| Article #: | 28 |
Dear Charlie:
One of my customers asked me if they could use a standard VHS cleaning tape
for a security time-lapse VTR. Is there a special type of head cleaner for these
types of machines? We need a simple solution, the people who change the tapes
are not technicians, and that is the easiest time to clean them.
Signed, Simply Gritty
Dear Gritty,
Actually, there is not a single consumer style head cleaning system out there
that I recommend for any video machine ... be it time-lapse or VHS Consumer.
This is because the style of video cleaning systems that you are referring to
either use a shammy (leather) or paper cleaning blotter with dripped on, sprayed
on, or rubbed on cleaning solution. There are three problems here:
1) The video heads are very small and very fragile and they rotate at 1800
RPM (NTSC) and 1500 RPM (PAL) making contact with the video tape at all times.
Consequently, they are easily snapped or damaged when put against any material
other than video tape. Consequently, paper and/or leather are hard on the video
heads and can actually do more damage than good each time you use them.
2) These style of machines pull the shammy or paper up the video track and
leave it sit in place while the rotating head does the work. Consequently, we
don't get the tape track cleaned well and we end up leaving chunks and residue
and such in the way. The next time you put a new tape in the machine, you drag
the crap back into the video heads.
3) When cleaning the video heads in any machine, it is the liquid or cleaning
fluid that is supposed to do the work. The blotter is only to pick up the washed
off dirt. With VHS style cleaning machines, you don't blot up the dirt and if
the liquid is not adequate, you will snap your video heads. End of day ... What
a mess!
Now, before you despair and throw this away, there is a system that I recommend. It is the 3M Black Watch Video head cleaning system. It is the best there is anywhere and it works and works and works. First what is it and how does it work?
If you open any VHS or DAT tape, you will find that the video tape has an emulsion on it. This emulsion acts as both lubricant and cleaning agent. 3M has taken this a step further. Using a standard VHS tape, they have added six times the normal amount of this cleaning lubricant. The net result is that you load the tape into the machine and push play. The tape threads through the entire tape path and runs across the heads just as a regular video tape does. In the process, however, it cleans the video heads and the entire tape path. When it is done (about five to fifteen seconds, average) you see a message on the monitor that tells you the job is done. The message is actually played off of the tape so you can see the quality of the video play back. If there is noise in the picture, you run it a bit longer.
I once bought a VHS machine at a yard sale for five dollars. The guy told me that he had taken it in for repair and was told that it needed new heads and everything else that you could imagine. So he purchased a new machine. I took the unit to my shop and placed a Black Watch head cleaner into the machine. It took five minutes (a very long time), but suddenly, the image started to appear and then it was done. I still have this machine and still use it today at my home on rental tapes. This was seven years ago. I have done no maintenance to the machine other than cleaning, and replacing the rubber belts.
I have been using the Black Watch system for about seven years now. Both at home and in the field. Since these tapes are not cheap (about $20), I have watched to make sure that they are worth it. One Black Watch system will average about 50 to 100 uses in the field (dependant upon the amount of need). I figure that means that it cost me about $.00.20 to $00.40 (US) per use. A very good deal. I now urge people to include one Black Watch Cleaning system with each machine that they sell. Instructing the client to run the tape once or twice a month for five to ten seconds, along with a proper video tape rotation program insures that the machines last as long or longer than manufacturer recommended specifications for cleaning and overhauls. The net result is an "Idiot Proof" system for video machine field maintenance.
These cleaning systems come in various formats as well including: Standard VHS, PAL VHS, 8mm, and High 8mm.
Please understand that the Black Watch system is only
part of a maintenance program and needs to be incorporated with regular video
tape rotation and general overhaul and maintenance according to the
manufacturer's recommendation.
At any rate, I hope that this information helps you out and you are able to
get your people productive in the field. If there is anything else that I can do
to be of assistance to you at any time, please feel free to write again. I am in
your service.
