Just a had a vhs cassette recorder rewind the cassette so well it
snapped the tape out of the cassette spindle!
Don't laugh but the only reason I was rewinding it was to make a copy
onto DVD (sigh)...
Just wondered if it's possible to "fix" the tape by dismantling the
cassette?
I'll practice on a junk one first - but any hints about how to do this
appreciated.
The tape has a some opera stuff that her indoors wants to keep (of
course)!

dave wrote:
Just a had a vhs cassette recorder rewind the cassette so well it
snapped the tape out of the cassette spindle!
Don't laugh but the only reason I was rewinding it was to make a copy
onto DVD (sigh)...
Just wondered if it's possible to "fix" the tape by dismantling the
cassette?
I'll practice on a junk one first - but any hints about how to do this
appreciated.
The tape has a some opera stuff that her indoors wants to keep (of
course)!

If the tape has been pulled off the spindle, then usually there's a
keyway in the spindle and a small plastic key which fits tightly into
it. You sandwich the tape between spindle and key to lock the end in place.

If it's snapped the tape, then you can splice the ends together very
well by cutting them at an angle of at least 45 degrees and overlapping
the ends 10mm or so. Use a small amount of superglue to join them, and
make sure the edges are stuck down. You'll barely see the join when you
play it, it should just look like the place where you have one recording
starting over an older one.

Don't try and play it until the glue has throughly set ;-)

"PC Paul" wrote in message
k...
snip

If it's snapped the tape, then you can splice the ends together very
well by cutting them at an angle of at least 45 degrees and
overlapping the ends 10mm or so. Use a small amount of superglue to
join them, and make sure the edges are stuck down. You'll barely see
the join when you play it, it should just look like the place where
you have one recording starting over an older one.

Don't try and play it until the glue has throughly set ;-)

Personally I wouldn't load it into a machine, never mind try and play
it, re,member that the tape is 'threaded' around the head drum as part
of the loading process! :~((

There are proper splicing kits for repairing VHS/audio magnetic
tapes...
http://www.keene.co.uk/electronics/m...hp?mycode=VE20

PC Paul wrote:
dave wrote:
Just a had a vhs cassette recorder rewind the cassette so well it
snapped the tape out of the cassette spindle!
Don't laugh but the only reason I was rewinding it was to make a copy
onto DVD (sigh)...
Just wondered if it's possible to "fix" the tape by dismantling the
cassette?
I'll practice on a junk one first - but any hints about how to do
this appreciated.
The tape has a some opera stuff that her indoors wants to keep (of
course)!

If the tape has been pulled off the spindle, then usually there's a
keyway in the spindle and a small plastic key which fits tightly into
it. You sandwich the tape between spindle and key to lock the end in
place.
If it's snapped the tape, then you can splice the ends together very
well by cutting them at an angle of at least 45 degrees and
overlapping the ends 10mm or so. Use a small amount of superglue to
join them, and make sure the edges are stuck down. You'll barely see
the join when you play it, it should just look like the place where
you have one recording starting over an older one.

Don't try and play it until the glue has throughly set ;-)

You don't use glue, you use tape.

--
ThePunisher

ThePunisher wrote:
PC Paul wrote:
dave wrote:
Just a had a vhs cassette recorder rewind the cassette so well it
snapped the tape out of the cassette spindle!
Don't laugh but the only reason I was rewinding it was to make a copy
onto DVD (sigh)...
Just wondered if it's possible to "fix" the tape by dismantling the
cassette?
I'll practice on a junk one first - but any hints about how to do
this appreciated.
The tape has a some opera stuff that her indoors wants to keep (of
course)!
If the tape has been pulled off the spindle, then usually there's a
keyway in the spindle and a small plastic key which fits tightly into
it. You sandwich the tape between spindle and key to lock the end in
place.
If it's snapped the tape, then you can splice the ends together very
well by cutting them at an angle of at least 45 degrees and
overlapping the ends 10mm or so. Use a small amount of superglue to
join them, and make sure the edges are stuck down. You'll barely see
the join when you play it, it should just look like the place where
you have one recording starting over an older one.

Don't try and play it until the glue has throughly set ;-)

You don't use glue, you use tape.


If you have splicing tape. Fanc trying it with sellotape?

Superglue works exceptionally well. I've done it many times, and I have
(audio) tapes 20 years old which I repaired that way which are stll fine.

Getting a splicing kit is obviously the 'ideal' solution, but not a
whole lot better, and a lot more expensive...

In article ,
PC Paul wrote:
You don't use glue, you use tape.


