Cleaning video heads etc

[Freya]

I use paper also.

[Graham G3ZVT]

I used a £5 note. Tips rarely extended to a tenner. Modern plastic banknotes probably won't work.

[brunel]

Once, when desperate, a bit of card + vodka.

[M3VUV51]

anyone ever used p40 paper?

[AC/HL]

I take it you mean thermal printer paper, similar to any other paper I'd think.

[SiriusHardware]

For heads which are not too heavily soiled I often found that playing a 'Chrome' or especially a 'Metal' tape all the way through, if necessary more than once, was enough to clear the problem, the premise being that these types were inherently more abrasive than standard tapes.

[goughy57]

It brought back some memories reading this of my days on the bench. I used to find what worked best for me was my finger nail. I used to hold the nail on my fore finger against the rotating head as it played a tape. Always cleared the most stubborn head for me.

[sandpit252423]

To clean video heads i always used a very small square of shamieleather and acetone, dirty heads wont play anything, clean worn heads play good recordings but play own recordings badly with black/white marks on. I hope this helps.

[Graham G3ZVT]

I'd be seriously concerned that the acetone would dissolve the vanish insulation on the coil winding!

[HamishBoxer]

I never use anything other than IPA.

[davyrocket2]

I use chamois sticks which I used to get from Grandata when they were still trading and aeresols of cleaning fluid and new video heads, or I use medi swabs which are soaked in isopropol fluid.

As for symptoms dirty or snowy picture or sound without picture.

I have got a LG-LV880 which I had five tries at cleaning before I got a clear picture, but the drum was nearly brown which I think was the result of the back tension set too high.

[davidbi]

We used the medical wipes stored in a small plastic bag to keep them moist

[RobustReviews]

Originally Posted by dj_fivos_sak

I use the writing paper + IPA method that Mark mentioned. Works really well.

+2 for the paper and IPA method.

Amazing how much 'crap' I've got off-of clean heads with that method.

[Bazz4CQJ]

Originally Posted by HamishBoxer

IPA and a lint free cloth only.I use nail polish remover cloths (perfect).Sorry,Never Meths on a video head,tape head yes.

I've never cleaned a video head, so curious to see the recommendations. Was there any rationale for not using meths on a video head or was that just based on experience?

Re the suggestion to use acetone, acetone is one of the "big gun" solvents which adversely affects many plastics, totally dissolves some. Not to be used unless everything else has failed I think.

B

[davyrocket2]

Meths is slightly greasy as is white spirit, they will clean the heads but I reckon Isopropyl Alcohol is better and have seen mention of it in genuine JVC workshop manuals.

[RobustReviews]

Something that I've also found are very good (if you can 'acquire' them) are medical pre-injection swabs, small foil packets, non-linting, use once affairs.

My dad swore by this method for cleaning video/cassette heads in the day... actually cleaning most things come to think of it....

[TIMTAPE]

Not just the heads but the entire drum and tape path often need cleaning. I service VCRs after many tapes have run through them. Cleaning the full tape path can take some time. Often the pinch roller needs to be removed for a decent clean. Sometimes a capstan motor needs to be removed to properly access and clean its capstan shaft. Some buy a fancy external time base corrector when the problem may often be a dirty tape path.

[Graham G3ZVT]

A build up of oxide on the capstan shaft can cause the tape to ride-up and crease.

Tobacco tar was worse than tape oxide for causing excessive friction.
I clean all the posts, guides drum A/C head etc with IPA, actively avoiding the actual heads on the drum. These then got the paper treatment, a banknote was my preference, applied dry, moderate finger pressure oscillating the drum too and fro with the other hand.

[FrankB]

I always used a chamois swab with PRB video head cleaner and also denatured alcohol on cotton swabs. (I buy the medical ones with the 6" wood shafts, as they are long and get into places the paper shaft ones can't and the cotton does not fall off easy).

[Graham G3ZVT]

Originally Posted by FrankB

I always used a chamois swab with PRB video head cleaner

At the TV & VCR rental outfit I worked for, we were issued with chamois swabs on ice lolly style sticks along with little bottles of alcohol. The sticks always seemed to be the wrong tool for the job.