MOLD ON TAPES! How I Clean VHS VIDEO TAPES ** DIGITIZING HOME MOVIES

[@NealHunterHyde]

That hacked rewinder-turned-cleaner is BRILLIANT! Luckily all my VHS is stored in a climate controlled storage unit - but every now and then I do come across a tape with some mold. Thanks for the genius idea!

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

No problem!!

[@jashbeptic]

if there's anything i learned from watching channels like odd tinkering and now this, people will absolutely watch 30 minute long videos of you cleaning mold off tapes (myself included)

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

No kidding. Better than music in the background

[@cosmopoliteben]

Its always nice to see other people's tricks: the coffee filter, the fact that you scotch the tape on the reel and not struggle with that little hatch, and the bandage tape.

[@firenado4295]

since the tape is just being digitised I expect its not worth fiddling with if it only needs to last one last play.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

It’s all about these last plays. Anything I can do to get it to play well

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Busy after I’m done with them. They are more playable than they have been in years. Wayyyy better. Hopefully perfect

[@KevinStumpf2010]

That’s an absolutely genius setup for a tape cleaner! I own a small media conversion studio and have been looking for a tape cleaning solution! Great content also!

[@davidvillanueva8021]

Love the ingenuity on that take rewinder.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

I need to update I’ve got better plans but this def helped me on that project

[@LisaWagner-wy5li]

You can build a cleaner machine out of a old vhs rewinder machine.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Yes. I’ve done that lol

[@DustyCustard]

4:45 - they're called 'bobbins'.

[@Josh-nh2cg]

Since video tape cleaners are hard to find nowadays, how many passes do you recommend doing when using a modified tape rewinder to clean the mold off the VHS tapes before playing them in a VCR? I plan on getting a VHS rewinder for this purpose.

[@TheGameboyGTS]

found your videos a few days ago, and started bingeing videos, jumping around randomly, then i saw we have basically the same bankers lamp on our desks. a lot of the (private) videos on my channel are all home movies i've been asked to digitize, lol!

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Awesome! Thanks for the kind words!

[@PileOfEmptyTapes]

Coffee filters are an interesting choice... one thing I might try as a potential alternative is (automotive) blue shop towels.

[@StuckInDa90z]

Thank you so much for making this video! You inspired me to modify one of those VHS rewinders. I subscribed to your channel.

[@jacktorse2145]

Very cool demo, I appreciate it! Just for the hell of it, why not have some sort of small filter fan right in the area where all that mold is flaking off those tapes. If you can see it and smell it, there is an absolute TON in the air which is horrible for you (as well as all of your equipment)!

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Working on this.

[@ObiWanBillKenobi]

Thanks so much for this video! 📼 Now I know far, far, more than 24 hours ago! Mold on a magnetic tape is such a bizarre thing if you don't know it can happen, and knowing how to clean it properly arguably matters even more than how to do good transfers, because mold can be passed from a moldy tape to all other equipment and tapes, even into your prize transfer player. But you mustn't forget to clean the case/shell from the mold as well; bits of it are definitely in the case, and if you clean a VHS cassette, you want to clean it thoroughly so it doesn't regrow. 📼

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Yes if you plan to use it over and over.

[@enid481]

Question: How many cleaning cycles do you perform on the tape before attempting to play it in the VCR? How do you determine if the VHS is ready? Do you rewind and clean the tape a certain number of times in the VCR rewinder and the Geneva cleaner, then play it and hope it works?

[@lunaremissions1859]

Hello, I am writing to you from Italy and I thank you for your valuable content. I want to ask you what type of paper tape you use to clean?

[@Gideondycus]

ITS JUST MOLD MOLD MOLD AND MORE MOLD! Lol brilliant idea though for your tape cleaner I’ll try and find the same one and try the same thing!

[@TheSkyUnderTheSea69]

What brand/model of tape rewinder did you use?

[@bigtim323]

I have the same question

[@goatmen7996]

what are these rollers called

[@speakeasyarchives8764]

Boring to you but very very informative. Great tutorial. 👍 Moldy tape is going to be more more regular because of age and storage issues. I use the video tape 5.3 cleaner to clean all tapes that is needing a clean. Also have you figured out anything that will replace the cleaning pads on the geneva cleaner? Thanks again for sharing your valuable knowledge.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Pec pads cut to shape

[@speakeasyarchives8764]

@@EmeraldCoastDigitizing thanks ordered my pads. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@coinhunter3758]

On The Geneva Tape Cleaning Machine, I Just Found One But Its Missing The Top Blue Piece And The Two Top Pads, Question Do You Know Where I Can Get Spare Pieces Or Do You Have Any Spares? Just Curious If You Know Anywhere I Can Get These Parts?

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Noo sorry. That sucks. But shouldn be too hard to make something out of wood! Riddle something!

[@whitelion7976]

Thanks for your video, from a VHS collector in the kingdom of Eswatini. I was already thinking of building a cleaning machine.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Glad I could help

[@leonjohnsonjr3331]

Did u think about audio transfer from dat's vinyl and cassettes and 8 tracks and mini disc

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Not really. I don’t want to mess with anything that’s not video really

[@speakeasyarchives8764]

This is a GREAT tutorial. Nice😊

[@weversonsilva4699]

I'm from Brazil and I like your work, Where can I buy the GENEVA rewinder

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Just look everywhere! They are really hard to find

[@weversonsilva4699]

Obrigado!

[@8mm2digital]

Hello, I'm enjoying your videos. Could you please inform me about the material on the small reel that is wrapped around the cleaning post and subsequently soaked with isopropyl?

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

You need pec pads and a glue gun

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

that help?