If you have splicing tape. Fanc trying it with sellotape?

Superglue works exceptionally well. I've done it many times, and I have
(audio) tapes 20 years old which I repaired that way which are stll fine.

Getting a splicing kit is obviously the 'ideal' solution, but not a
whole lot better, and a lot more expensive...

Trouble with an overlap joint is the possibility of excess head wear on a
VCR - or even damage. A butt joint using tape on the back has always been
the accepted way to join any tape.

--
*Where there's a will, I want to be in it.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
PC Paul wrote:
You don't use glue, you use tape.


If you have splicing tape. Fanc trying it with sellotape?

Superglue works exceptionally well. I've done it many times, and I have
(audio) tapes 20 years old which I repaired that way which are stll fine.

Getting a splicing kit is obviously the 'ideal' solution, but not a
whole lot better, and a lot more expensive...

Trouble with an overlap joint is the possibility of excess head wear on a
VCR - or even damage. A butt joint using tape on the back has always been
the accepted way to join any tape.

On a single pass ?

it's being transferred to DVD

--
geoff

"PC Paul" wrote in message
...
snip

Getting a splicing kit is obviously the 'ideal' solution, but not a

No, it is the only *correct*, non bodging, solution...

whole lot better, and a lot more expensive...


But cheaper than a new VHS recoding machine (or getting new heads/drum
installed)!

:Jerry: wrote:


"PC Paul" wrote in message
...
snip

Getting a splicing kit is obviously the 'ideal' solution, but not a

No, it is the only *correct*, non bodging, solution...

whole lot better, and a lot more expensive...


But cheaper than a new VHS recoding machine (or getting new heads/drum
installed)!

Perhaps the safest cheap approach for copying a snapped tape would be to
cannibalise another cassette and put "half" the tape in each. You'd loose a
few inches of tape but not risk damaging the heads with a splice.

--
Mike Clarke

In message , PC Paul
writes

If you have splicing tape. Fanc trying it with sellotape?
I Have used sellotape many, many times for repairing and recovering
snapped VHS and Beta cassettes and have *never* had a problem. I've
always copied off the video onto another cassette or media and thrown
the spliced tape afterwards though.

Superglue works exceptionally well. I've done it many times, and I have
(audio) tapes 20 years old which I repaired that way which are stll
fine.
Not sure I'd want superglue near video heads, it 'blooms' but if it
works for you....

Getting a splicing kit is obviously the 'ideal' solution, but not a
whole lot better, and a lot more expensive...
Use a mirror, hard backed razor and a couple of paperweights with felt
bases (or something that allows a bit of slip for repositioning) and
with a little practice you can achieve very neat splices.


--
Clint Sharp

On Sat, 23 Jun 2007 16:29:19 GMT, PC Paul wrote:

dave wrote:
Just a had a vhs cassette recorder rewind the cassette so well it
snapped the tape out of the cassette spindle!
Don't laugh but the only reason I was rewinding it was to make a copy
onto DVD (sigh)...
Just wondered if it's possible to "fix" the tape by dismantling the
cassette?
I'll practice on a junk one first - but any hints about how to do this
appreciated.
The tape has a some opera stuff that her indoors wants to keep (of
course)!

If the tape has been pulled off the spindle, then usually there's a
keyway in the spindle and a small plastic key which fits tightly into
it. You sandwich the tape between spindle and key to lock the end in place.

If it's snapped the tape, then you can splice the ends together very
well by cutting them at an angle of at least 45 degrees and overlapping
the ends 10mm or so. Use a small amount of superglue to join them, and
make sure the edges are stuck down. You'll barely see the join when you
play it, it should just look like the place where you have one recording
starting over an older one.

Don't try and play it until the glue has throughly set ;-)

You said in the next post you did this with a lot of audio tapes.
Joining at an angle works well with audio tapes they use fixed heads
and any disturbance is averaged over the duration of the splice, a
butt splice could make a click as it went through, they used to use
brass scissors to cut the tape BTW.

On the 1" Ampex Helical scan VTRs I used to work on I think we worked
out the speed of the tiny and unbelieveably fragile (It broke if you
looked at it) ferrite head was about 60 mph, naturally in the Helical
Scan VHS sets with smaller head drums that figure would be less, but I
reckon the heads must be even more fragile, a collision with a gap in
the tape or the raw edge of the tape at the end of the gap would still
probably result in a clogged or broken head

If it's considered the value of the programme material justifies the
risk the tape should be butt jointed. This will show as a band of
noise about 20 % of the height of the screen which sweeps down the
picture. If the joint causes an interruption to the tracking pulses
recorded on the tape it may take several seconds for the servos in the
replay machine to lock back in.

