Where to repair VHS-C broken tapes?

dana2 · #1 10-25-2016, 04:05 AM

Hi,

I have several VHS-C tapes that are "eaten" (i.e. tape that is cut in half, etc.). Kept them for about 20 years (time flies ...) as they contain memories. Any idea if those can actually be repaired (i.e. tape to be somehow glued together) and where?

Would be nice to have a store in Toronto, Canada that does this, but it is not a mandatory requirement.

Thanks!

lordsmurf · #2 10-25-2016, 04:32 AM

Yes, those can be "repaired" (the tape guts inserted into new clamshells).

Do NOT glue them, tape them, or do anything of the sort as you may see in ill-advised Youtube videos.

I've done many of those over the years. It's never an easy or quick job.

What brand of tapes are these?
Can you unscrew them? If not, those must be carefully drilled out (and the shavings not allowed to harm the tape).

Advanced repair like this is two fold:
- salvage tape
- not harm VCR (ie, tape, glue, shavings, etc -- those harm it)

dana2 · #3 10-25-2016, 10:02 AM

So, if a tape is cut in two - in the end you end up with TWO tapes instead of one, right?

dpalomaki · #4 10-27-2016, 06:56 AM

Yes, two tapes, and a bit of material around the break is also lost (it becomes part of the leader that never reaches the heads.) Video heads are not as forgiving of splices in video tape as audio heads are in audio tape.

dana2 · #5 10-27-2016, 08:11 AM

That means I need to purchase some VHS-C tapes for their shells

Lordsmurf, accounted tapes, looks like some tapes are JVC, some Panasonic, some Maxwell and even one BASF. Also looks like they can be opened, but I won't attempt until I purchase new VHS-C shells.

Oh, another question: does playing an empty tape harm the video heads?

lordsmurf · #6 10-27-2016, 08:57 AM

VHS-C sucks. Just transplant them into full VHS clamshells.

Try to never put anything foreign on tape heads. They are very fragile. For example, never clean with a cotton swab. That's extremely stupid, and will cause problems.

dana2 · #7 10-27-2016, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordsmurf

VHS-C sucks. Just transplant them into full VHS clamshells.

Try to never put anything foreign on tape heads. They are very fragile. For example, never clean with a cotton swab. That's extremely stupid, and will cause problems.

OK, will attempt to use full blown VHS tapes. So how would you clean video heads? I also have a D8/Hi8/8 camcorder, and I will also pull the video from there via firewire.