Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: notesfiles Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!houxm!whuxl!whuxlm!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpfcla!ajs From: ajs@hpfcla.UUCP (ajs) Newsgroups: net.video Subject: Question: protecting mag tapes Message-ID: <23600005@hpfcla.UUCP> Date: Fri, 1-Mar-85 13:16:00 EST Article-I.D.: hpfcla.23600005 Posted: Fri Mar 1 13:16:00 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 10-Mar-85 05:35:57 EST Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Fort Collins, CO Lines: 23 Nf-ID: #N:hpfcla:23600005:000:1088 Nf-From: hpfcla!ajs Mar 1 10:16:00 1985 There was recent discussion on this, but I didn't see a complete answer. So, I'll ask an old question a new way: What's the best way to store video (and other) mag tapes, to protect them from corruption due to magnetic fields? In addition to putting them in something airtight (like a ziplock bag), should you also wrap them in metal foil? If so, is there one type of foil which protects against both static magnetic fields (from permanent magnets) and alternating electromagnetic fields (say, from motors)? I'm not looking for a 100% solution or a treatise on physics, just an answer which is sufficient in practice. (Doesn't have to survive the EMP from a nuclear blast, for instance :-) I saw a mention of mu-metal, whatever that is. Would plain steel foil be sufficient for both purposes? Is aluminum foil good for stopping either type of contamination? Please post your responses if you like; I don't expect too many. Thanks, Alan Silverstein, Hewlett-Packard Fort Collins Systems Division, Colorado {ihnp4 | hplabs}!hpfcla!ajs, 303-226-3800 x3053, N 40 31'31" W 105 00'43"