The Mellotron Group

From: DaSwans
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Cleaning...
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, July 3, 2009, 8:10 AM

Is there a way to clean the actual tapes? My heads get gunked up pretty quickly. I'm assuming that the tapes, being as old as they are, are sticky, dirty, dusty and have a healthy film of tar and nicotine.

Also, concerning the manual, it lists 2 solvents I've never heard of for cleaning the heads. I've also heard of using denatured alcohol. What's the best thing to clean them with? So far, I've rubbed them clean with a dry, clean, cotton tube sock.

Thanks!
Dan #857

>
>
> The only thing worse than that is when someone else does it in 
> advertently.
>  
> In a message dated 7/2/2009 5:01:08 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
> rick@rickblechta.com writes:
>
>     Nothing ruins your day like demagnetizing your tapes inadvertently!
>
>
>

From: lsf5275@aol.com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Cleaning...
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, July 2, 2009, 3:45 PM

Try cleaning them first with automotive paint polishing compound (not wax). This will take all of the oxidation off. They'll look like chrome. Then follow that with denatured alcohol to remove any residue from the polish. Denatured alcohol can be found at any hardware store in the solvent section.

In a message dated 7/2/2009 4:11:04 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, tspit74@comcast. net writes:

Also, concerning the manual, it lists 2 solvents I've never heard of for cleaning the heads. I've also heard of using denatured alcohol. What's the best thing to clean them with? So far, I've rubbed them clean with a dry, clean, cotton tube sock.

It's raining cats and dogs -- Come to PawNation, a place where pets rule!

From: Bruce Daily
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Cleaning...
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, July 3, 2009, 4:43 PM

Hi-

Frank's method of head polishing works very well. Mine turned out great (thanks,Frank! ). I might point out that as soon as you start aligning the tape head pad arms, the tapes will start contacting a slightly different area of the head. If the head isn't clean, or has traces of dirt and oxide on it, the tapes may wear more...kind of like sandpaper. So, polishing the heads is a good idea.

Wal-Mart sells a 91 percent pure isopropyl alcohol in the OTC pharmacy section. It cleans pretty good. Everclear grain alcohol works well, too, if you know when to stop...

Let the Wal-Mart bashing begin.

-Bruce D.

#1221

--- On Thu, 7/2/09, lsf5275@aol. com wrote:

From: lsf5275@aol. com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Cleaning...
To: newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Thursday, July 2, 2009, 3:45 PM

Try cleaning them first with automotive paint polishing compound (not wax). This will take all of the oxidation off. They'll look like chrome. Then follow that with denatured alcohol to remove any residue from the polish. Denatured alcohol can be found at any hardware store in the solvent section.

In a message dated 7/2/2009 4:11:04 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, tspit74@comcast. net writes:

Also, concerning the manual, it lists 2 solvents I've never heard of for cleaning the heads. I've also heard of using denatured alcohol. What's the best thing to clean them with? So far, I've rubbed them clean with a dry, clean, cotton tube sock.

It's raining cats and dogs -- Come to PawNation, a place where pets rule!

>
> For cleaning the heads use isopropyl alcohol. I would also suggest demagnetising the heads as soon as possible.
> 
> Mark
> 
> --- On Fri, 7/3/09, DaSwans <tspit74@...> wrote:
> 
> From: DaSwans <tspit74@...>
> Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Cleaning...
> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Friday, July 3, 2009, 8:10 AM
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>     
>             
>             
> 
> 
>       
>       Is there a way to clean the actual tapes? My heads get gunked up pretty quickly. I'm assuming that the tapes, being as old as they are, are sticky, dirty, dusty and have a healthy film of tar and nicotine.
> 
> 
> 
> Also, concerning the manual, it lists 2 solvents I've never heard of for cleaning the heads. I've also heard of using denatured alcohol. What's the best thing to clean them with? So far, I've rubbed them clean with a dry, clean, cotton tube sock.
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Dan #857
>

>
> Try cleaning them first with automotive paint polishing compound (not wax). 
>  This will take all of the oxidation off. They'll look like chrome. Then 
> follow  that with denatured alcohol to remove any residue from the polish. 
> Denatured  alcohol can be found at any hardware store in the solvent section.
>  
>  
> In a message dated 7/2/2009 4:11:04 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
> tspit74@... writes:
> 
> Also,  concerning the manual, it lists 2 solvents I've never heard of for 
> cleaning  the heads. I've also heard of using denatured alcohol. What's the 
> best thing  to clean them with? So far, I've rubbed them clean with a dry, 
> clean, cotton  tube sock.
> 
> 
> **************It's raining cats and dogs -- Come to PawNation, a place 
> where pets rule! (http://www.pawnation.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000008)
>

From: lsf5275@aol.com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Cleaning...
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, July 3, 2009, 11:57 AM

No! Not rubbing compound. Polishing compound or jewelers rouge.

In a message dated 7/3/2009 11:55:34 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, tspit74@comcast.net writes:

I'm assuming that paint polishing compound is just good old-fashioned rubbing compound? I used it to polish up the key tops on my Rhodes with great results. However, I would like some varification that we're on the same page. Thanks!

It's raining cats and dogs -- Come to PawNation, a place where pets rule!