[BC] Tape deck issue/cleaning solutions

[Mark W. Croom]

I have given up on Walgreens for 99% Isopropyl.

They might have the 90% stuff, which is OK but not ideal. I've had the best 
luck finding small quantities of 99% at the smaller, locally owned phamacies.

Just my experience in the Midwest.

I don't think I've used a gallon of Isopropanol in my entire career put 
together.

I think I'm going to try some of that ROR that was mentioned in another post. 
That looks like pretty good stuff--their suggested uses page says it's useful 
on VCR heads. That's where the alky with water in it just doesn't cut it at 
all, leaving too much residue. Anything that works well on VCR heads will 
work on just about any other metal tape path component, in my experience.

2 cents worth on Paul's cassette problem--Even a clean pinch roller can be 
too hard to pull the tape correctly. They seem to get hard with age (and lots 
of cleaning over time). Usually you can see this by watching the tape wander 
a bit on the capstan when the machine is in play. 

You may be able to get a little more life out of that pinch roller by gently 
roughing up the surface with some sandpaper (cuts the hard glaze on the 
surface). Make sure to clean it with your solvent again afterward.

Then order up a replacement pinch roller because you'll get far better 
performance with the new one. The sandpaper method is a last resort, and yes, 
it's possible to make the problem worse (I've done that, too). If you're 
careful to work as evenly as possible as you go around the pinch roller, it 
can improve things while you wait for the replacement part.

Mark
MN

On Tue, 19 Sep 2006 12:00:24 -0700, Robert Reymont wrote
> You can still find it a drugstores but sometimes it takes a 
> search.  Just bought some this week at my local Walgreens.
> 
> At 11:27 AM 9/19/2006 -0700, you wrote:
> >Some of the electronic supply houses have 99.9% isopropyl alcohol.  I
> >remember getting 99% at the drug store before, but, not now.