THE END OF THE SQUEALING REEL PROBLEM

A procedure that old time radio fans anywhere can use to temporarily
restore full playability to squealing reel-to-reel audio tapes and/or
tapes that completely freeze on the machines
                            By Bob Burnham
               Copyright (c) 1996 by Robert R. Burnham

The folks at a major reel-to-reel blank tape manufacturer have
recommended the use of a special convection oven to bake varieties of
certain grades of tape whose binders dry out making them impossible to
play without cleaning the machine every minute or two of operation.

Some old-time radio collectors have advocated the concept of spraying
plain tap water on the tape.  The "other" common method used by
collectors is the continuous manual (read laborious!)  application of
head cleaner directly to the tape with cotton swabs.  This must be
done as the tape moves through the machine.  Typically, this means one
must sit at the machine every minute the tape is playing.

Not everyone has a convection or an industrial oven, and I don't feel
the other methods that have been used by collectors (including myself)
to be particularly healthy for the tape itself or the machine.  Those
methods are also a bit of a pain!

The "baking" of the tapes, however, also works with ANY household oven
(NOT microwave) with a reasonable thermostatic control.  Use an oven
thermometer if you aren't certain your oven is dependable.  They are
available from any grocery store.  Below are the steps involved that I
recommend.  This is not a "pure" science, so some deviation from these
steps will probably also work.   This is the method I have tested,
however, and I can verify with reasonable certainty that if you follow
these steps, it WILL work.

1.) If possible, first wind your reel onto a metal reel.  I used an
empty 10-1/2" aluminum take-up reel, but a 7" metal reel should work
just as well.  You may have to thread the tape directly from the
supply reel to the take-up reel (by-passing the tape guides and heads)
if the tape is really bad.  Use a piece of masking tape to temporarily
secure the tape guides to enable your machine to operate in this mode.

2.) Thoroughly pre-heat your oven to approximately 125 degrees.  A few
degrees either way should not make a difference.  Then switch your
oven to "bake."  Imagine you're warming some left-overs or a bagel...
before the days of microwave ovens.

3.) Place the reel on the center rack of the pre-heated oven.  If you
wound it onto the metal reel, it will of course, be wound tails out.

4.) Allow the reel to "bake" for about 30 minutes, of course, using
adequate protection for your hands.

5.) Remove the reel from the oven.  Allow it to "cool" about 15
minutes.

6.) Clean your tape heads and tape guides.  Rewind the reel, threading
in the usual manner to the start of the tape.   You will find the tape
passes across the tape guides just like a factory fresh tape!

7.) Play the tape.  The tape should play perfectly all the way
through.

8.) Make a copy of the tape onto new stock.  This "baking" method is
only temporary, however, it can be repeated if the squeal returns
before you have time to make a copy.

I make no warranty as to the suitability of these methods for your
particular situation, tape or equipment.  Furthermore, if you melt
your tape into a plastic blob, I will not be held responsible!    If
you take your time and follow these steps and the advice given,
however, I have reasonable confidence that these techniques will work
perfectly for you just as they did for me.

Bob Burnham / BRC Productions /  Platecap@aol.com /  24 HR FAX (313) 277-3095