Head Cleaners

[jcmusic]

What are some of you guys using to clean the heads and tape path of your decks?

Jay

 

[Scorpion8]

99% isopropyl alcohol from the drugstore and Q-Tips. Has worked for me for 30-some years.

 

[70salesguy]

Head cleaner

I bought some of this from American Recorder via their web store.

I see it is also sold on eBay at the same price.

It seems to work very well.

 

[jcmusic]

99% isopropyl alcohol from the drugstore and Q-Tips. Has worked for me for 30-some years.

The best I can find is 91%, where did you get 99%?

Jay

 

[jcmusic]

I bought some of this from American Recorder via their web store.

I see it is also sold on eBay at the same price.

It seems to work very well.

Does it list the chemicals in it?

Jay

 

[tboat4]

91% Isopropyl Alcohol and Q-Tips since 1967. Does a very good job.

 

[Acoustic]

Most pharmacies will order you some 99% Isopropyl. Last bottle I got was $4.19 for a pint from a Target Rx.

 

[pich]

The best I can find is 91%, where did you get 99%?

Safeway supermarket brand is 99%. Comes in 16 oz bottle.

 

[Scorpion8]

The best I can find is 91%, where did you get 99%? Jay

Safeway brand.

 

[whyaskit]

vodka

 

[nolan]

I have always used Isopropyl Alcohol and Q-Tips.But,I just received a Harman Kardon deck purchased in 1981 and the cleaning instructions state: Clean all metal parts that come into contact with the tape with a cotton swab with DENATURED alcohol. Very interesting.

It also says to clean pinch rollers with aromatic hydrocarbon,as denatured alcohol will cause them to harden. I have no idea what aromatic hydrocarbon,I will have to research that one.

 

[Cosmic]

Alcohol as mentioned for heads and path, but not for the pinch roller.

I use Caig CaiKleen rubber cleaner and conditioner for the roller, not to dry it out with alcohol.

C.

 

[fortycoats]

Cassette deck or Reel To Reel? I searched brand names of aromatic hydrocarbon and came across one called "Norsolene". It's described as "tackifying" and, in certain versions, suitable as an adhesive and for book binding. I don't like the idea of 'tackifying' a pinch roller but, then again, maybe in the tackifying as opposed to adhesive application, it is just like those rubber restorer products. I use warm water with a bit of dish soap in it (the same amount as you would use to wash dishes) and it works just fine when scrubbed in hard with a Q-Tip. Only a good idea if you can get the roller off easily though, in other words if it's an R2R. I've never yet cleaned a cassette deck roller and am currently looking at a pair from my car deck that are as shiny as a piece of glass and which I doubt I'll manage to remove without destroying the deck.

 

[nolan]

Cassette deck or Reel To Reel? I searched brand names of aromatic hydrocarbon and came across one called "Norsolene". It's described as "tackifying" and, in certain versions, suitable as an adhesive and for book binding. I don't like the idea of 'tackifying' a pinch roller but, then again, maybe in the tackifying as opposed to adhesive application, it is just like those rubber restorer products. I use warm water with a bit of dish soap in it (the same amount as you would use to wash dishes) and it works just fine when scrubbed in hard with a Q-Tip. Only a good idea if you can get the roller off easily though, in other words if it's an R2R. I've never yet cleaned a cassette deck roller and am currently looking at a pair from my car deck that are as shiny as a piece of glass and which I doubt I'll manage to remove without destroying the deck.

It is a cassette deck. Tackify sounds scary. I did a quick google on the hydrocarbon,benzene was mentioned.:scratch2: I will have to do more research,probably will just order some Caig CaiKleen rubber cleaner as Cosmic mentioned.

 

[2fives]

for me 99% alcohol on metal parts and some rubber renew on the rollers.

 

[perryinva]

I use VCR head cleaner on the heads and capstans. I have a bottle of Teac RC-1 cleaner from circa 1972 (states contains no alcohol, which will dry rubber), that will probably last the rest of my life, and does the best job on cleaning and restoring rubber to that black matte finish, with no residue, that I have ever seen. I've used Rubber Restore on rock hard ones, and it works, but I have to clean off the residue with RC-1 afterwards.

 

[goldear]

I use either 91% or 99% IPA on Q-tip for the metal and plastic parts. For the rubber, I use plain unscented windex on a q-tip. That works perfectly, and wont harden your rubber over time like alcohol can.

 

[patokapirate]

vodka

Do you clean the machine with it, or drink it till you don't care the machine is dirty?:yes:

Seriously you use vodka on a q tip?

 

[Vintage TX]

Everclear works great on the heads

 

[whyaskit]

Vodka, a Q-tip. Works pretty good. Everclear is better, but I do not drink that. Not any of that flavored stuff, just a nice triple distilled vodka for the heads.

Hey, do what ever you feel best in doing. I'll do the same. I am just offering an alternative to going out and buying something when most should have a little alcohol already at home.

The fact of the matter is, I am not a big fan of tape and currently do not run a deck. I just can't get past the hiss and I think that noise reduction kills the highs.