Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[perky b]

For one thing, thanks so much for hosting this forum. I love your work and approach- and it is very generous of you to share your knowledge.

In a nutshell- is it necessary to use something other than typical 99++% alcohol to clean the pinch roller on a 2" deck? I have heard conflicting reports- such as that rubber-cleaning solvents dry out the pinch roller- etc---and I wonder what you use?

Thanks!

[zmix]

Isopropanol (alchohol) does cause rubber to harden and crack. Naptha (the ingredient in most rubber cleaners) is a good cleaner for pinch rollers, as is -believe it or not- Formula 409 houshold cleaner. Beware that 409 can cause oxidation of untreated aluminum, so do not spray it.

[bobkatz]

perky b wrote on Sat, 14 January 2006 19:15

For one thing, thanks so much for hosting this forum. I love your work and approach- and it is very generous of you to share your knowledge. In a nutshell- is it necessary to use something other than typical 99++% alcohol to clean the pinch roller on a 2" deck? I have heard conflicting reports- such as that rubber-cleaning solvents dry out the pinch roller- etc---and I wonder what you use? Thanks!

Now I am not a chemist, but I do believe that if your pinch roller is the right formula (real rubber?) then you can use isopropryl regularly for at least 32 years without damaging the pinch roller! I add the caveat "right formula" because I am not excluding the possibility that certain types of urethanes might be damaged. I have used 91 through 99% isopropyl alcohol solvent on my Technics pinch rollers since I bought the machine in 1972 or so and the rubber is as supple, soft, compliant as it was when new! Is that evidence or is that evidence?

But as a rule, if your swab comes off black, stop cleaning! It should only be used to remove the brown oxide residue.

BK

[bushwick]

I assume no liabilty on this since there are different types out there but I was told the but the head studer tech at SONY that Fatastic "Orange" cleaner works great and doesn't degrade the rubber. Thats what I use for an occasional cleaning and it works just great.

Best,
j

[electrical]

There are rubber, urethane and neoprene pinch rollers, and each have different sensitivities to chemicals.

Rubber, use naptha (be careful as the rubber will be slightly sticky until the naptha evaporates) or an organic oil, like simple green or orange cleaner.

Neoprene, use alcohol or mild detergent (dish detergent) and water.

Urethane I've heard conflicting stories. Some say use mild detergent, some say alcohol. Don't use an organic solvent like naptha or toluene.

[bobkatz]

electrical wrote on Sat, 14 January 2006 22:26

There are rubber, urethane and neoprene pinch rollers, and each have different sensitivities to chemicals. Rubber, use naptha (be careful as the rubber will be slightly sticky until the naptha evaporates) or an organic oil, like simple green or orange cleaner. Neoprene, use alcohol or mild detergent (dish detergent) and water. Urethane I've heard conflicting stories. Some say use mild detergent, some say alcohol. Don't use an organic solvent like naptha or toluene.

We have to add a fourth category. I had a special pinch roller made for my Studer that's some other incredibly compliant material. I don't remember what it it's named anymore. (Senior moment #233).

The moral of the story?  I guess if you don't know, use distilled water. It would be a real service for someone to tally the types of pinch rollers provided by certain manufacturers and the recommended solvents. My Technics must be Neoprene, it's lasted forever with Isopropyl.

BK

[Fletcher]

FWIW "Windex" works well in every application with the exception of cleaning heads and removing adhesives.  A bottle of Windex should be able to solve 95% of all your cleaning requirements w/o any worries or stress.

[perky b]

Well! Thanks for the great responses. Very helpful. My only question now is what my pinch roller is made of. I have a stock Otari MX 80. FWIW, the goo on the swabs is orange- not black....so that's one
less thing to worry about. Does anyone know what Otari used for its pinch rollers? Thanks!!!!!!

[bobkatz]

perky b wrote on Sun, 15 January 2006 18:10

Well! Thanks for the great responses. Very helpful. My only question now is what my pinch roller is made of. I have a stock Otari MX 80. FWIW, the goo on the swabs is orange- not black....so that's one less thing to worry about. Does anyone know what Otari used for its pinch rollers? Thanks!!!!!!

If it's a real genuine Otari (often red colored) pinch roller I'd be very cautious about using strong alcohol or higher volatility solvents. Maybe not even isopropyl.  I'd use Fantastic followed by distilled water to wipe it off. Or that Orange clean stuff.

BK

[jetbase]

back when i had an otari mx5050 mk III my tech advised me to use warm soapy water & a toothbrush on the pinch roller.

i like the sound of the "windex" method. it reminds me of "my big fat greek wedding".

cheers,
glenn

[Teddy G.]

Used to be able to buy tiny bottles of "Rubber Drive Cleaner"(White label, blue letters?), which cleaned beautifully AND softened-up "hardening" rollers, as well. Though after use I used to go over the rollers with a bit of alcohol, to remove the - rather oily - cleaner itself. Worked great!

Years after I'd used my last reel-to-reel, I pulled the last few drops out of an old bottle in a last-ditch effort to "restore" the hard-as-a-rock, rubber roller on a pin printer. Came up just like new and worked fine 'til I went ink jet, a couple of years later.


Teddy G.

[ericswan]

I clean the pinch roller on my MX 80 with a small amount dish soap & water and a toothbrush and have never had any problems.

[vernier]

Hven't ever cleaned a pinch-roller (been recording since 50's) ...but the Windex idea sounds kinda neat!

[Tidewater]

GoJo (original, not citrus, or superduper or GoJo 2000!)is a fantastic cleaner, and conditioner.

Windex works great because it's 9000% isopropyl.


M