Category Archives: Tricks

Rescuing Your Old Tapes: A Guide to Cassette Tape Restoration

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Rescuing Your Old Tapes: A Guide to Cassette Tape Restoration

For those with treasured audio recordings on old cassette tapes from the 1970s and 80s, discovering they no longer play correctly can be heartbreaking. A common issue is the tape slipping and dragging, which can manifest as a screeching sound or simply an inability to move past the capstan. This frustrating problem is often a symptom of a condition known as “sticky-shed syndrome”, and fortunately, it’s one that can be fixed. 

Understanding Sticky-Shed Syndrome

Sticky-shed syndrome is the primary cause of playback issues with many old tapes. It’s not a mechanical issue with the cassette shell, as you’ve observed, but a chemical breakdown of the tape itself. The binder, which is the adhesive that holds the magnetic oxide particles onto the plastic backing of the tape, is hygroscopic, meaning it readily absorbs moisture from the air. Over time, this moisture accumulation causes the binder to degrade and turn into a sticky, gooey substance. This residue creates drag as the tape passes over the playback head and rollers, leading to the slipping and erratic playback you’ve experienced.

The tapes most affected by this condition are typically those that used certain polyurethane-based binders, common in products from manufacturers like Ampex and Scotch/3M during the 1970s and 1980s.

The “Baking” Solution

The most effective and widely recognized method for treating sticky-shed syndrome is a process often referred to as “baking” the tape. Despite the name, this process is not about cooking the tape. Instead, it involves applying low, controlled heat to the tape to temporarily drive out the moisture from the binder.

The process is simple in concept but requires precision to avoid permanent damage. The tape is removed from its shell and placed in a specialized oven or dehydrator at a low temperature, typically around 130-140°F (55-60°C), for several hours. This dehydrates the binder, temporarily restoring its integrity and reducing its stickiness.

It is critical to note that baking is not a permanent fix. The tape will once again begin to absorb moisture from the air, and the sticky-shed syndrome will return, usually within a few weeks to a few months. Therefore, baking is a temporary procedure done with one goal in mind: to get a single, clean transfer of the audio to a stable digital format, such as a computer file.

The Role of Lubrication

While some may suggest lubricating the tape, this is generally not recommended for sticky-shed syndrome. The problem is not a lack of lubrication on the tape’s surface; it’s a fundamental chemical breakdown. Applying external lubricants like silicone to the tape can create a temporary and messy fix that may contaminate your playback equipment’s heads and rollers, potentially causing more harm than good. Lubrication can also make it difficult for professionals to properly clean and restore the tape if the initial home remedy fails.

For sticky-shed syndrome, baking is the tried-and-true method. If you’re not comfortable with the process, or if the tapes are irreplaceable, it is highly recommended to consult a professional audio restoration service like Richard L Hess  They have the proper equipment and expertise to safely bake and digitize your valuable recordings.

Open Air – Zone Awareness Processor

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Creating a memorable logo? Here are a few key tips I’ve found helpful:

Iteration is Key: Don’t expect perfection on the first try. Explore multiple concepts and refine the strongest ones. Each version teaches you something!

“Jam” on Ideas: Brainstorm freely! No idea is a bad idea in the initial stages. Let your creativity flow and see what unexpected directions you can take.

Fail Faster: the more iterations that aren’t it, get you close to it.

Specificity Matters: The more specific you are about a brand’s essence, values, and target audience, the better your logo will represent you. Clearly define what you want to communicate visually.

What are your go-to tips for logo design? Share them in the comments! #logodesign #branding #designthinking #visualidentity #AI

🚫🐛 Why This Tiny Debug Statement Changed Everything for Me

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Want to level up your debugging with LLM copilots?
Give your logs structure. Give them context. Make them readable.
And yes — make them beautiful too.
🚫🐛 04.31 [engine.py:start_motor] Voltage too low

That one line might save you hours.

I learned a very valuable lesson working with large language models (LLMs) like Gemini (and honestly, ChatGPT too): clear, consistent, and machine-readable debug messages can massively speed up troubleshooting — especially on complex, multi-file projects.

It’s something I used to do occasionally… but when I leaned into it fully while building a large system, the speed and accuracy of LLM-assisted debugging improved tenfold. Here’s the trick:

python
print(f"🚫🐛 {timestamp} [{filename}:{function}] {message}")

This tiny statement prints:

  • A visual marker (🚫🐛) so debug logs stand out,

  • A timestamp (MM.SS) to see how things flow in time,

  • The file name and function name where the debug is triggered,

  • And finally, the actual message.

All this context gives the LLM words it can understand. It’s no longer guessing what went wrong — it can “see” the chain of events in your logs like a human would.

Why It Works So Well with LLMs

LLMs thrive on language. When you embed precise context in your debug prints, the model can:

  • Track logic across files,

  • Understand where and when things fail,

  • Spot async/flow issues you missed,

  • Suggest exact fixes — not guesses.

