tape shedding

calman46

calman46

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
there are lot of post about this,I looked . I couldn't find one on "white residue " My tapes are shedding a white power its not sticky but does cling on the heads etc.. Its Maxall 35-180 ,they came used with my RT909. Its there fix for the white shed ? Is it as bad has sticky shed? thanks
 
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I've played many old tapes, but I haven't seen anything white in color unless it was mold or mildew. Sometimes it is just a thin growth on the tape and you really don't see it well. Could it be mold?
 
Old tapes can have various kinds of mildew problems. Cassettes, reel tapes, computer backups all can have mold or mildew growth even when properly stored. I have tapes from the 1950s. I have tapes that I personally recorded dating from 1967. Some develop mold and shed it when playing in the form of powder.

It may be barely noticeable at times. It can show as a whitish, grayish or greenish look to the tape pack as view through the openings in the reel sides.

Does that clarify?
 
Yes, it does. I was suggesting that the OP's problem was white mold or mildew, as I have also seen it.

My error was not ready the posts thoroughly to see you had already suggested it.
 
It s white and powder like .I have a mirror under my deck so i can see the heads when cleaning and I noticed some flakes on the mirror . On further inspection there was the white residue on the heads etc.. but it did not effect the sound or tape movement.I'll have to play the tape again see if happens again. thanks
 
The only other thing I can think of is Nu Finish. If the tape came from someone else and it is an oldie, they may have tried the Nu Finish car polish trick if it was squealing. I have never used it on tape, but it certainly dries white on cars before you buff it. Might be that stuff is coming off if it hadn't been wiped away very well or played away previously. At least it isn't affecting play.
 
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