Cleaning heads

jok1 · 14-06-2003, 00:42

My HiFi's two tape decks play and record pretty crappy and have done for ages. I've tried using Head Cleaning cassettes but they don't work. I remember someone saying years ago that you could use White Spirits and a cotton bud. Any advice?

GaryB · 14-06-2003, 09:44

Do not use white spirit. You will almost certainly damage the heads and many other bits if you splash them. You should use Isopropyl Alcohol. This is available from chemists. It is the main ingredient of the various cleaning kits that were commonly available a few years ago but have almost vanished with the demise of the cassette.

Mazrim Taim · 14-06-2003, 11:04

Jok1 says

Quote:

My HiFi's two tape decks play and record pretty crappy and have done for ages

It may well be your heads, as lack of regular cleaning wears them out much quicker.

jazz101 · 14-06-2003, 11:16

how often should you clean the heads?

GaryB · 14-06-2003, 11:53

When I was using cassettes regularly I used to clean them every month, before making any important recordings or when there was any visible oxide on the heads though the sound quality usually degrades well before anything visible appears on the heads. I used reel to reel decks as well and these required more frequent cleaning.

It's best not to use the commercial head cleaners as these are abrasive and will reduce the life of the heads unless you can find a wet cleaner such as the one made by Allsop. You can't beat a good clean with Isopropyl & a good quality cotton bud. Clean the record/payback head (the one in the centre), the erase head (on the left) and the pinch roller as well as any guides, etc. Be gentle as the mechanism can be damaged by excessive force.

TV DUNIYA · 15-06-2003, 00:01

Isopropyl Alcohol is available from maplins,if that's any help

jok1 · 15-06-2003, 01:26

Thanks for the tip. I'll keep an eye out for Isopropyl Alcohol.

dodgygeeza · 15-06-2003, 17:19

It could also be that the heads have become magnestised, which my stereo manual recommends is remedied with "A commercial tape head demagnetiser" but I have no idea where you'd get one of those from now

jok1 · 15-06-2003, 21:33

Jeez, I never even thought of that. A friend of mine gave me one of those when his computer shop went down the tubes. I'm guessing it's as old as computer games on tape. I'll give that a go.

14-06-2003, 00:42	#1
jok1 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: N Ireland Posts: 227	Cleaning heads My HiFi's two tape decks play and record pretty crappy and have done for ages. I've tried using Head Cleaning cassettes but they don't work. I remember someone saying years ago that you could use White Spirits and a cotton bud. Any advice?

15-06-2003, 00:01	#6
TV DUNIYA Forum Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 6,622	Isopropyl Alcohol Isopropyl Alcohol is available from maplins,if that's any help

14-06-2003, 09:44	#2
GaryB Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: St Albans Posts: 4,088	Do not use white spirit. You will almost certainly damage the heads and many other bits if you splash them. You should use Isopropyl Alcohol. This is available from chemists. It is the main ingredient of the various cleaning kits that were commonly available a few years ago but have almost vanished with the demise of the cassette.

14-06-2003, 11:04	#3
Mazrim Taim Forum Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Somerset UK Posts: 376	Jok1 says Quote: My HiFi's two tape decks play and record pretty crappy and have done for ages It may well be your heads, as lack of regular cleaning wears them out much quicker.

14-06-2003, 11:16	#4
jazz101 Forum Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 63	how often should you clean the heads?

14-06-2003, 11:53	#5
GaryB Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: St Albans Posts: 4,088	When I was using cassettes regularly I used to clean them every month, before making any important recordings or when there was any visible oxide on the heads though the sound quality usually degrades well before anything visible appears on the heads. I used reel to reel decks as well and these required more frequent cleaning. It's best not to use the commercial head cleaners as these are abrasive and will reduce the life of the heads unless you can find a wet cleaner such as the one made by Allsop. You can't beat a good clean with Isopropyl & a good quality cotton bud. Clean the record/payback head (the one in the centre), the erase head (on the left) and the pinch roller as well as any guides, etc. Be gentle as the mechanism can be damaged by excessive force.

15-06-2003, 01:26	#7
jok1 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: N Ireland Posts: 227	Thanks for the tip. I'll keep an eye out for Isopropyl Alcohol.

15-06-2003, 17:19	#8
dodgygeeza Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Manchester Posts: 6,151	It could also be that the heads have become magnestised, which my stereo manual recommends is remedied with "A commercial tape head demagnetiser" but I have no idea where you'd get one of those from now

15-06-2003, 21:33	#9
jok1 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: N Ireland Posts: 227	Jeez, I never even thought of that. A friend of mine gave me one of those when his computer shop went down the tubes. I'm guessing it's as old as computer games on tape. I'll give that a go.

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Cleaning heads