What supplies do you need the most?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Splicit
  • Start date Start date
I'm glad this thread got pulled to the top...

One frustration/concern/question I've had with my 58 is trying to get the reel centered on the reel table. I take the time when mounting the hold-down to the table to get it centered, but then as soon as you put a reel on there there is potential slop and then the reel is rotating eccentrically...maybe not as big a deal at 7.5ips, but at 15ips and up...its making my tension arms work...

When I got my YTT-1144-2 test tape though...oooo! :cool:

That 8" reel with the 6-screw hub, and flanges that are maybe twice as thick as my SM911 flanges (or my Tascam RE-1013 takeup reel). The test tape seems to sit more snug on the hold-down as well.

I understand that the purpose of the tension arms is to deal with those variances, but I don't like it. Now matter how good a job the tension arms do I still think it important to minimize the variable loads on the transport due to eccentric reels and flanges...I believe they may be contributing to some of the slight wavering I see on the VU meters during calibration.

Awhile back I had posted over at the Tascam Forum about whether or not all the wobbling around was normal...didn't get a response, but my hands-on experience tells me it is what it is...I want to minimize it anyway.

Time to source some old tape on good reels! Hey kids...lookit the neat-o brown streamer material daddy got for you!! :eek:
 
While the warbling is normal, due, I think, to the imperfections of the reel table / shaft, in just about any machine, the typical 3 screw reel makes it much, much worse. The thicker, heavy duty and precision 6 screw design is great and makes a huge difference. While I'd love to have all my tape on those precision reels, it's not necessary. Something Tim (Beck) suggested, which works wonders, is to actually put that 6 screw precision take up reel on the LEFT side (and not the right), mount your regular tape on the right, spool it onto the LEFT precision reel and then do your recording from there. The beauty of this is that your tape now is perfectly packed for playback / recording and, when you record and reach the end, your tape now is back on the right side but neatly packed (because it has been 'play spooled' onto the original reel. It's stored in its preferable play position. So basically all you need is one good take up reel. Interestingly, ATR sells these 'precision' 1/2" reel for about $40 a pop. I wonder if these are the same quality as the thick and heavy Ampex ones. For 40 bones, I certainly hope so.;)

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Splicit said:
I am also checking on possible availability of precision reels. I personally know one of the sales people at the company that makes (made) aluminum reels for Ampex, Quantegy and others. She will look into this for us.
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Splicit said:
Also...I am still waiting to hear from my contact regarding 6 screw precision aluminum reels. Nothing yet.
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Any update on the precision reels? I'd be interested if they're anything like the old Ampex precision reels.

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Teresa, will the 1/2" 911 be available in single reels or will we have to order 3 at a time (min. order)?
 
Thanks for that, I've asked for a shipping estimate, if that's acceptable, then I'll get more info about the reel condition, etc.

ChrisO :cool:
 
cjacek said:
Any update on the precision reels? I'd be interested if they're anything like the old Ampex precision reels.

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Extra postage / shipping on those as they weigh 4 times the weight of normal flimsy Ampex / Quantegy ones!!!!!!!!

Worth keeping an eye on EBay, 3M, AGFA, BASF & EMTEC are the 6 screw reels I've noticed for sale.
 
I saw an auction up on eBay for some "precision" reels.

When I emailed the Seller to get confirmation that what he/she meant by "precision" was the 6-screw hub and the heavy-guage flanges and if that's what was for sale the response was a list of what brands had precision reels. I responded that what I was trying to find out was if that was what was for sale...the response was a further definition of the precision hub. :mad: I emailed back and asked again if that was what was for sale with the heavy-guage flanges and the response was "not at this time." :eek:

So I come back here.

I want 2 precision takeup reels (6-screw hubs with the thicker heavy-duty flanges).

What brands of reels can I count on to meet the above qualifications?
 
cjacek,

Yeah, I saw those. Don't wanna pay $42...total cheapskate. :rolleyes:

I was hoping to find some old reels loaded or empty that were the kind of reels I wanted. I see thse things for $10-20, but I don't want to get it here and find that it has the 6-screw hub but has the thin flanges...

Anybody know?
 
sweetbeats said:
I saw an auction up on eBay for some "precision" reels.

When I emailed the Seller to get confirmation that what he/she meant by "precision" was the 6-screw hub and the heavy-guage flanges and if that's what was for sale the response was a list of what brands had precision reels. I responded that what I was trying to find out was if that was what was for sale...the response was a further definition of the precision hub. :mad: I emailed back and asked again if that was what was for sale with the heavy-guage flanges and the response was "not at this time." :eek:

So I come back here.

I want 2 precision takeup reels (6-screw hubs with the thicker heavy-duty flanges).

What brands of reels can I count on to meet the above qualifications?
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All of the 6-screw type are balanced, though some are thicker and heavier than others. They are all better than the 3-screw type.

The word "precision" is overused by ebay sellers selling reels. They may have seen the word in listings that were actually selling 6-screw reels, but don't really know the difference. There is no such thing as a 3-screw "precision reel" but they're trying to sell something, so ya know... :)

Best thing to do is count the screws... most tape manufacterers have used both types of reels over the years.

Did you see post 8 with my pics?

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=2527703&postcount=8

EDIT: Be careful of reels that look like the one in the top picture but have rivets instead of screws. They were used by 3M/Scotch in the 80's. It's a pain not to be able to remove reel flanges.
 
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Thanks, Beck.

My big question is, can I assume that if there is a 6-screw hub, that the flanges are thicker?

I'm watching one of those Scotch riveted reels on eBay...I wondered what the fasteners were...I'm taking it off my watch list. ;)
 
Yeah, that's actually a very good question / point about the 6 screw reels having different thickness flanges / quality. I've had experience with only 2 types, one of them the Scotch 6 screw (which were in actuality rivets and not screws at all) and also the Ampex 6 screw precision reel. While both were the 6 'screw' type, only the Ampex was worthy of the name. It was thicker, heavier and more heavy duty than the Scotch and your typical standard 3 screw was just a toy compared to either, especially the Ampex. I too would not invest in one of those riveted reels but have a follow-up question:

Which 6 screw reels are the real deal, worthy of the name 'precision' and are machined of thicker, more rigid flanges and over all superior quality? Tim, I know you have experience with the Ampex 6 screw precision reels;) and so my question is, obviously, directed at you. Which others to look for on eBay? Thanks.:)

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cjacek....:eek:

yepyepyepthatiswhatiwant (but in 10.5" x 1/2")

I'll keep looking learning, but the reels in the eBay listing are like the reel that my YTT-1144-2 test tape is on...that's where this whole thing started from for me...wondering if I could get reels for my recording tape like that...:cool:
 
I've got 2 of the 3 types of 1/2" 6 screw precision reels that Becks attached photo above shows. One is the same as the AGFA shown & is a BASF by EMTEC version, the other is an Ampex with the grey plastic centre.

The old 6 screw Ampex is the heaviest with thickest sides, the 6 screw BASF sides still have much more thickness than recent RMGI 3 screw reels I've bought. The mid '90's Ampex & later Quantegy 3 screw reels are the most flimsy of all!!!!!

No doubt IMO that the precision reels make a very big difference to tape handling.
 
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