On Apr 15, 1:07*am, (Dave Platt) wrote:
I got a VCR that was in a house fire, and it's video drum has smoke
damage.

It doesn't feel smooth, but isn't rough enough to where it seems to be
damaging tapes. *Matter of fact, it records and plays just fine.

But I want to clean the drum. *How can I clean it?
alcohol and cotton

AACK. *Everything I have ever read, warns against attempting to clean
a VCR drum or heads with cotton (*especially* not Q-tips!). *There's
far too much chance of snagging the (fragile) head subassemblies with
the cotton, or leaving a few fibers in the space around the heads. *A
displaced, ripped-out, or otherwise destroyed head and thus a ruined
drum are all too likely.

The procedure I have seen recommended, and have used successfully, is
to use electronics-grade isopropyl alcohol, and either a flat-head
chamois-tipped swab, or a non-woven electronic cleaning pad such as a
Chempad (these are presaturated with isopropyl). *Hold the
alcohol-dampened swab or pad flat against the side of the drum, with
*gentle* pressure, and use one finger of your other hand to *slowly*
rotate the drum in its normal direction of rotation. *Rotate it three
or four times, stop, remove the pad or swab, switch to the clean side
of the pad or swap (re-moisten if necessary) and repeat. *Do this with
fresh swabs or pads until you get no further residue from the drum or
heads.

--
Dave Platt * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AE6EO
Friends of Jade Warrior home page: *http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
* I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
* * *boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

I've tried to clean it, but nothing is coming off.. Not even the
slightest bit.

It's as if it's caked on there pretty good.,