29 Aug
2013
29 Aug
'13
10:08 a.m.
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-
bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Chuck Guzis
Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2013 9:32 AM
To: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: TK-50 drive information
On 08/29/2013 07:26 AM, Jerome H. Fine wrote:
It's also my experience that TK-50s are very fussy about cleanliness. I actually have
the DEC cleaning kit - but I fret about using it because when it's gone, it's
gone. The cleaning "thing" is somewhat unique. So Q-tips is a far more
sustainable solution. :-) -- Ian
I normally use OLD (very rare and have been
unable to find them any
longer) wooden Q-tips. I imagine that the cardboard ones are almost
as good. Squirt a bit of isoproponal on the tip of the Q-tip and
remove the junk from the head. Sometimes, it is necessary to clean
the head after every tape. In that case, just leave the TK50 drive on
the bench connected to the PDP-11, but ready to be cleaned each time.
The cleaning time is less than five minutes once there is access to
the tape head. It is usually necessary to remove the TK50 media
first.
Those are still very much around and currently manufactured. I use them on
8" disk drive heads quite a bit. For example:
http://www.amazon.com/100pc-X-Long-Cotton-Swabs-
Applicators/dp/B005IHM9FE
eBay also shows several offerings. The search term that I used was "long
wood cotton swabs". I'd be surprised if your local druggist could not manage
to locate a batch for you.