How to Repair Video Cassette Damage
Though DVDs are one of the major current formats for movies, there are plenty of aging videocassettes around. The tape in these VHS videocassettes tends to get frailer with age, losing metal oxide particles and parts of the picture. It can also catch on the VCR player heads and become creased and crinkled. Fortunately, you can employ a simple fix so you can continue to use these videocassettes.
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Instructions
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Ironing
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1
Push in on the square reel release button located on the side of the videocassette, and flip up the cassette door.
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2
Gently pull out the damaged tape by several feet, and let the videocassette door close.
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3
Heat the clothes iron until it is warm. Test the iron by dropping a single drop of water onto the heating plate. The iron is too hot if the water sizzles. Leave the steam function set to "Off," as any water vapor can cause further damage to the videocassette.
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4
Straighten the damaged part of the tape as much as you can. Sandwich the tape in between two layers of a cotton tea towel. Lay the tape and towel flat on an ironing board.
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5
Lightly iron the tape several times, lifting the iron immediately at any sign of the tape sticking to the towel or any scorching odor. Manually rewind the videotape into the videocassette.
Taping
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6
Push in on the square reel release button on the side of the videocassette, and flip up the cassette door.
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7
Gently pull out the damaged tape by several inches, and let the videocassette door close.
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8
Straighten the tape with clean hands, and cut a piece of transparent tape.
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Place the transparent tape over the damaged part of the videotape. Trim any excess tape.
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10
Manually rewind the videotape into the cassette. Leave it for a few days, and then fast forward and rewind the videocassette in a VCR to make sure that the tape holds.
Splicing
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Push in on the square reel release button on the side of the videocassette, and flip up the cassette door.
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12
Pull out the damaged videotape section, and let the videocassette door close.
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13
Cut out the damaged part of the videotape, cutting out the least amount of videotape as possible.
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Cut two pieces of transparent tape about 1/4-inch wide.
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Splice the two cut ends of the videotape back together by taping them on top of the videotape and underneath. Rewind the videotape, and let it sit for a few hours. Fast-forward and rewind the tape a few times before you play it again to test the splice.
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Tips & Warnings
Smooth and iron the damaged videotape first if you can get the crinkled section to lie flat. If it's still not smooth after ironing, tape the crinkled section. Cut and splice the videotape only when the damaged section is so crinkled that it won't pass through the heads on the VCR without jamming. These techniques apply to both recorded and unrecorded videotapes.
Ironing the videotape may cause more metal oxide particles to fall off and distort or blank out parts of the picture. Ironing unrecorded videotape may also cause metal oxide particles to fall off the videotape, leaving out parts of the picture when the tape is recorded.
References
- Photo Credit digital video cassette image by TEA from Fotolia.com
