I need to remaster an analog tape from 1980. Can this gum up the heads on my tape deck?
Play fifteen seconds of the tape, then check the heads. If they are completely clean, play another minute. If still clean, try three more minutes. If heads are still clean, you do not have the “sticky shed” problem that will gum up the heads. If the heads are gummed up, you will also notice that the treble in the music has been reduced. Stop before you damage the tape further. Clean the heads. The solution that I’ve used is to bake the reel of tape for five hours at 140 degrees Fahrenheit in a convection oven. This will evaporate the water that has penetrated and partially dissolved the binder. This binder holds the oxide to the plastic backing of the tape. Convection vegetable driers work for this purpose, as will a normal oven, TURNED OFF, with a 120 watt light bulb in it. If you use this method, get a cooking thermometer and plan on spending three hours adjusting the oven to the right temperature. (Crack the door open if necessary, put a little fan in there to circulate air and even