If it's joined at an angle it could result in the head traversing the
joint quicker leading to a wider area of disturbance which doesn't
last so long, but at greater risk that the head will crash into the
edge of the joint.

In the studio where I worked we didn't splice tapes at all. We held
backups of valuable programme material and created programmes using
electronic insert and assemble editing.

DG

In article ,
Derek Geldard wrote:
You said in the next post you did this with a lot of audio tapes.
Joining at an angle works well with audio tapes they use fixed heads
and any disturbance is averaged over the duration of the splice, a
butt splice could make a click as it went through, they used to use
brass scissors to cut the tape BTW.

By far and away the most common method for cutting audio tape - usually
1/4" - was with a single sided steel razor blade with the tape held in an
edit block. 45 degrees was used for mono, but 60 preferred for stereo
since you got less image disturbance at the edit point.

Here's a pretty good description of the process:-
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~bunce/cutedit.htm

--
*Just remember...if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Jun 23, 5:29 pm, PC Paul wrote:
dave wrote:
Just a had a vhs cassette recorder rewind the cassette so well it
snapped the tape out of the cassette spindle!
Don't laugh but the only reason I was rewinding it was to make a copy
onto DVD (sigh)...
Just wondered if it's possible to "fix" the tape by dismantling the
cassette?
I'll practice on a junk one first - but any hints about how to do this
appreciated.
The tape has a some opera stuff that her indoors wants to keep (of
course)!

If the tape has been pulled off the spindle, then usually there's a
keyway in the spindle and a small plastic key which fits tightly into
it. You sandwich the tape between spindle and key to lock the end in place.

If it's snapped the tape, then you can splice the ends together very
well by cutting them at an angle of at least 45 degrees and overlapping
the ends 10mm or so. Use a small amount of superglue to join them, and
make sure the edges are stuck down. You'll barely see the join when you
play it,


You might "barely see it" but this is an opera tape and you will
certainly hear it if the music is playing at the joint !

Robert

On 26/06/2007 16:49, RobertL wrote:

You might "barely see it" but this is an opera tape and you will
certainly hear it if the music is playing at the joint !

The alternative being to not hear any of it?

RobertL wrote:



You might "barely see it" but this is an opera tape and you will
certainly hear it if the music is playing at the joint !



If you can make *any* kind of join on a tape that was snapped and not be
able to tell where the join was, then I'm sure you have a glittering
career ahead of you. Maybe as an eye surgeon? Or a spinal cord repairer?

You'll always lose something.

"PC Paul" wrote in message
k...
snip

If you can make *any* kind of join on a tape that was snapped and
not be able to tell where the join was, then I'm sure you have a
glittering career ahead of you. Maybe as an eye surgeon? Or a spinal
cord repairer?


Or perhaps an (video) editor....

:Jerry: wrote:
"PC Paul" wrote in message
k...
snip
If you can make *any* kind of join on a tape that was snapped and
not be able to tell where the join was, then I'm sure you have a
glittering career ahead of you. Maybe as an eye surgeon? Or a spinal
cord repairer?


Or perhaps an (video) editor....



Actually physically splicing the tape with no visible artifacts, rather
than electronically joining the ends and smoothing the gap?

"dave" wrote in message
...
Just a had a vhs cassette recorder rewind the cassette so well it
snapped the tape out of the cassette spindle!
Don't laugh but the only reason I was rewinding it was to make a copy
onto DVD (sigh)...
Just wondered if it's possible to "fix" the tape by dismantling the
cassette?
I'll practice on a junk one first - but any hints about how to do this
appreciated.
The tape has a some opera stuff that her indoors wants to keep (of
course)!

Yes it is possible, done it many times by taking it apart and using a piece
of tape!

In article ,
dave writes:
Just a had a vhs cassette recorder rewind the cassette so well it
snapped the tape out of the cassette spindle!

That can happen if the end-of-tape light has died in the VCR,
in which case it will happen again. Try it with a VCR which
doesn't matter.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On 23 Jun 2007 16:52:44 GMT, (Andrew
Gabriel) wrote:

In article ,
dave writes:
Just a had a vhs cassette recorder rewind the cassette so well it
snapped the tape out of the cassette spindle!

