How To Store Audio Tapes?

[Dan Lail]

Hi everyone! This is my first post here. Looks like a lot of great info. Question; What is the best best way to store reel to reel tapes. I have quarter inch and half inch tapes in there original boxes. Tonight I thresded up a tape on my TSR-8 that had been stored for several years and it dragged throught he transport system leaving some residue. After cleaning the transport, the tape ran fine for about 10 minutes, then I had to clean the transport system again.

Anyway to give extented life to this tape?

 

[superspit]

Hi everyone! This is my first post here. Looks like a lot of great info. Question; What is the best best way to store reel to reel tapes. I have quarter inch and half inch tapes in there original boxes. Tonight I thresded up a tape on my TSR-8 that had been stored for several years and it dragged throught he transport system leaving some residue. After cleaning the transport, the tape ran fine for about 10 minutes, then I had to clean the transport system again.

Anyway to give extented life to this tape?

hi....sorry to hear about your tape/transport issue....that sucks...
You see, it sucks because the accetate/oxide binding finally gives in, falls off and becomes pretty messy, as you can see.....you may just have a minor issue with it, but it doesn't get better over time.
Best you back-up (if not already) your precious stuff, then store what's left of your tape in a dry,cool, dark, magnetic free area.....maybe even in air-tight type containers???

Anyways,
Spit.

 

[Lt. Bob]

sounds like 'sticky-shed' and you can bake the tapes at a specific temperature and make them play just fine. I've actually bought a food dehydrator for that exact purpose.
do a search for sticky-shed and there are a couple of threads here about how to handle it.

 

[Slowrider]

Check in Analog Forum. Some guys there have baked their tapes.

 

[Dan Lail]

Thanks, Guys! I am getting set to transfer the analog info on my hard drive, then to CD. Any one ever use the Audacity.com free download for transferring analog to computer?

In the meantime I'll check out previous threads for the tape-shed topic.

P.S. Man it does really suck. All that work in jepardy.

 

[Beck]

Check these out in the Analog Only Forum:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=228067

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=228066

Most AMPEX backcoated audiotape made from mid 70’s to late 1994 will eventually succumb to Sticky-Shed Syndrome. It affects 356/357, 456/457 and 406/407, as well as tapes like 20/20 Plus marketed to home Hi-Fi users. Some 3M/Scotch and one AGFA model also have Sticky-Shed.

It’s a mess and one of the first hard lessons learned by people new to analog or that have been away for a while. You must clean your tape path several times with 91% or higher Isopropyl or denatured alcohol. And you must get that stuff off your rubber pinch roller ASAP or it will destroy it.

For the rubber roller try Windex on a Q-tip first. Then buy some Caig CaiKleen RBR rubber cleaner. The pinch roller might need replacing though since they tend to get sticky and gummy on those machines with time. You can get a new roller from TASCAM Parts in California… Phone: 323-727-4840.

Once you have new tape it should be stored in a climate controlled living area. Store tapes with recordings on it tails out. Store the box on end like a book… not flat.