I've always done it the 4th way. The only way I'm able to do it. Taking the shell apart and then unspool the entire tape. I usually try to slip a thin piece of cloth in between the clear side of the plastic reel and the roll of tape to remove a big part of the mold first before unrolling it. Then take a damp washcloth and wipe the entire length of the tape once or a couple times if necessary. I will stop every so many feet, and change to a different part of the washcloth to keep the tape passing through a clean and wetter part of it. Then its one dry wipe to make sure there's no fibers or dust sticking to it before rolling it back up by spinning the reel on my fingers. I also make sure to wipe off the reels themselves as well as the shell and components the tape comes in contact with to make sure there are no foreign particles anywhere. It's more labor intensive, but it does leave the tape 100% clean. I had just pulled 60 videocassettes out of a dumpster on September 24th, and an additional 14 more on October 1st in which some of those 74 tapes I got needs to be cleaned in such a way due to mold.
Harder to buy these days. So people wanting them and not being able to afford/find them.. this is a great option for those who didn’t buy them earlier.
Used to have a version of type 1((Kinyo). It would REW/FF*/CLEAN[required cleaning spools], but it finally dyed many years ago. Have since gotten another VCR recently. Most tapes play very well(after different tapes maybe 20-30 years old--even those recorded in EP mode and despite the mad DVD push years ago[but DVDs took more vigilance, were more picky in many players/recorders once they got scratched, were easy to get moderately or badly scratched[most of my DVD collection is scratched too badly unless I send them off to an online company for repair], DVD media was more costly when you consider that you HAD to record each disc in the SP equivalent mode or the picture was glassy terrible[on tapes you could go with LP or EP with the quality being solid], DVD inner damage is not fixable however this happens[but VHS tapes many times are], and they were about as prone to the ravages of time as VHS were]). A few tapes do have the skipping unplayable sections of a tape(often you can skip past these to find a section that plays like it should). VHS seemed much better in my opinion! I got a VHS version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre(2003) that needs cleaning. Have white lines around the spool that look like powder lines in the tape that I am scared to try to play it in my VCR. Have a couple more, too, that my VCR didn't like that seem to be cleaning issues(VCR malfunctioned after playing them, but was able to get it back right again). Plus, a few more that look like I or someone spilled something on them that I dare not try... *Saving wear and tear I guess...
Right that's what I'm trying to ask about. Adventally the pads will need to be replaced after they get too dirty. I guess they must sell the pad on eBay or you would have to custom make your own pads for them I'm guessing
For many years I have taken mold from tape. It would be great if every tape with mold wheeled freely. There are some types of aggressive molds that pass to the face of the tape and glue. Tapes with mold in this way need to be unfolded manually and slowly, until it will be released. Even after releasing, it is a risk to put this tape on a VCR, as the face of the tape is marked, and this can damage the head of the Videocasse. But if the content is very important ...
It would seem that this is a great thing for us folks who want to digitize our VHS tapes. The dirt and mold on a 40 year old tape is probably thick! Cleaning the tape might really make a night and day difference in the video quality. Perhaps the dropouts and glitches would be minimized by cleaning a tape. These Geneva devices are on ebay, but you will spend a small fortune to get one. I saw one earlier tonight that costs a whopping, a WHOPPING $700(USD). Did i mention $700? Yes i did! $700! I guess i would try another method you mentioned. LOL Do you digitize tapes with a quality setup, like the use of a time base corrector? Please let me know. Thanks!
You do realize that the mould was on the edge only right ? and if mould gets on the magnetic side its done anyway. so just forwarding and rewind mostly shakes it of. i have a samsund 10 dollar super rewind vcr just for this and the head never got cloged as mold is just on the edge and falls off when real is forwarded or played
Have you ever had a tape, that after doing the second cleaning a couple of times, it plays for 4, 7, maybe 10 minutes, the audio keeps going fine, but image is lost, so I have to stop and clean the headers on the vcr, put the tape in again, and the same thing happens again I get like 5 or 10 more minutes of recording and then image is lost but sound is fine, so I have to keep cleaning the headers again and again?
I use this method but I think there is a sensor in the tape run which detects the the tape is being restricted (While holding a cleaning cloth to the tape) this slows up the tape to stop...do you know if there is a tape sensor which can be removed to stop this happening...?
