8mm Forum: Sound Head Cleaning

This is topic Sound Head Cleaning in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Tom Dee (Member # 4468) on January 15, 2015, 12:38 AM:

What would be the best way and product to clean you playback/record heads on an Elmo ST 1200HD.

Thanks
Tom

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on January 15, 2015, 05:03 AM:

I use alcohol. It is advise also to demagnetize them from time to time.

Posted by Tom Dee (Member # 4468) on January 15, 2015, 11:25 AM:

Thanks for the advice Dominique, how do you demagnetize them?

Posted by Maurizio Di Cintio (Member # 144) on January 15, 2015, 12:40 PM:

There are specific mag-head demagnetizers, places like radio shack should still sell them. Yet there is an easy, inexpensive way to de-mag sound heads, namely to use the heads themselves; you just have to set the projector in record mode with no film, let it run with the sound on sound knob set to normal (100%) position and wait for about 15 secs. The bias current from the heads will demagnetize them. Of course this will not demag other metal parts coming in contact with the film such as the capstan. But before a projector needs demag, it needs long long hours of use.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on January 15, 2015, 12:52 PM:

Tom, I didn't see your question, sorry for the delay. I use one of the inexpensive demagnetizers Maurizio is refering to. The free alternative seem nice as wel.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on January 15, 2015, 01:22 PM:

I use alcohol too, but only as a sedative! (snicker)

He's right though, alcohol on (in my case) a "cut tip"

Posted by Tom Dee (Member # 4468) on January 16, 2015, 10:09 PM:

Thanks guys for all the good info, would odorless mineral spirits work to clean the heads?

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