Cleaning VHS Recorder Heads

Hi all

I am looking to capture some old video to digital using an old VHS recorder and was wondering about using Comma Contact Clean to clean the heads in preparation. The perceived wisdom seems to favour isopropyl alcohol, but as I have this cleaner to hand I thought it might be worth considering. Unfortunately the can does not indicate the contents, but the web description states that it leaves no residue...

"As with any electrical wires, they can become exposed to air and oxidation can occur, stopping the effective flow of current along the wire, or even on block connectors and terminals. Comma has a product which can swiftly remove this oxidation to restore the flow of electrical current. The Comma Contact Clean is a Fast acting cleaning formula to instantly remove oxidation and immediately restores the electrical current. It has a non-corrosive property that won't harm plastic connectors and blocks. The product is also non-conductive and will not leave behind any residue, so there is no need to wipe away any excess. The extended nozzle allows for a more accurate area for you to work on, which can help in hard to reach areas."

Is this likely to be suitable, or should I be patient and order the IPA?

thanks

Phil

Reply to
thescullster
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Use IPA

Reply to
george

on 06/03/2015, george supposed :

Or meths, or lighter fluid.

Don't use cotton wool or similar with fibres, the fibres will catch on the head.

Reply to
Harry Bloomfield

I have no idea what's in that product, but going by the complete bollocks you have quoted I wouldn't want to use it as a contact cleaner or anything else.

Use IPA. Put some on a piece of paper apply light pressure with finger and rotate the drum by hand. do not subject the actual heads to any vertical force

Reply to
Graham.

My thinking is to go with Harry on this one. What you use to apply it is another Q. I have used a nylon brush in the past. As a matter of interest. How do you intend to transfer old VHS to digital? Only asking as I have some 30yo tapes that I would like to digitise. Nick.

Reply to
Nick

Used to work with digital (exabyte) devices ages ago which had simular heads to a vcr. We used to use Asctone (not the lower grade nail varnish cleaner) and a lint free cloth, as neither leave any remains on the surface. We also used Isopropyl with lint free clothes but it was not as good

Reply to
Grizzly Sweety

And only ever wipe over the head in the direction (and/or reverse direction) of the tape motion, and never across the head as you risk snapping the very fine ferrite head gap parts.

Reply to
Andrew Gabriel

In message , Nick writes

Use a video capture device.

When I did this a few years ago, I got a little box that took the output from the VCR and input it into the computer via USB.

Alternatively an internal PC video capture card.

Reply to
Chris French

Before you resort to chemicals, try this. Get a strip of clean new bog- standard A4 paper and fold it so it's fairly stiff. Run the machine and gently press the end of the strip against the head, holding the strip at the other end. Angle the strip so the end can't dig into the head.

Bill

Reply to
Bill Wright

I have never been tempted to use acetone, my thinking being that the head coil wire is insulated with enamel, if Acetone can make short work of enamel nail polish...

Reply to
Graham.

We in the trade use a £5 note, I know you use them as bog standard bog paper so you better use a tenner.

Seriously though, I wouldn't advocate doing it with the drum spinning under power. The drum should rotate without undue friction under the banknote, if it doesn't the machine has probebly been an a smoke filled room and it is the drum rather than the heads that need swabbing with IPA.

Reply to
Graham.

I wouldnt use it, since I don't know if it would be ok or not. IPA works the same as ethyl alcohol, just use meths or vodka

NT

Reply to
meow2222

I use a device called EZCap. It comes with software that works on Win7, and does the job. It costs about £25 or so. Look for the thread: Sky+HD and DVD recording.

Reply to
Davey

Now most vhs machines hav a slot that the heads rotate in. It is a very good idea not to use any spray product that could get inside this slot. For what its worth I cleaned all guides and tap path witth IPa and usually the pressure roller as well. the heads, and there are usually more than two, need to be very carfully cleaned , aand not up and down, only in the direction of rotation using some kind of rough, but non abrasive surface with very light use of IPA. Too may people have sheered the things off trying to do this which was why cleaning tapes were used.

Of course if you still get crap results they could be just worn out. There used to be companies making after market replacements, but I'm out of touch these days. Brian

Reply to
Brian Gaff

Video-40?

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Reply to
Bob Eager

I'd be careful with using an aggressive solvent like acetone as it *might* attack the glue used in the heads.

IPA or any pure alcohol is one of the safer ones. At work, we used AF spray for cleaning all tape heads - both video and audio. And a lint free cloth. Although an aerosol should blast away any debris anyway.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

+1 for EZCap (also for IPA)
Reply to
newshound

In message , newshound writes

But make sure that it's a genuine device as there are various (probably cheaper) copies with similar names, that don't work properly.

Once bitten, twice shy, I bought the more-expensive Video-2-PC device. I haven't used it much, but it seems to work well, and has lots of additional features.

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Reply to
Ian Jackson

Yes, according to their website when I bought mine, the EasyCap is a rip-off of the EZCap.

Reply to
Davey

Only use IPA and a small piece of the smoothest bit of chamois leather you can find, soak, hold against the head drum and rotate the drum in its normal direction.

At a push a piece of kitchen paper will do instead of the chamois

Reply to
The Other Mike

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