Your vcr is just has different parts of the tape track that are there to save tape if it locks up. Just make sure the tape runs freely. If you stop the tape from moving the machine will cut off
Thanks my friend...I was just wondering if there was a sensor in the tape run that senses resistance and you can remove this or disable it....I only use this VHS for cleaning so it wont really be an issue for me. @@EmeraldCoastDigitizing
I've always done it the 4th way. The only way I'm able to do it. Taking the shell apart and then unspool the entire tape. I usually try to slip a thin piece of cloth in between the clear side of the plastic reel and the roll of tape to remove a big part of the mold first before unrolling it. Then take a damp washcloth and wipe the entire length of the tape once or a couple times if necessary. I will stop every so many feet, and change to a different part of the washcloth to keep the tape passing through a clean and wetter part of it. Then its one dry wipe to make sure there's no fibers or dust sticking to it before rolling it back up by spinning the reel on my fingers. I also make sure to wipe off the reels themselves as well as the shell and components the tape comes in contact with to make sure there are no foreign particles anywhere. It's more labor intensive, but it does leave the tape 100% clean. I had just pulled 60 videocassettes out of a dumpster on September 24th, and an additional 14 more on October 1st in which some of those 74 tapes I got needs to be cleaned in such a way due to mold.
Wow! I feel your pain. I’ve done it like that as well. Pia. This is my forever way now.
Check out my rewinder cleaning videos. That works the best and easiest in my opinion
Been watching quite a few of your videos the last several days and this is the most genius alternatives I have seen!!! Thank you for the great ideas!
Thanks! Welcome!
Thanks for being to the point. NO LONG WINDED B.S . I appreciate your teaching method.
That Geneva Video Tape Cleaner Machine Is Pretty Damn Cool. I Want One LOL, Cool Video!
I found mine in a thrift store for 1$
@@Panzerguts and the ones on ebay are around $300, and i saw one for $700. LOL
Kind of crazy how far you’ve come
The Geneva PF-740 is a great machine for cleaning VHS tapes. I have 6 of them but bought most years ago.
Harder to buy these days. So people wanting them and not being able to afford/find them.. this is a great option for those who didn’t buy them earlier.
But I use mine and I’m lucky to have them
Used to have a version of type 1((Kinyo). It would REW/FF*/CLEAN[required cleaning spools], but it finally dyed many years ago. Have since gotten another VCR recently. Most tapes play very well(after different tapes maybe 20-30 years old--even those recorded in EP mode and despite the mad DVD push years ago[but DVDs took more vigilance, were more picky in many players/recorders once they got scratched, were easy to get moderately or badly scratched[most of my DVD collection is scratched too badly unless I send them off to an online company for repair], DVD media was more costly when you consider that you HAD to record each disc in the SP equivalent mode or the picture was glassy terrible[on tapes you could go with LP or EP with the quality being solid], DVD inner damage is not fixable however this happens[but VHS tapes many times are], and they were about as prone to the ravages of time as VHS were]).
A few tapes do have the skipping unplayable sections of a tape(often you can skip past these to find a section that plays like it should). VHS seemed much better in my opinion! I got a VHS version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre(2003) that needs cleaning. Have white lines around the spool that look like powder lines in the tape that I am scared to try to play it in my VCR. Have a couple more, too, that my VCR didn't like that seem to be cleaning issues(VCR malfunctioned after playing them, but was able to get it back right again). Plus, a few more that look like I or someone spilled something on them that I dare not try...
*Saving wear and tear I guess...
somtimes not getting a good picture on the tv screen. Is it usually the vcr heads that need cleaning ,or the tape or both? Thanks for your tutorial.
Hey, I have that same Panasonic VCR with the blue stripe in the corner!
I'd love to find one of these someday but my spare rca junk VCR with cleaning posts I came up with will do the trick in the mean time....
Problem using the video tape cleaner geneva. When the cleaner pads are worn out what are going to do with a $500 cleaner machine with worn put pads?
