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From: bill@crystal.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.video
Subject: Re: Cleaning heads
Message-ID: <320@crystal.ARPA>
Date: Sat, 3-Mar-84 14:52:40 EST
Article-I.D.: crystal.320
Posted: Sat Mar  3 14:52:40 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 5-Mar-84 00:25:30 EST
References: <1673@iedl02.UUCP>
Organization: U of Wisconsin CS Dept
Lines: 33

>There is good reason that video heads are
>less likely to need cleaning than audio cassette heads.  The audio
>tape players heads actually have a small gap which a field is
>applied or detected which can become jammed with shedding oxide.
>The video players have no such gap (or maybe the gap is filled
>by a non-magnetic material, I can't remember).  Thus, the heads
>are much more resistant to picking up garbage and need much
>more infrequent cleaning.

Audio tape recorder heads have the same kind of gap as video heads, as
far as I know (my experience is only with audio recorders).  The 'gap'
on audio heads is filled with a non-magnetic material.  

Oxide shed from audio tapes varies quite a bit; first-quality tapes
generally have little shed.

I would guess that video heads need cleaning much less often because the
spinning motion would make them somewhat self-cleaning (??).

For audio recorder heads I use either isopropyl alcohol or a spray can
of Freon TF (extremely pure versions are available for head cleaning).
My can says
	Rawn Chemicals TF Tape Head "no residue" cleaner
	..no residues, low surface tension, high density and high
	dielectric strength...safe for all electrical insulations,
	coatings and elastomer parts.
	Rawn Company, Inc, Spooner, WI 54801
This is a low-force spray can.  I have used FreonTF for all sorts of
electrical and electronics cleaning and have been very happy with it.

	bill cox
	bill@uwisc
	...seismo!uwvax!bill