I have used the Metal Ware FD-50 food dehydrator on over 280 open reel
tapes which had soft binder syndrome. Yes, it's for food preparation (if
used as designed).  However, it's not quite an "oven," either.    Each baked
tape played perfectly after cooling, but, of course, many needed the splices
to be renewed.   I don't gainsay what Jim says about theory on oven use for
tape repair.   However, praxis indicates that less expensive means exist for
"curing" the problem.

     The lowest temperature setting on the FD-50 reads 35 degrees
Centigrade.  This is about 95 degrees Fahrenheit.  Perhaps none of the
readings on the dial are accurate.   However, the results are already in.
No "cooked" tapes.   All playable.  Problem solved.

     But...  I make all customers aware that we are in science experiment
territory and that if my efforts result in destruction of the work, there is
no way to undo most destruction, and there will be no pecuniary
compensation.   If I were the Library of Congress, I'd use a lab grade oven.

     One thing that is of interest to me in what Jim says is the use of a
probe to sense the actual interior temperature.  My landlord explained that
most of the time, a thermometer acts like a heat sink, wicking away some
heat, and responding faster than its subject to changes in temperature.   If
this is true, at least it might be showing always a higher temperature than
it should.  That would be acceptable, since the goal is mostly not to exceed
a given temperature...

     Thoughts are almost, I mean, _most_ welcome.


Servus,
     Andrew


On 2/19/12 7:45 AM, "Jim Lindner" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:


> ...You never ever want to consider ovens used in food preparation. Their
expected 
> temperature range is not optimal - even if it is a "warming oven", and far too
> inaccurate in terms of heat stability. For an oven of this type - being 20 or
> more degrees off is no big deal, but it is for baking tapes.
> 
> You will likely be thinking - but I am only going to 150F and you are correct
> - and most ovens are designed to go much higher then that, and in fact this
> temperature is well below the accurate range for many ovens.




> On Feb 18, 2012, at 11:07 PM, [log in to unmask] wrote:
> 
>> Archivists and Techies,
>> 
>> What are recommended ovens for baking tapes with SSS?
>> 
>> I am of course looking at price, and I don't need one that will go to 1800
>> degrees. If it topped out at 150 F that would certainly be enough for what I
>> need.
>> 
>> Also something that does not shut itself off or can be programmed for a
>> specific length of time.
>> -- 
>> Joe Salerno
>> 

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