Add a Lubricated Backcoat to New 1/4" Tape

[EmoCowMoo]

I've been making new 8-track tape cartridge releases for bands and labels for the past few years. I did it for fun, mostly as a joke, and people kept pushing me to make real releases, so I did.

I'm all DIY, essentially making all my own custom boxes, labeling, and sealing in-house. It took me a while to figure out how to get the "packaging" quality up to par with new CDs and vinyl records.

I'm to the point where I'm ready to get a mold made for the cartridge, but my final hangup is the sourcing for new magnetic tape that has a lubricated backcoating (i.e. using graphite). I reached out to Splicit and RTM about manufacturing it, but they were not interested. I knew ATR Magnetics made "graphite backed echo tape". I had trialed some in a few carts and it worked great! The problem is that their process for making it is atrocious and they were not looking to make large quantities of the stuff (if they even make any more again due to their process headaches with the graphite).

Has anyone come up with a DIY method of coating the backside of tape with a lubricated coating to use in endless loop carts? I have a formula for this, but have no way to trial anything at the moment since I have no clue how I would even apply it (at least on a DIY type level). If I can come up with a solution for back-lubricating new tape, then I'll be good to go. I haven't looked at using China yet, but I don't think they make 1/4" tape, just cassette tape.

I guess outside of that issue, does anyone have any lubricated 1/4" pancakes laying around I could snag from you, or know any sources where I can get some sort of supply of NOS lubricated pancakes? Some that I know would work are Ampex 675, Scotch 151 thru 158, 217, 219 (were these last 2 used for Broadcast carts?), random Shamrock/Concertape/Radio Shack finds, and Formula 17 Audiotape (aka Audio Devices and Capitol Records).

I did get lucky and snagged some Audiotape 17 8600' pancakes off ebay a while back, but I've been running thru those pretty good. I think the # on the box was 17-984-605. I've got a hoard of these manufacturing numbers of different lubricated pancakes from looking thru old Broadcast Supply West magazines, but none have helped me find anything for sale unfortunately...

 

[titanstats]

I've been making new 8-track tape cartridge releases for bands and labels for the past few years. I did it for fun, mostly as a joke, and people kept pushing me to make real releases, so I did.

I'm all DIY, essentially making all my own custom boxes, labeling, and sealing in-house. It took me a while to figure out how to get the "packaging" quality up to par with new CDs and vinyl records.

I'm to the point where I'm ready to get a mold made for the cartridge, but my final hangup is the sourcing for new magnetic tape that has a lubricated backcoating (i.e. using graphite). I reached out to Splicit and RTM about manufacturing it, but they were not interested. I knew ATR Magnetics made "graphite backed echo tape". I had trialed some in a few carts and it worked great! The problem is that their process for making it is atrocious and they were not looking to make large quantities of the stuff (if they even make any more again due to their process headaches with the graphite).

Has anyone come up with a DIY method of coating the backside of tape with a lubricated coating to use in endless loop carts? I have a formula for this, but have no way to trial anything at the moment since I have no clue how I would even apply it (at least on a DIY type level). If I can come up with a solution for back-lubricating new tape, then I'll be good to go. I haven't looked at using China yet, but I don't think they make 1/4" tape, just cassette tape.

I guess outside of that issue, does anyone have any lubricated 1/4" pancakes laying around I could snag from you, or know any sources where I can get some sort of supply of NOS lubricated pancakes? Some that I know would work are Ampex 675, Scotch 151 thru 158, 217, 219 (were these last 2 used for Broadcast carts?), random Shamrock/Concertape/Radio Shack finds, and Formula 17 Audiotape (aka Audio Devices and Capitol Records).

I did get lucky and snagged some Audiotape 17 8600' pancakes off ebay a while back, but I've been running thru those pretty good. I think the # on the box was 17-984-605. I've got a hoard of these manufacturing numbers of different lubricated pancakes from looking thru old Broadcast Supply West magazines, but none have helped me find anything for sale unfortunately...

Have you done any reel releases?

 

[EmoCowMoo]

Not on reel. Thought I'd try something impossible first before I move onto something completely doable, since they make new magnetic tape and all...

 

[dhnash]

If the tape manufacturers are not willing to supply pancakes to you, it seems like the only option is to obtain the tape from new stock or old stock in whatever lengths are available. Is there really enough demand for 8 track tapes of this music to justify the effort involved? It seems like there would be more demand for cassette or reel to reel tapes and longer lengths of those types of tape are readily available.

 

[UK Cartman]

I've been making new 8-track tape cartridge releases for bands and labels for the past few years. I did it for fun, mostly as a joke, and people kept pushing me to make real releases, so I did.

I'm all DIY, essentially making all my own custom boxes, labeling, and sealing in-house. It took me a while to figure out how to get the "packaging" quality up to par with new CDs and vinyl records.

I'm to the point where I'm ready to get a mold made for the cartridge, but my final hangup is the sourcing for new magnetic tape that has a lubricated backcoating (i.e. using graphite). I reached out to Splicit and RTM about manufacturing it, but they were not interested. I knew ATR Magnetics made "graphite backed echo tape". I had trialed some in a few carts and it worked great! The problem is that their process for making it is atrocious and they were not looking to make large quantities of the stuff (if they even make any more again due to their process headaches with the graphite).

Has anyone come up with a DIY method of coating the backside of tape with a lubricated coating to use in endless loop carts? I have a formula for this, but have no way to trial anything at the moment since I have no clue how I would even apply it (at least on a DIY type level). If I can come up with a solution for back-lubricating new tape, then I'll be good to go. I haven't looked at using China yet, but I don't think they make 1/4" tape, just cassette tape.

I guess outside of that issue, does anyone have any lubricated 1/4" pancakes laying around I could snag from you, or know any sources where I can get some sort of supply of NOS lubricated pancakes? Some that I know would work are Ampex 675, Scotch 151 thru 158, 217, 219 (were these last 2 used for Broadcast carts?), random Shamrock/Concertape/Radio Shack finds, and Formula 17 Audiotape (aka Audio Devices and Capitol Records).

I did get lucky and snagged some Audiotape 17 8600' pancakes off ebay a while back, but I've been running thru those pretty good. I think the # on the box was 17-984-605. I've got a hoard of these manufacturing numbers of different lubricated pancakes from looking thru old Broadcast Supply West magazines, but none have helped me find anything for sale unfortunately...

Did you ever make any progress with this? Having found that he only remaining source of "cartable" tape is beyond my means, I too am looking for a way to DIY such tape. Did you ever develop a viable home process?

I asked co-Pilot to try to find a description of how this stuff used to be made. It found your post above as well as the text below (not sure where it got that from).

thanks
Alan T

Graphite Coating Process for Audio Tape​

1. Base Film Preparation: The tape starts as a polyester (PET) or acetate base film, which serves as the foundation for the magnetic layer.
2. Magnetic Layer Application: A ferromagnetic coating (typically iron oxide or metal particle) is applied to one side of the tape to store audio signals.
3. Backcoating with Graphite:
   • A graphite-based lubricant is mixed with a binder and applied to the non-magnetic side of the tape.
   • This coating reduces friction and static buildup, preventing wear in endless loop cartridges.
   • The graphite layer also helps maintain consistent tape movement and reduces wow and flutter in playback.
4. Curing and Drying: The coated tape is passed through heat treatment or UV curing to ensure the graphite adheres properly.
5. Final Processing:
   • The tape is slit into precise widths (e.g., 1/4-inch).
   • It undergoes quality control checks for thickness, smoothness, and durability.
   • The finished tape is wound onto pancakes or reels for use in broadcast and consumer tape cartridge