Dear Ben,

The correct technical term for "sss" is binder hydrolysis. A convection
oven at 130ºF or a fruit desiccator are the usual devices for "baking"
tapes. I have never done so except with aluminum reels and flanges but have
never heard of the technique damaging 3M plastic reels; by all means
experiment if it would reassure you.

DDR

On Sun, Aug 19, 2012 at 2:24 PM, James Roth <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hello again,
>
> I have one more question about baking audio tape.
> Should it be indirect heat and how far from the filament (heat source)
> should the tape be?
> What about the plastic reels? These are 7-inch reels holding Ampex 407
> tape.
>
> Maybe I should try baking an empty reel at 130 degrees Fahrenheit before I
> try to bake the tapes in the reels.
>
> Please comment ASAP.
>
> Thanks,
> Ben Roth
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:
> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of James Roth
> Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 1:05 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] AMPEX 407 TAPE
> Importance: High
>
> Dear Richard,
>
> Thank you for answering my email.
>
> No, I did not bake it. I did not know about baking tape.
> Please tell me in what I should bake it, at what temp and for how long?
>
> Also, what is "SSS"?
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:
> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Richard L. Hess
> Sent: Friday, August 17, 2012 5:41 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] AMPEX 407 TAPE
>
> Ben,
>
> Did you bake this tape prior to attempting playback?
>
> This is classic SSS where the mag coat pulls off.
>
> The reason it happens closer to the hub is there is more pressure there.
>
> Please folks, don't try and play known SSS tapes without baking.
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard
>
>
> On 2012-08-17 5:08 PM, James Roth wrote:
> > Greetings everyone.
> >
> > I'm having some trouble with peeling Ampex 407 tape.
> > The magnetic coating on the inner 100 or so feet is peeling like crazy.
> > When I play it, the static electricity causes the tape to cling to the
> layer just next to it (still on the reel).
> > It's not crackling - just peeling. The tape is from around 1977 and was
> kept in a fairly cool/dry place.
> >
> > Ben Roth
> >
>
> --
> Richard L. Hess email: [log in to unmask]
> Aurora, Ontario, Canada (905) 713 6733 1-877-TAPE-FIX
> http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
> Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.
>



--
Dennis D. Rooney
303 W. 66th Street, 9HE
New York, NY 10023
212.874.9626