Dave,

Thanks for the great answers. One camera is 6 years old and has seen a
lot of use. The other is about 8 years old and has not been used much.

Can you recommend some instructions and a kit for wet cleaning? Does
the camera need to be taken apart? I am up for the challenge of doing
the cleaning, but would prefer not to take the camera apart.

I have heard that wet cleaning cassettes tend to jam. Is this true?


Thanks



Dave D wrote:


You don't say exactly how much use the camcorders have had, and how old they
are. It could be that the heads are fine, and that the 12 year old tapes are
breaking down and leaving their gunk behind.

However, it could be that the heads are starting to show signs of wear as
well. Heads which require shortening cleaning intervals can sometimes be a
warning that they are wearing out.

I'd certainly suspect that the 12 year old tapes are past it. It's easy to
verify, just buy a new one and see how well it works over a period of time.

A word of warning- head cleaning cassettes are rather bad for your heads,
and will acclerate wear. Furthermore, a cleaning cassette does not do a
proper job of cleaning the heads IMO. You might want to invest in a proper
cleaning kit with chamois cleaning pads and isopropyl alcohol, and read up
on how to wet clean your heads, and indeed the capstan, pinch roller and
tape guides. It's not particularly easy on an 8mm camcorder, but well worth
the results if you feel up to a challenge.

Failing that, ISTR you can buy wet cleaning cassettes, which should do a
better job, but I don't know if they come in 8mm format. As a last resort,
you may have to put the camcorders in for a service.

Dave



You don't say exactly how much use the camcorders have had, and how
old they
are. It could be that the heads are fine, and that the 12 year old
tapes are
breaking down and leaving their gunk behind.

However, it could be that the heads are starting to show signs of
wear as
well. Heads which require shortening cleaning intervals can sometimes
be a
warning that they are wearing out.

I'd certainly suspect that the 12 year old tapes are past it. It's
easy to
verify, just buy a new one and see how well it works over a period of
time.

A word of warning- head cleaning cassettes are rather bad for your
heads,
and will acclerate wear. Furthermore, a cleaning cassette does not do a
proper job of cleaning the heads IMO. You might want to invest in a
proper
cleaning kit with chamois cleaning pads and isopropyl alcohol, and
read up
on how to wet clean your heads, and indeed the capstan, pinch roller and
tape guides. It's not particularly easy on an 8mm camcorder, but well
worth
the results if you feel up to a challenge.

Failing that, ISTR you can buy wet cleaning cassettes, which should do a
better job, but I don't know if they come in 8mm format. As a last
resort,
you may have to put the camcorders in for a service.

Dave

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