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. > >