[sdiy] Tape head collage (pretty much not synth DIY, sorry)

[Scott E.]

I have never heard of a demagnetizing tape, only tapes that "clean" 
heads. Demagnetizing involves the use of a hardware device that produces 
a magnetic field for the purpose of demagnetizing the tape head. I also 
think the best way to clean tape heads is with a cotton swab and 
denatured alcohol.

The technique of demagnetizing is not complicated, but one must be 
careful, as done improperly, can actually magnetize the head even 
further. The technique is to bring the demagnitizer close to the tape 
head and move it back and forth for a few seconds, then, while the 
demagnitizer is still on, remove it from the proximity of the tape head 
slowly, moving the demagnitizer in a back and forth or circular motion. 
Drawing it straight away would be a poor technique. It should be several 
feet away from the tape head before powering it off. Also, the tape 
machine should NOT BE POWERED ON while this procedure is performed.

Also, if the demagnitizer has an exposed metal tip (not covered in 
plastic), be careful. The magnetic field it generates can pull the 
demagnitizer into the tape head and if contact is made, scratching of 
the tape head may occur.

Regards, Scott
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nN AAt e e wrote:
> to demagnetize a normal tape head, you can buy a special cassette that has
> the stuff in it to demagnetize the head so it won't ruin yr tapes and sound
> bad etc... but if someone is constantly running a head back and forth over
> strips of tape glued to a board, i think demagnetization is the least of
> their problems...