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Ever see a demagger? here's one.............

goanlisten

goanlisten

Active Member
Or more commonly known as a head demagnetizer, for the benefit of those folks that have never seen a head demagnetizer.

Here's a picture of one that I use all the time, was gifted to me by my brother.

why not share a picture if you have one too.........
 

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Here's some of mine.. They include:
TDK HD-01 (compact cassette).
TDK HD-30 (compact cassette).
TEAC E-3
Sony HE-2
Sony HE-3


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The cassette tape style demagnetizers are not adviceable to use as you're supposed to turn off the deck you want to demag.
That's not possible with the cassette type demags.

I threw mine out long time ago.
 
How about this one from TDK;

Head Eraser HD-11.

Advantage of the HD-11, you don't have to wave it about.

Switch the tape deck off: Just switch the HD-11 on, Wait for the green LED to light up, gently rest the probe on the head then press and hold the operate button and wait for the green LED to go off, then remove from the head and switch off.

DSC_3071.JPG
 
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Ultralyd said:
The cassette tape style demagnetizers are not adviceable to use as you're supposed to turn off the deck you want to demag.
That's not possible with the cassette type demags.
Click to expand...
It is definitely possible, as long as the head mechanism is directly operated by the play button. OTOH it will not work on the few decks in which the heads are operated by an electromagnet. Revox/Studer is a noteworthy example of such decks - in exchange the head assembly is very accessible so you can use any demagnetizer. On some other decks a cassette-type demag is the only viable option.

I add my vote for the Han-D-mag: very sturdy, well built, powerful enough to demagnetize any deck and your bench tools too - it does matter when you use the latter to work on the former. Note that you need to demagnetize any metal-made part that comes into contact with the tape, not just the heads, hence the need for a demagnetizer that's powerful enough and has a convenient shape.
 
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I have a Radio Shack one similar to these.

If I remember the instructions, you started several feet from the deck, pressed the button and moved the demagnetizer toward the head with a swirling motion. After getting close to the head you backed it out the same way. Never turn it on or off while near the head.
 
quiberon said:
How about this one from TDK;

Head Eraser HD-11.

In operation; hold against tape head press button on side. A magnetic pulse is generated which fades away to nothing, then move away from head.

DSC_3071.JPG
Click to expand...
Nice. Had I known about this model back in the day, I would have owned one long ago.
 
2nd question: I have a TEAC E-3 and it does the job (I think -- not really certain demagging is really ever needed!!!) but, if going for the Han-D-Mag, why go for the short-wand version? Seems to me the longer the "wand", the easier it would be to use on a cassette deck.
 
fortycoats said:
What does the apparently adjustable knob on the back do?
Click to expand...

Hi,

It's the cover for the battery compartment, this is not a mains powered demagnetizer.

Uses either a Duracell DL1 / 3v battery or 2 x G-13 / 1.5v.

Advantage of the HD-11, you don't have to wave it about.

Switch the tape deck off: Switch the HD-11 on, Wait for the green LED to light up, gently rest the probe on the head then press and hold the operate button and wait for the green LED to go off, then remove from the head and switch off.
 
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Cassette Style DeMagger

The main reason that I used the cassette style demagger was for my vehicle system. The only other option was to remove the radio/tape unit and take it apart. I have used it on stand alone decks that are a little difficult to demag due to the transport being hard to get to with a regular demag tool. No real problem if you follow the instructions to first turn the volume as low as it will go and then hit the play button. It is quick (less than a second) and you won't nick or scratch the heads. Disconnecting the tape deck from your amp should be an obvious precaution. The only drawback I see is that it only demags the heads and not other metal parts of the tape path.
 
For years, Ampex included instructions with their large pro decks, that showed how to make a demagger from a doorbell transformer, a nail, and a length of magnet wire.
 
I remember we had one on our reel to reel when I was a kid. I never knew exactly what it did but we always maintained our deck. ( I guess about once every 6 months)

I miss that beautiful old Sony TC-350. I got me a couple of nice tape decks now and maybe I should get one.

What exactly do they do and how often should you use one?
 
quiberon said:
Advantage of the HD-11, you don't have to wave it about.

Switch the tape deck off: Switch the HD-11 on, Wait for the green LED to light up, gently rest the probe on the head then press and hold the operate button and wait for the green LED to go off, then remove from the head and switch off.
Click to expand...

If it works then I'm greatly impressed and relieved. Sick of reading the constant debate about whether demagging, when done wrong (which, according to accounts/warnings is very simple to achieve) can do more harm than good and then whether or not it is really necessary at all in the first place. I mean, if all this is really true then tape decks must rank among the most user-unfriendly devices ever made!

(I do have a TEAC E-3 demagger that I deliberately rubbed all over some recorded tape, in very close contact, and it made no difference whatsoever to the recorded signal.)

Have to say though, if you do demag, you should probably make it one of your private routines just like performing ablutions. I mean, if you're trying to impress your friends with your system, you don't want them to catch you approaching your tape deck from 3 feet with the stealth of a mountain lion while waving some sort of magic wand in a circular motion!!!
 
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I'd never be without my TDK-HD30 compact cassette demagnetizer. I've owned it since around 1989/1990 and have used it hundreds of times without any problems. It's so simple and works wonders too,you really can tell a difference.. Much cleaner,clearer highs are noticeable whilst listening to pre-recorded cassettes of excellent quality.
 
fortycoats said:
If it works then I'm greatly impressed and relieved. Sick of reading the constant debate about whether demagging, when done wrong (which, according to accounts/warnings is very simple to achieve) can do more harm than good and then whether or not it is really necessary at all in the first place. I mean, if all this is really true then tape decks must rank among the most user-unfriendly devices ever made!
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I'd go that far. For those who want to know more, here is Jay McKnight's article on demagnetizing a tape recorder:

http://home.comcast.net/~mrltapes/mcknight_demag.pdf

Otto
 
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