[@skylernicolas892]

What happens if you play the video with mold. Besides getting the head dirty. Will the quality look bad?

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

It’s so different from tape to tape honestly. Some… you can put through one pass in the tape cleaner or another vcr and they will play all the way through without issue. Othersss start-stop-clean- rewind- start- won’t advance- stop- rehouse tape - start - stop clean- until end of the bloody tape.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

And sometimes the machine gets messed up from tugging on the damaged tape. Etc

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

I film all my mold jobs with the GoPro and if it goes easy I give a cheaper price and if it takes hrs and hrs. I can show the customer so they understand why I had to charge for a bunch of time.

[@SmoggyLambGG]

If you can locate the leader pins for either ends of the tape and snap them on, they won't unspool in the player.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

have you seen the new one I built?

[@kvincsi]

How did you build the cleaner out of a rewinder? The control panel of the device usually on the top cover. Removing it gets unable to turned it on.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

I’ve got a few videos on it.

[@wright96d]

How often do you get moldy tapes?

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

A lot but I mostly do local work

[@edp2506]

oh man, i threw away tapes with mold on them. i thought they were unsavable. thanks for the Video maybe i save the few other ones. got some alternative videos i recorded back in the day and also fami vids.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

No. Throw them away if there are more copies. This is home movies. You clean you play and you toss

[@Wanderingforever976]

I recently acquired a Geneva cleaner but the sprockets/wheels don’t move, suggestions why ?

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Belt.

[@Wanderingforever976]

@ turned out just works with batteries , guess power cord or outlet not efficient

[@UkGreatBritain]

If a mouldy tape is played in a VCR, will the mould spread to other tapes if played in that same VCR?

[@audunjemtland8287]

Residual mold both in very small particles and gass can wean off onto the VCR itself and then (maybe) other VHS tapes. It's not recommended.

[@WendyJones-j4x]

📼 I would want to wear a mask so that not quite so many of those mold-spores don't get inhaled which can't possibly be all that good for you in the long-run and maybe make you sick or something with who knows what you could come down with, I'm not sure (?) 👎😵‍💫

[@RagedContinuum]

I say they are harmless - I've lived around mold all my life and have normal lung function, although my job might change that if I stay long

[@mdrajamani]

Wonderful job 🎉

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Thank you! Welcome!

[@gxdjoeybaby07]

really interesting video!

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Did you see the new one?

[@gxdjoeybaby07]

???

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Yeah VHS tapes are sadly prone to molding like crazy. I too have a few and plan to re-purpose an old VCR not suitable for playback anymore and turn it into a cleaning machine with some DIY modifications. I have already cleaned some Audio cassettes by hand a while ago and thankfully magnetic tape can be cleaned easily and it's ALWAYS worth doing it. Much better than throwing away precious memories. Also always tell people to never throw away their original Mediums like Super 8 or Videotapes because no matter how good the digitized result may look, you shall never only depend on THAT one digitization but instead keep the originals for archival purposes. You never know when you gonna need them again. ESPECIALLY film reels are very good for longterm archival purposes. Also if you can justify it financially at one point, you should definitely invest into a better super 8 transfer machine :)

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Yes! I think the reels is Greta quality! But def takes too long. And not useful for sound film

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

@@EmeraldCoastDigitizing Yeah that's really their biggest drawback that they can't transfer the magnetic audio tracks of these Super 8 reels. And they are also sooo slow and tend to jam sometimes.

[@MeWantHoneycomb]

ok so THAT's how you clean'em up. gotta give it a go.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Lots of ways. I used that for a while but I built a new one check out more recent mold videos on my channel!

[@affendyarifin104]

how to open vhs rewinder cover

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Just pops off

[@affendyarifin104]

sometime, even thou we've cleaned the tape, but the tape still can't play, just blue screen appeared. can u share how fix this ? @@EmeraldCoastDigitizing

[@leonjohnsonjr3331]

I would've clean the tape and change the whole case with new case

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

That’s what I ended up doing for a bunch of them

[@whitelion7976]

How about killing all spoors with UV light?

[@speakeasyarchives8764]

Do a video on moldy betamax and 8mm video tapes.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

I have a 8mm or two already. Haven’t seen a beta in a whileeeee

[@lloydnickell3514]

Why not just transfer? Using a junk vcr for moldy tapes . If you’re using alcohol you’re damaging the tape as well. You realize alcohol is ruining the tape and destroying /removing the lubricant of the vhs You’re basically spit shining the tape to look presentable All you need is to digitize the tape.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Depends on the tape. The alcohol will only damage if left on for too long and I refuse to put a moldy tape in my players. This method worked flawlessly.. but I do see your point. If you wanted to try on a junkie player that would be fine. But the tapes were also tearing and ripping so it needed to be helped to rewind. Welcome to the channel! Looking fwd to more comments from you :)

[@MusicMinisterJP7]

???,, no response..

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Not sure

[@MusicMinisterJP7]

@@EmeraldCoastDigitizing 🤔.. ok, disregard it, np.

[@enjoythesho1992]

That cheap tape will not hold up I use legit super glue to fix broken tapes

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Show me!

[@enjoythesho1992]

@@EmeraldCoastDigitizing So you want me to post a video ?........you ever have a tape snap half way threw I know a trick to repair that also

[@jatinjoshi1205]

Using Alcohol to clean the vhs tape its not a good idea tape will get more damage.how can u use a Alcohol.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

As long as it drys quickly it’s fine if the tape of filthy. What other option is there. Can’t use water that just won’t dry fast enough

[@TennesseeDiggersBottleCO]

the moldy tapes you are cleaning will not be watchable they way to moldy