Here is the problem: I bought a case of 12 pancakes of new-old-stock 3M 996 tape. These are 2500' rolls of 1/4 inch tape on NAB hubs only, no flanges. The batch in question bears date codes indicating it was made in 1991. I just started winding it on to Polyline plastic reels by screwing flanges from a spare NAB reel to the hubs then running it through my Revox A77 on to the Polyline reel at 15 ips. Toward the end of each of the three pancakes/reels I've wound so far, it starts squealing intermittently. I can silence it by spinning the supply reel by hand, a bit faster than it is unwinding on its own. Kind of pre-releasing the tape.
Also have noted lotsa krud build up on the erase head (first one the tape touches) after each reel is run through. Cleaned it completely between each reel. Thing is that there is not only the oxide-looking gunk you'd expect, but some long white threads too. Looks really weird.
I thought that the 3M 900 series tapes did not suffer from sticky-shed. In fact all my other 996 doesn't do this at all - it is trouble free and great tape. Could this be just from being left tightly wound on the hubs for so long. And could I maybe clean it up some how and get it past its problems, or am I doomed with what appears to be a case of shedding 996?
Also have noted lotsa krud build up on the erase head (first one the tape touches) after each reel is run through. Cleaned it completely between each reel. Thing is that there is not only the oxide-looking gunk you'd expect, but some long white threads too. Looks really weird.
I thought that the 3M 900 series tapes did not suffer from sticky-shed. In fact all my other 996 doesn't do this at all - it is trouble free and great tape. Could this be just from being left tightly wound on the hubs for so long. And could I maybe clean it up some how and get it past its problems, or am I doomed with what appears to be a case of shedding 996?