I have cleanermate vhs
Right that's what I'm trying to ask about. Adventally the pads will need to be replaced after they get too dirty. I guess they must sell the pad on eBay or you would have to custom make your own pads for them I'm guessing
For many years I have taken mold from tape. It would be great if every tape with mold wheeled freely. There are some types of aggressive molds that pass to the face of the tape and glue. Tapes with mold in this way need to be unfolded manually and slowly, until it will be released. Even after releasing, it is a risk to put this tape on a VCR, as the face of the tape is marked, and this can damage the head of the Videocasse. But if the content is very important ...
Love the video, really helpful 👍🏻 Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
It would seem that this is a great thing for us folks who want to digitize our VHS tapes. The dirt and mold on a 40 year old tape is probably thick! Cleaning the tape might really make a night and day difference in the video quality. Perhaps the dropouts and glitches would be minimized by cleaning a tape. These Geneva devices are on ebay, but you will spend a small fortune to get one. I saw one earlier tonight that costs a whopping, a WHOPPING $700(USD). Did i mention $700? Yes i did! $700! I guess i would try another method you mentioned. LOL Do you digitize tapes with a quality setup, like the use of a time base corrector? Please let me know. Thanks!
хороший способ с кинопроектором, надо тоже так же попробывать почистить !
Can we use isopropyl alcohol to clean it?
So it does exist
I keep running into head cleaners (which I also need to get) but haven't been Hella curious about the cassette tapes themselves
Step 4 looks like too much work. Lol. Step 1 looks awesome, but I don’t know if I can find one of those.
There rare.i take notice.i want one.ihope they remake them.
You do realize that the mould was on the edge only right ? and if mould gets on the magnetic side its done anyway. so just forwarding and rewind mostly shakes it of. i have a samsund 10 dollar super rewind vcr just for this and the head never got cloged as mold is just on the edge and falls off when real is forwarded or played
You are not wrong! I do the same sometimes to start. But I’m getting paid good money and am as thorough as I can be! It’s a good job.
Yeah I just put it in a VCR I don’t care for then rewind but even if the mold gets on the magnetic side it can still be cleaned
I have gone through many of the cleaning pads since 2005. You can clean them with soap and water then let dry out for reuse.
great. but what happen if the tape is stucked???
Hi, gonna contact you to see IF you can do the clean job for me. But, do y ou use any chemicals in cleaning like these methods??
3:37 my 1980s tapes don't have screws, which is the big issue with thoroughly cleaning those.
Can you make an audio tape version of this
Have you ever had a tape, that after doing the second cleaning a couple of times, it plays for 4, 7, maybe 10 minutes, the audio keeps going fine, but image is lost, so I have to stop and clean the headers on the vcr, put the tape in again, and the same thing happens again I get like 5 or 10 more minutes of recording and then image is lost but sound is fine, so I have to keep cleaning the headers again and again?
still dirty!
What if you just want to digitalize your tapes? Do you need to clean it before or just run it through?
You can at your own risk obviously. But I’m not putting dirty moldy tapes in my players without cleaning them
How to fix the tape on Return to Oz!!!
That tape cleaner unit does both PAL and NTSC tapes? 😅
Only secam
@@EmeraldCoastDigitizing LOL. That was a video standards joke, you know. (the physical tape is the same for all)
Thanks 3 different way showing vhs tape
That Geneva machine was also sold under the "Daiyo" and "Cleanermate" brands, and probably others.
I have cleanermate vhs
On Amazon?
@@brentwylie5558 i didnt have amazon
@@brentwylie5558 no i didnt have amazon but i have instagram
@@brentwylie5558no, I have Instagram only
Forgive me , why not file 13
The trash can . For mold on tape . ?
if its a home movie it has to be done before transfering
Open a business in Northern California to clean cassette tapes ....
My name is jimoh please how do I get intouch with you
The music drowns you out.
I use this method but I think there is a sensor in the tape run which detects the the tape is being restricted (While holding a cleaning cloth to the tape) this slows up the tape to stop...do you know if there is a tape sensor which can be removed to stop this happening...?
Your vcr is just has different parts of the tape track that are there to save tape if it locks up. Just make sure the tape runs freely. If you stop the tape from moving the machine will cut off
Thanks my friend...I was just wondering if there was a sensor in the tape run that senses resistance and you can remove this or disable it....I only use this VHS for cleaning so it wont really be an issue for me.
@@EmeraldCoastDigitizing