Removing mold on VHS tape using my homemade vhs cleaner.

I Have made a few videos on how to build this vhs cleaner and now it's time to prove it works! In this video I make a quick improvement to the machine and then clean a tape 3 times. I built this cleaner out of an old rewinder and an old vhs drawer.
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Check out my home made vhs tape cleaner : • Removing mold on VHS t...
Like and subscribe it really helps! Any thoughts welcome in the comments. I try and reply to them all!
#digitizing #vhstapes #tapetodigital

[@toasTr0n]

Whatever works, right? It's the extraordinary effort you put in to come up with simple but effective things like this that makes you an expert that others look up to. Fantastic job!

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Thanks!

[@garnerfishy]

Woah! Ive been trying to start a digitizing thing and this is a really cool method! ive not dealt with many moldy tapes but they are a pain!

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

DUDE THANKS SO MUCH FOR ENGAGING!

[@jr-pl9kj]

i used to do this with old beta and vhs tapes that were stored in a basement that kept flooding but the water never reached the tapes because they were on a pallet, but ended up getting moldy due to moisture, except i made a system that vacuum cleaned the tape, using a vacuum cleaner in a controlled manner with old vhs cassette parts, pvc pipes, and a dual beta/vhs rewinder, it got the job done without damaging the tapes. after i was done with it i returned the rewinder back to normal, and dismantled the rest of the device, where it all ended up is a mystery because of moving.

[@speedyboishan87]

When i was in my teens like most other teens i used to chew the tape reel, or damage it.

[@RadOo]

I have no idea how I got there but damn worth watching! Keep it up! 😁

[@speedyboishan87]

Once flakes or bits of mould hits the reels of the tape. Thats damage, depending if there was video in the part where the tape reel was damaged, if the whole tape reel is in mould, sadly it may have caused too much damage that it will clog your video heads.

[@PCGamer1732]

Make sure to get a hepa air filter for the shop and ideally use an N95 or N100 sealed mask/respirator when doing this in the future!

[@Talefromthehangar]

YES

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

I will!

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

I will. Very wise. I was researching it recently.

[@toasTr0n]

I wonder if it would help to set up a tabletop fume extractor (like is used for soldering) right next to the machine cleaning the moldy tapes. That should catch the overwhelming majority of the stuff that flakes off and shouldn't cost too much. I dunno if the filters that come with it are the best to use for mold, but they're definitely better than nothing, and maybe they could be swapped.

[@jamesdemuro5923]

Great machine 👍

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

We will see still working out the kinks

[@Gloubu]

I love the build of the Mark 3... I am going to try and build one exactly as you have... VHS storage box, Kinyo 2-Way VHS Video Rewinder, VHS-C cleaner reels and a dimmer switch to lower the voltage? to slow down the speed... Only thing I have to figure out is reversing the polarity/ have the motor go in the correct way. Also how does the newer version fit into the box all the way now? Love your stuff, your full of awesome DIY tape knowledge!

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Just switch the wires lol. And really it’s the part the motor is spinning that needs to be swapped. Once you get your hands dirty you’ll figure it out.

[@Tomsonic41]

It looks like your cleaner is only cleaning the front half of the tape; the part that touches the heads. In my experience, mold can form on both sides of the tape - and the cleaner that Phil uses seems to clean both sides. Maybe you could adapt yours to do the same?

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Hey Tom! I wanna thank you so much for being a part of my channel! Cheers! What are you suggesting? I’m still in research and development with this bad boi. Going to add pans to the other rollers as well.

[@Tomsonic41]

@@EmeraldCoastDigitizing I would suggest perhaps two of those larger reels, both with pads on, and the tape sort of zig zags between so both sides of the tape get cleaned. Adding pads to the other rollers would certainly help, as long as it doesn't affect the tape tension and cause it to unwind into a mess.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

tension is good. I have considered adding two additional components. maybe like a track on either side on the long stretch that has flat pads on either side and the tape slides through them like a credit card swipe

[@davidvillanueva8021]

Great work amigo!

[@laserfilmlab]

Nice video. Thanks

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Thank you too

[@Huffy1001]

Hi can I ask you please were can I buy this machine from I have not seen it on eBay or Amazon to buy it and I do have some old vhs tapes that was giving to me by a family member but have white mole on the tape if I could buy one of theses machines from were

[@Pradyumn1990]

How to clean tapes sir plaesa tell me

[@Rajelectronic9358]

How to make this cleaner sir please one video on Your youtube please

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

I’ll be making another video with the newer version I’m working on. It’ll come when I have time

[@stefanlang3752]

Hallo ich habe mal eine Frage. Wenn ich es dir bezahle würdest du mir so ein Gerät zum Reinigen Bauen ? Und was für Material braucht man zum Reinigen ? Ich kann leider kein Englisch. Freue mich schon auf deine Antwort

[@SomeInterestingName]

I got put off cleaning the mould off my tapes as I'd read online from various sources that the mould you get on tapes is incredibly hazardous, and this sort of thing shouldn't be attended indoors, if at all. :| Maybe something to keep in mind or read about before you do too many of these. I don't know how factual it is, but the more I looked into cleaning the more I read that the type of mould is no joke.

[@PCGamer1732]

Depends on the type of mold specifically, but yeah in general it's a good idea to avoid disturbing or being around large amounts of any kind of mold

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Thanks!