That can happen if the end-of-tape light has died in the VCR,
in which case it will happen again. Try it with a VCR which
doesn't matter.
Thanks for the suggestions.
The tape has definitely pulled out of the cassette centre spindle - I
can see the empty spindle in there and it happened when the tape was
had rewound to the beginning. I heard the clunk as the rewind
finished.
I was wondering how tricky it is to disassemble/reassemble the
cassette itself. If I can just get it to play one time mo-)

"dave" wrote in message
...
snip
I was wondering how tricky it is to disassemble/reassemble the
cassette itself. If I can just get it to play one time mo-)

There are a few springs and other small bits, practice on a scrap /
worthless cassette first. :~)

dave wrote:
I was wondering how tricky it is to disassemble/reassemble the
cassette itself. If I can just get it to play one time mo-)

Not that hard - I've done it a few times. As you say, practice on an
old one first... it's much easier just to go ahead and try, rather than
have someone write down step by step how to do it. You just undo the
screws and lift off the top (bottom?) half of the casing. Watch out for
bits falling out etc as you do it (WTF did that come from!?) and remove
the adhesive label on the spine first, as that will hold the two halves
together while you're trying to tease them apart...!

David

"dave" wrote in message
...
On 23 Jun 2007 16:52:44 GMT, (Andrew
Gabriel) wrote:

In article ,
dave writes:
Just a had a vhs cassette recorder rewind the cassette so well it
snapped the tape out of the cassette spindle!

That can happen if the end-of-tape light has died in the VCR,
in which case it will happen again. Try it with a VCR which
doesn't matter.
Thanks for the suggestions.
The tape has definitely pulled out of the cassette centre spindle - I
can see the empty spindle in there and it happened when the tape was
had rewound to the beginning. I heard the clunk as the rewind
finished.
I was wondering how tricky it is to disassemble/reassemble the
cassette itself. If I can just get it to play one time mo-)

This is something I must have done scores of times.
If the transparent leader has snapped or pulled out of the
take-up (RH) reel then it's very easy. No splicing as such required.

Remove any label on the back of the cassette, or slit it with a sharp knife
Remove the 5 screws from the bottom and carefully turn it over
so it's the right way round
now very carefully lift the top clear, make sure the steel pins
and roller guides remain in their holes in the lower
half. Try not to disturb the flap in the lid, there is a small hairpin
spring that keeps the flap closed.

It will do no harm at this stage to take a picture.

remove both reel from the cassette whilst holding the sprung ratchet
do it doesn't fly off and get lost.
slide out the little quadrant shaped clip that secures the tape to
the hub. I bet you find a small piece of transparent leader in
there. the tape rarely pulls clean out.
Now unwind enough tape from the supply-spool to work
with and allow the end of the leader to lie over the gap
in the hub with about 4mm overhang
don't slide the clip in that wont work, you need to clip
it in bodily, trapping the leader. You need a strong finger but it will go
in.
Now return the spools to the cassette, carefully engaging the
teeth with the ratchet.
The tape goes between the large and small guides;
ASCII art isn't my strong point.

(__ __)
o(O_____________________O) o

Take up the slack and carefully drop the lid on.

--

Graham.
%Profound_observation%

"Graham" wrote in message
...

"dave" wrote in message
...
On 23 Jun 2007 16:52:44 GMT, (Andrew
Gabriel) wrote:

In article ,
dave writes:
Just a had a vhs cassette recorder rewind the cassette so well it
snapped the tape out of the cassette spindle!

That can happen if the end-of-tape light has died in the VCR,
in which case it will happen again. Try it with a VCR which
doesn't matter.
Thanks for the suggestions.
The tape has definitely pulled out of the cassette centre spindle - I
can see the empty spindle in there and it happened when the tape was
had rewound to the beginning. I heard the clunk as the rewind
finished.
I was wondering how tricky it is to disassemble/reassemble the
cassette itself. If I can just get it to play one time mo-)

This is something I must have done scores of times.
If the transparent leader has snapped or pulled out of the
take-up (RH) reel then it's very easy. No splicing as such required.

Remove any label on the back of the cassette, or slit it with a sharp
knife
Remove the 5 screws from the bottom and carefully turn it over
so it's the right way round
now very carefully lift the top clear, make sure the steel pins
and roller guides remain in their holes in the lower
half. Try not to disturb the flap in the lid, there is a small hairpin
spring that keeps the flap closed.

It will do no harm at this stage to take a picture.

remove both reel from the cassette whilst holding the sprung ratchet
do it doesn't fly off and get lost.
slide out the little quadrant shaped clip that secures the tape to
the hub. I bet you find a small piece of transparent leader in
there. the tape rarely pulls clean out.
Now unwind enough tape from the supply-spool to work
with and allow the end of the leader to lie over the gap
in the hub with about 4mm overhang
don't slide the clip in that wont work, you need to clip
it in bodily, trapping the leader. You need a strong finger but it will
go in.
Now return the spools to the cassette, carefully engaging the
teeth with the ratchet.
The tape goes between the large and small guides;
ASCII art isn't my strong point.

