. http://www.atrtape.com/