Storing Of Tapes

[jcmusic]

What is the best storing option for 2 channel tapes?

Jay

[Scorpion8]

Temperature controlled environment, such as indoors. A u-stor-it locker or such that has no temperature control is like storing them in your car, where they are subject to heat and extremes of weather and humidity. And not near anything electronic.

[jcmusic]

I am sorry let me clarify, not long term storing. Just while not playing, they will be in my house.

Jay

[fa8362]

Always store them tails out, so they'll need to be rewound to play. That will minimize the effect of print through. Also, the room shouldn't be too hot or too cold, and never ever place them near any magnet sources (speakers have magnets and TVs have speakers).

[jcmusic]

Thanks my friend that what I thought just wanted to be sure.

Jay

[fa8362]

Also, always store them in a played condition, never rewound or fast forwarded. And don't squeeze your reels...you can damage edges that way.

[niklasthedolphin]

What is the best storing option for 2 channel tapes?

Jay

A lot of good advices already.
I can only add to that:
Don't store them in smokey areas. Tobaccosmoke is enough to damage tapes. Don't store them close to heating.
Don't store them in humid conditions.

"dolph"

[douglas787]

I know their are going to be a lot of people who won't believe me but I've played tapes that were stored in about the worst conditions I could think of.

My Dad had a large collection of 7 inch reels that he recorded all his buddy's records onto. These were mostly recorded with a Wollensak 5340 at 3.75 ips. Most of the tapes were made in 1965. He would play them here a there when I was a kid. His decks had problems so they sat around for many years. When we moved to our farm in 1980 the tapes when into our attic. It was very hot up there in the summer as our house had a tin roof with no insulation. I'd say it was 140 in summer and 40 in winter (Maryland) in that attic. After my Dad died a lot of his stuff went into out barn. There the tapes were in cardboard boxes again from about 1994 to 2007 and were stored at below freezing to about 95 degrees for those years.

I got the tapes in 2007 and have played most of them with no problems at all. Of course, the sound quality could be a little better but when you consider the tapes were recorded from records with 1965 amature equipment, they sound just fine. My Dad would take his deck over to a friends house, plug in into whatever record player was there, and record while he and his Air Force buddies would play cards all night.

The reels were a large assortment of brands, Scotch, RCA, Ampex, Laffette, Soundcraft and so on. He even had some reels of tape he made from used 1/2 inch computer tape that he split into 1/4 inch. (that's another story)

To sum up, I really don't know why so many people go on and on about tape shed, sticky tape, baking tapes to play them and so on. I don't have the experience of most the members on this site, but I personally have found most brands of tape to be very forgiving.

[kevinkr]

I know their are going to be a lot of people who won't believe me but I've played tapes that were stored in about the worst conditions I could think of.

My Dad had a large collection of 7 inch reels that he recorded all his buddy's records onto. These were mostly recorded with a Wollensak 5340 at 3.75 ips. Most of the tapes were made in 1965. He would play them here a there when I was a kid. His decks had problems so they sat around for many years. When we moved to our farm in 1980 the tapes when into our attic. It was very hot up there in the summer as our house had a tin roof with no insulation. I'd say it was 140 in summer and 40 in winter (Maryland) in that attic. After my Dad died a lot of his stuff went into out barn. There the tapes were in cardboard boxes again from about 1994 to 2007 and were stored at below freezing to about 95 degrees for those years.

I got the tapes in 2007 and have played most of them with no problems at all. Of course, the sound quality could be a little better but when you consider the tapes were recorded from records with 1965 amature equipment, they sound just fine. My Dad would take his deck over to a friends house, plug in into whatever record player was there, and record while he and his Air Force buddies would play cards all night.

The reels were a large assortment of brands, Scotch, RCA, Ampex, Laffette, Soundcraft and so on. He even had some reels of tape he made from used 1/2 inch computer tape that he split into 1/4 inch. (that's another story)

To sum up, I really don't know why so many people go on and on about tape shed, sticky tape, baking tapes to play them and so on. I don't have the experience of most the members on this site, but I personally have found most brands of tape to be very forgiving.

Interesting, I was given 12 NIB reels of Scotch 201 (acetate) stored in various basements for about the last 40yrs and so far they're all fine. (Not that I will ever use them for anything critical. The reels are quite nice too.)

[USR]

You should store tapes vertical, not horizontal, and they should be stored in played through condition, not after a fast wind. It doesn't matter if they're 2 track, 1/4 track, or mono. The same rules apply.

Tape is under tension and if the edges of the tape pack stick out as with a fast wind, you might get permanent curling of the edges of the tape, especially with 1 mil or thinner tapes. The edges are the only thing aligning the tape vertically in the guides and if they're weakened or especially curled, you might get the tape moving about vertically in the guides leading to a very unpleasant listening experience! *fit*

Temperature wise, cool and dry for the best results. Accelerated temperatures increase print through dramatically. Humidity can ruin some tapes to the point they can grow mold.*check*