(__ __)
o(O_____________________O) o

Take up the slack and carefully drop the lid on.

--

Graham.
%Profound_observation%


Other have made a passing mention - but - be aware that the transparent
section is there to operate the sensor to brake the rewind action.

"John" wrote in message
...

"Graham" wrote in message
...

"dave" wrote in message
...
On 23 Jun 2007 16:52:44 GMT, (Andrew
Gabriel) wrote:

In article ,
dave writes:
Just a had a vhs cassette recorder rewind the cassette so well it
snapped the tape out of the cassette spindle!

That can happen if the end-of-tape light has died in the VCR,
in which case it will happen again. Try it with a VCR which
doesn't matter.
Thanks for the suggestions.
The tape has definitely pulled out of the cassette centre spindle - I
can see the empty spindle in there and it happened when the tape was
had rewound to the beginning. I heard the clunk as the rewind
finished.
I was wondering how tricky it is to disassemble/reassemble the
cassette itself. If I can just get it to play one time mo-)

This is something I must have done scores of times.
If the transparent leader has snapped or pulled out of the
take-up (RH) reel then it's very easy. No splicing as such required.

Remove any label on the back of the cassette, or slit it with a sharp
knife
Remove the 5 screws from the bottom and carefully turn it over
so it's the right way round
now very carefully lift the top clear, make sure the steel pins
and roller guides remain in their holes in the lower
half. Try not to disturb the flap in the lid, there is a small hairpin
spring that keeps the flap closed.

It will do no harm at this stage to take a picture.

remove both reel from the cassette whilst holding the sprung ratchet
do it doesn't fly off and get lost.
slide out the little quadrant shaped clip that secures the tape to
the hub. I bet you find a small piece of transparent leader in
there. the tape rarely pulls clean out.
Now unwind enough tape from the supply-spool to work
with and allow the end of the leader to lie over the gap
in the hub with about 4mm overhang
don't slide the clip in that wont work, you need to clip
it in bodily, trapping the leader. You need a strong finger but it will
go in.
Now return the spools to the cassette, carefully engaging the
teeth with the ratchet.
The tape goes between the large and small guides;
ASCII art isn't my strong point.

(__ __)
o(O_____________________O) o

Take up the slack and carefully drop the lid on.

--

Graham.
%Profound_observation%


Other have made a passing mention - but - be aware that the transparent
section is there to operate the sensor to brake the rewind action.

Yes.
Early VHS machines used a incandescent bulb as the light source.
This needed replacing several times during the lifetime of the
machine.
Later machines use an IR LED.

--
Graham.
%Profound_observation%

In article ,
dave wrote:
Just a had a vhs cassette recorder rewind the cassette so well it
snapped the tape out of the cassette spindle!
Don't laugh but the only reason I was rewinding it was to make a copy
onto DVD (sigh)...
Just wondered if it's possible to "fix" the tape by dismantling the
cassette?
I'll practice on a junk one first - but any hints about how to do this
appreciated.
The tape has a some opera stuff that her indoors wants to keep (of
course)!

If it's broken at the end, stick it back on the reel with a width of
Sellotape cut to slightly less than the width of the tape. If it's broken
elsewhere cut out the damaged part completely. Overlap the good bits
slightly then cut at about 45 degrees with sharp scissors. Butt the two
ends together (carefully) and use Sellotape as before. Don't attempt to
run damaged tape through the machine as it can wreck the heads. With the
repair as above transfer the tape then scrap it.

--
*There's two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither one works *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

If it's broken at the end, stick it back on the reel with a width of
Sellotape cut to slightly less than the width of the tape. If it's broken
elsewhere cut out the damaged part completely. Overlap the good bits
slightly then cut at about 45 degrees with sharp scissors. Butt the two
ends together (carefully) and use Sellotape as before. Don't attempt to
run damaged tape through the machine as it can wreck the heads. With the
repair as above transfer the tape then scrap it.

Certainly don't put tape repaired as above through the machine more than
once. Sellotape tends to "ooze" over time and getting any of the glue on
the heads will be death to your VCR.

By an odd coincidence I was cleaning out a room today and found a
FunnyThing(tm). It took me a bit of time to realise it's a jig for
splicing videotape, I haven't used it since around 1988.