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

What else should I do?

[@theloyalorderofclassictv5435]

fantastic!

[@danotten3344]

Do you think the lines your getting on screen are from the pad scratching the reading surface ?

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Negative! I thought that too. I was actually excited to make a video about the cleaner ruining the tape! It would be something I would want to film and show myself figuring out how to fix the issue. But I checked the tape over some of the spots that seemed possible and it looks clean no scratches. It’s probably from the tape sticking to itself and kind pulled material on to the back of the tape as it’s pulled apart. But that was the only tape out of the three that did that and only in a few spots. Could be it needs to be cleaned a little better and mold is stil contaminating

[@huskyvacs]

The tracking lines are from where mold has eaten away the tape surface. You cannot fix that. A moldy tape will never play properly again. The goal is preservation - not perfection.

[@speakeasyarchives8764]

What do you think do a wet pass first a few times, then dry at the last? This is what i do. Or does it really matter? You are adapting the best way to clean mold. What would you do with mold on other formats of video tape? Just had some mold on some 8mm digital tapes. I used the rewinds that you have with pec pad material. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Not sure. Just testing

[@bluesroc]

Emerald Coast Digitizing I have three VCR s Machine does not work 1] I need to learn how to clean the Machines 2] The ones that works and the ones that doesn't work Use the parts to make a tape cleaning Machine 3] need to now how to use the motor. how to power the motor -speed control forward and rewinding stop - and the tape counter Emerald Coast Digitizing can you help me Alan

[@orihalcon8693]

Hmm. I wonder if post-mold cleaned tape would benefit more than usual from timebase correction since the mold likely causes mechanical irregularities? TBC is one thing I really haven't seen used in your setups, but aI also don't see a lot of tearing/flagging or horizontal jitter in most of your captures, so perhaps you've tried it and haven't found much of a benefit with using it?

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

I have one tbc vcr but I rarelllyyyy use it. It’s kinda wonky. But I haven’t needed it. No one seems to mind a little vhs look. I have so many players if I see really bad time base issues I try all my players until I find one that likes the tape. And usually that works! I think tbcs are super cool! But for the business model and the prices people are willing to pay. It’s not a feesable investment to make for 15 vcrs.

[@Tomsonic41]

@@EmeraldCoastDigitizing What I tend to do is run the VCR's output through a DVD recorder before going into the Elgato and that seems to stabilise the signal considerably. If you just put the VCR output straight into the Elgato, it causes crosstalk effects and poor colors. I wish I could post a video response showing what I mean!

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

That does seem like it would work. Does the dvd recorder do something to the signal before it outputs from the rca? What is the reason?

[@Tomsonic41]

@@EmeraldCoastDigitizing From what I can make out, it has its own high quality capture card that digitises the signal ready to be recorded to DVD. It then outputs that perfectly clean signal to the TV (or Elgato) rather than the imperfect signal that's coming off the tape, so it captures better.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

I like it! ill give it a try I have a bunch of those @@Tomsonic41

[@donmuraoka]

What kind of solution are you putting on the pec pads?

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Alcohol! I know I know. I need to find a better solution but it’s the only quick drying thing I know of. Honestly I think water might work lol.

[@huskyvacs]

NO! Never use water or anything of the sort. If you are going to attempt stuff like this , research and study from analog media preservation labs and university museums first before attempting this, otherwise you will destroy more than you repair. @@EmeraldCoastDigitizing

[@bjornonthisday9691]

I enjoy watching your videos and I’ve learned a lot. I have a strange issue with a VHS tape that I have. The tape plays normal of an hour footage, after the hour, the screen will go blue and a message appears no signal. It’s only on this tape. Any suggestions?

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Check and see if there is footage past that point? Used a vcr with a counter?

[@bjornonthisday9691]

I remember that the is more footage that was filmed and doesn’t allow me to view past the filmed footage once it goes into the blue screen. I’m willing to look at the tape or I can send it to you. I believe that there might be mold on the tape and on the vcr heads

[@Tarugurufoundationofficial]

Can I send you my cassettes from India?

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

You ship. I’ll transfer!

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

But you’ll have to wait. My secam vcr is in the shop

[@Tarugurufoundationofficial]

@@EmeraldCoastDigitizing alright sir I'll wait

[@PrankZabba]

Guess I spoke too soon on the other video of those spin top reels.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Spin top?

[@PrankZabba]

Where the tops of the reels can have the top clear part taken off.

[@Talefromthehangar]

Ware a mask when cleaning the moldy tapes....

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

Wear^ thanks! I def will from heat on out!

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

But I smoke so that should negate the mold. Hopefully

[@Riiludragon]

Why bother digitizing something that already has a DVD and even blu ray release.

[@EmeraldCoastDigitizing]

It’s a test…. Did you even watch the video hahahah

[@speedyboishan87]

Mould as you are aware even flakes will cause malfunction to the video and not fixable or recoverable, if you have a copy or master tape then your lucky. Back then most people only had 1 VCR's and did not want to spend money on another VCR. A VCR can be found for £10-15 in charity shops nowadays. I bought a Philips VCR back 2 years ago from a bootsale for £3 no remote but it works fine, just make sure if it has an auto head cleaner to remove the spongey plastic guide as it causes more damage that way.