• Looking for a smarter way to manage your heating this winter? We’ve been testing the new Aqara Radiator Thermostat W600 to see how quiet, accurate and easy it is to use around the home. Click here read our review.

Fixing a Tape

Joined
25 Jul 2020
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Country
United Kingdom
I had an old cassette tape which had become unwound and using a pencil failed to budge it, although one of the circles of tape had an ominous bulge in it. Yes, it hadn’t been stored properly, but I could replace the tape with CDs, which made it good for me to practice on.

I searched the net and found a page with nice clear diagrams and everything labelled. It was written by someone who’d started fixing tapes when his best mate’s prize mix tape became unravelled in his car, so he had to learn fast.

So as per the instructions I unscrewed the screws. While I unscrewed them easily, they remained seated. So I turned over the tape, gave it a sharp tap on its bum. It exploded into it’s component parts and the tape became unravelled over the floor.

I did have a shot at fixing it (once I’d found the parts) and it quickly became clear I wasn’t going to be able to do it, so I replaced it with CDs. I think I should have used a magnetic screwdriver.

Moral of the story : buy TDK tapes, they must be made very well, especially since Other Half said “that shouldn’t have happened”
 
You did read the bit where I said I replaced them with CDs? I was just doing this for the fun of it and to see if I could
 
Digitise them as in to a modern fully portable format such as mp3.
Its hard to find a device that doesn't play mp3.
A toaster or fridge possibly.
Cds are an equally obsolete format and as simalarly vunerable as casette tapes.
Its like swapping a Zeppelin for a Hang glider.
 
Last edited:
Haha, I’ve definitely been there! Cassette surgery always seems doable until that one tap sends everything flying. I admire the effort though—bonus points for giving it a shot before switching to CDs. And totally agree on TDK tapes—they were built like tanks compared to some of the other brands. That mix of nostalgia and frustration really hits home!

Tony
Creative Safety Supply
 

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
Back
Top