Videotape curl question for lordsmurf

[JVRaines]

The biggest issue I come across is natural tape curl from aging, which causes massive issues, and can even lead to eaten tapes. Many tapes suffer from this, and need special care before it care even be captured. Very often, tapes must be wound manually to a certain position, and left there for a week or more -- aka, why projects can takes weeks minimum.

I am curious about this problem. Are you talking about curl that affects the whole tape, or just the part that stretches across the gap? I do find the latter to be a problem when people fail to wind the tape to the end and leave it hanging there for 20 or 30 years. Would you mind sharing your treatment method?

[lordsmurf]

I don't get to VH as much as I used to. Almost missed this.
If you want my quicker attention, read this: http://www.digitalFAQ.com/forum/news/5985-lordsmurf.html#post32705

Anyway, to answer your question...

Curl can affect
1- a portion of a tape (typical)
2- or much more (rare, depends on how tightly wound to the spool it was, if the spool itself didn't suffer damage over time)

Many times, all that need be done is manual winding, and let it sit. Realize that lack of winding does not affect this, as some portion must always be exposed to air in the clamshell.

Other times, gentle heat (heat gun) must be applied. BUT YOU CAN DO IT WRONG, SO BE CAREFUL!!!

Sometimes complete re-spool is needed, maybe with heat.

I sometimes have this issue with my own tapes. It really varies on the tape quality, too.

Climate has a lot of do with this.