Stopping tape unspooling. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Tractorfan · 7th Nov 2011, 10:56 pm

Hi, It's me again.
I've got quite a few open reel tapes that have lost their boxes and they're in a neat stack. The only snag is that the end of the tape unravels and trails off when I pick them up. Not all of the reels have a slot to tuck the tape end into and I wondered if anyone has a tip to keep the end from coming undone?
PS The cat thinks it's fun, though!
Cheers, Pete

ben · 7th Nov 2011, 11:10 pm

1.5 -inch long piece of U -folded cardboard to trap the end.

Tractorfan · 7th Nov 2011, 11:24 pm

Brilliant!
Thanks Ben.
Cheers, Pete

yestertech · 8th Nov 2011, 10:25 am

Professional 10" data tapes (when not using the auto spool clamp) often used a small black foam insert wedged into the spool edge.
They need to be fairly dense foam or they disintegrate when pulled out.
Andy

julie_m · 8th Nov 2011, 11:01 am

I always used to use a couple of centimetres of splicing tape to stick the end down -- but that was when the stuff was readily available.

ben · 8th Nov 2011, 11:29 am

I should have said that by cardboard I actually meant card - part of a cereal box or whatever. Anything too thick might end up warping the spool or crushing the tape edges.... but I'm sure you gathered that anyway!

brenellic2000 · 8th Nov 2011, 11:34 am

I agree with AJS..... but why not invest in some new boxes - they are still readily available from SVS media. Go on, spoil yourself - its Christmas!

None of the plastic clips supplied with the original tapes inspired me. BASF's red plastic clips merely split and shreaded the leader.

Barry

camtechman · 8th Nov 2011, 1:24 pm

I buy a pack of rectangular pencil erasers from the Pound shop, 4 different colours in a pack and cut them into the right size pieces with a scapel knife and they fit neatly & snuggly inbetween the spool faces & against the tape...Job Done.

7th Nov 2011, 10:56 pm	#1
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,184	Stopping tape unspooling. Hi, It's me again. I've got quite a few open reel tapes that have lost their boxes and they're in a neat stack. The only snag is that the end of the tape unravels and trails off when I pick them up. Not all of the reels have a slot to tuck the tape end into and I wondered if anyone has a tip to keep the end from coming undone? PS The cat thinks it's fun, though! Cheers, Pete __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

7th Nov 2011, 11:10 pm	#2
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Stopping tape unspooling. 1.5 -inch long piece of U -folded cardboard to trap the end. __________________ Regards, Ben.

7th Nov 2011, 11:24 pm	#3
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,184	Re: Stopping tape unspooling. Brilliant! Thanks Ben. Cheers, Pete __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

8th Nov 2011, 10:25 am	#4
yestertech Nonode Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Coulsdon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 2,135	Re: Stopping tape unspooling. Professional 10" data tapes (when not using the auto spool clamp) often used a small black foam insert wedged into the spool edge. They need to be fairly dense foam or they disintegrate when pulled out. Andy

8th Nov 2011, 11:01 am	#5
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,735	Re: Stopping tape unspooling. I always used to use a couple of centimetres of splicing tape to stick the end down -- but that was when the stuff was readily available. __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

8th Nov 2011, 11:29 am	#6
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Stopping tape unspooling. I should have said that by cardboard I actually meant card - part of a cereal box or whatever. Anything too thick might end up warping the spool or crushing the tape edges.... but I'm sure you gathered that anyway! __________________ Regards, Ben.

8th Nov 2011, 11:34 am	#7
brenellic2000 Octode Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rye, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,647	Re: Stopping tape unspooling. I agree with AJS..... but why not invest in some new boxes - they are still readily available from SVS media. Go on, spoil yourself - its Christmas! None of the plastic clips supplied with the original tapes inspired me. BASF's red plastic clips merely split and shreaded the leader. Barry

8th Nov 2011, 1:24 pm	#8
camtechman Nonode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks. UK. Posts: 2,552	Re: Stopping tape unspooling. I buy a pack of rectangular pencil erasers from the Pound shop, 4 different colours in a pack and cut them into the right size pieces with a scapel knife and they fit neatly & snuggly inbetween the spool faces & against the tape...Job Done. __________________ When I die, please don't let my Wife sell my collection for the amount I told her I paid for it!