Not wanting to start a flame war here but: Because I do work for museums 
and other institutions, I cannot use anything that has unknown 
consequences. Any chemical that evaporates will leave behind a film or, 
at least, a measurable amount of residue. This can be a big No-No for 
archivists. The chemicals & procedures that I use for the cleaning of 
media have to be cleared by the institution that I am doing the work for.

Cheers!

Corey

Corey Bailey Audio Engineering
www.baileyzone.net

On 6/11/2018 12:25 PM, Steve Greene wrote:
> D5 has lubricants and other additives and about 95% volatiles, so no big
> improvement over a silicone mold release agent on that score. Of course,
> never apply anything like that directly. Wet a swab first, then apply
> sparingly, letting it dry for a few minutes.
>
>   I think Richard's "order of operations" has it about right: possibly
> destructive steps should be the last alternatives, not the first.
>
> Steve
>
> Steve Greene
> Audiovisual Archivist
> Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
> National Archives and Records Administration
> (301) 837-1772
>
> On Mon, Jun 11, 2018 at 3:01 PM, Richard L. Hess <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
>> On 2018-06-11 2:47 PM, Dan Gediman wrote in part:
>> I received the suggestion from another list member, Jay Bruder, suggested
>> that sometimes on these cheap cassettes, the actual hubs can cause the
>> squealing and said he had in the past spliced new hubs and leader to old
>> cassette tape and then put it in a new shell with new lubrication sheets.
>>
>> That is why I put THE TAPE into new shells. This has the advantage of not
>> mis-adjusting the cassette mechanism.
>> http://richardhess.com/notes/2006/03/06/loading-c-0-cassettes/
>>
>>
>>
>> I have some additional quetions:
>>
>>>
>>> I’m willing to try Richard’s refrigeration gambit. Do you actually run
>>> cables into the fridge and play it while both deck and tape are
>>> refrigerated?
>>>
>> Exactly! I have a four pair snake running from my jackfield to my fridge.
>>
>> I’m also willing to try baking, though I don’t own a dehydrator. How
>>> important is it to have one vs. using a standard oven.
>>>
>> Very important as the ovens' elements may produce a magnetic field AND
>> their low temperature control (54C max) is often not great. They are
>> inexpensive, but I've only found a few cassettes that benefit from baking.
>>
>> Steve Greene suggested an alternative lubricant to D5, which he referred
>>> to as a "silicone spray mold release agent.”
>>>
>> Most silicones and other lubricants do not evaporate. D5 evaporates.
>>
>> Corey Bailey suggested I read this post about lubricating RTR tape, but I
>>> couldn’t find a recommendation on what kind of lubricant to use, and how it
>>> could be applied in a cassette situation: http://www.baileyzone.net/LUBR
>>> ICATING%20POLYESTER%20AUDIO%20TAPE.htm <http://www.baileyzone.net/LUB
>>> RICATING%20POLYESTER%20AUDIO%20TAPE.htm>
>>>
>> I think he uses the LAST FACTORY lubricant, and I thought it was mentioned
>> in his post.
>>
>> Finally, does anyone have a suggestion for an order of operations (i.e.
>>> try this first, then this, then this)?
>>>
>> Play
>> Reshell if problems
>> Play
>> Cold Play if problems
>> Lubricate if problems
>> Think long and hard. Ask the list.
>> Bake if problems
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Richard
>>
>>
>>
>>> Thanks again to everyone who has opined on what I should do in this
>>> situation. I truly appreciate it.
>>>
>>> All the best,
>>> Dan
>>>
>>> Dan Gediman
>>> 502 299-2565
>>> [log in to unmask]
>>> www.dangediman.com <http://www.dangediman.com/>
>>>
>>> --
>> Richard L. Hess                   email: [log in to unmask]
>> Aurora, Ontario, Canada                             647 479 2800
>> http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
>> Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.
>>
>>