Cleaning questions about Portastudio...

[advancer]

Ok here's the story guys. I purchased my 424mkIII about 6 - 8 months ago. In my initial ignorance, I didn't know to clean the heads, capstan, etc. I then realized that I did have to clean them, and bought one of those deadly cassette tape cleaners, an unwise decision to say the least from what I've read about it. I've used the unit for maybe 10 hours in the 8 months, and used the cassette cleaner with the solution that came with it for maybe 2 minutes total.

1. I want to know if this lack of cleaning, and/or the use of those tape cleaners could have caused any permanent damage to the unit ( I've read that not cleaning it only lowers the quality of what goes on tape ).

2. I would like to know exactly the type of cleaning solutions I need, that is for the heads, capstan, and the pinch roller, and exactly where I can find them. Are they available in Circuit City, Radio Shack?

3. What about the cleaning swabs, the lint-free ones, where can I find them?

Thanks,
Alex

[Krakit]

You need to use Isopropanol on the heads applied ever so gently with lint free swabs (not Q-tips). Apply in the direction of the tape path and one direction only.

You need to treat your pinch roller (the capstan is the metal spindle part) with a rubber rejuvenator.

I have found that Isoprop is not the answer.

Carl

[chessparov]

advancer, make sure if you you isopropyl to get the 99% solution- you can get it
at a lot of pharmacies. Retail outlets like Guitar Center will have Tascam's rubber
cleaner. The Teac demagnitizer (around $40 I think) is the proper tool for demagnetizing your recorder-be careful though and follow the instructions.
Swabs can be bought at Radio Shack or ala Guitar Center type of place.
If you were using quality tapes, the amount of hours lost on your recording heads
of potential use should be very small-probably 5 hours or less.
Keeping in those heads should be good for hundreds of hours don't lose any sleep
over it. A good website for further info is www.tascam.com
Best of luck on your recordings!