Way oil – Vactra 2

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Helps eliminate chatter and stick-slip of slides and ways
Improves finish and quality of parts
Helps reduce wear and keeps sliding surfaces smooth, lubricated and clean

 

When you need oil for your machine, many types of oil will work – even motor oil. However, the best oil to use is oil designed specifically for lubricating machine ways. This type of oil has an additive that helps the oil stick to the surface.

Mobil Vactra Oil Numbered Series products are recommended for the lubrication of machine tool slideway systems. They are designed for use with combinations of cast iron, steel and non-metallic way materials. Mobil machine oil may be applied by hand, forced-feed lubricator or in flood application by circulation system.

 

Mobil Vactra Oil No. 2 is also suitable for circulating application in large machines and as a moderate duty hydraulic fluid. Mobil machine oil can be used for lubrication of ball screws, linear guides, headstocks, translating screws.

“Cutting oil is designed to flow TOWARDS the heat.
Way oil and motor oil flows AWAY from heat and smokes off more readily. You can probably use cutting oil for way oil, although that is not the most economical use for it”

Mobil-Vactra-Oil-No.-2 MSDS

AUDIOVISUAL CONDUIT

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AUDIOVISUAL CONDUIT/ELECTRICAL NOTES

  1. The electrical contractor shall provide an AC power system for the audiovisual system. The AC power system may include isolation transformers, breaker panels, and distribution as noted. Refer to electrical drawings.
  2. Each circuit shall be wired as a 3-wire single phase 120 volt, with a separate hot, neutral, and ground conductor for receptacle.
  3. The electrical contractor shall provide and install conduit and all other enclosures, as called out in the audiovisual device/equipment drawings unless explicitly noted otherwise. Conduit shall comply with NEC requirements for conduit installation. Cross reference and coordinate with the electrical drawings.
  4. All conduit shown is for audiovisual system signal cable and is not related to any conduit for AC power. Conduit quantities and sizes are specified based on the system requirements. Do not combine multiple parallel runs into larger conduits.
  5. The conduit paths of the sound, communication and video systems should not be routed near power transformers, SCR dimmers, power control equipment, heavy current switchgear, fluorescent ballasts, motors or any other equipment that may be a source of interference.
  6. All interior junction boxes shall be NEMA 1 rated unless otherwise specified and shall be provided with covers by the electrical contractor.
  7. All conduit connections shall be furnished with nylon bushings to prevent damage to cables from burred or unevenly cut conduit.
  8. All junction boxes are to be given a unique identifying number that shall be legibly written on the inside cover with permanent, non-fading, weatherproof ink.
  9. Keep 90° bends to a minimum. The conduit system shall not have more than three 90° bends or their equivalent between pull boxes.
  10. All conduit runs in excess of 100 feet shall have intermediate junction boxes every 100 feet or three bends, whichever comes first.
  11. All audio/visual system related junction boxes shall remain accessible at all times.
  12. Electrical contractor shall provide nylon pull strings in all conduits.
  13. Completed floor pocket installation must be installed flush with finished floor surface. Coordinate installation with the architectural drawings.
  14. Conduits must enter the floor pocket back box thru the bottom of the lower 2½ inches of the side walls.
  15. Provide adequate cover and bracing during concrete pouring, to prevent leakage and/or collapse of the back box. Pour concrete completely around the back box.
  16. No flex conduit is to be used in the audiovisual system unless otherwise noted.
  17. All conduits carrying audiovisual signals are not to be run parallel to power conduits if the spacing exceeds 20 feet.
  18. Conduit fill shall not exceed 40% unless otherwise noted.
  19. Insulate all conduits and enclosures from incoming conduits.
  20. All conduits shall be securely fastened to building structure every 10 feet and within 3 feet of each box.
  21. All conduits for audiovisual system shall be at least 3/4-inch trade size unless otherwise noted.
  22. All conduits shall be reamed and bushed at all ends.
  23. Electrical contractor shall refer to electrical drawings for all 120VAC conduit sizing.
  24. Electrical contractor shall refer to other drawings for non-audio/visual system related electrical information for these areas. Audio/visual system drawings do not contain all room electrical requirements.
  25. The electrical contractor shall install and wire all high voltage devices.
  26. All power circuits shall be 120VAC, 20 AMP dedicated circuits unless otherwise noted.
  27. 120VAC power to the equipment racks shall be terminated inside the racks to audio/visual system subcontractor-supplied isolated ground plugmold plugstrips or isolated ground quad convenience outlets.
  28. Conduit will be required between any and all loudspeakers unless the loudspeakers are associated with an accessible ceiling plenum.
  29. All cabling installed and free-run above finished ceiling shall be supported with J-hook cable management system. Coordinate any CAT5e/CAT6 cabling colors with data/voice contractor. No red jacketed cables are permitted.
  30. The general contractor shall be responsible for final coordination of all installation and finish requirements within items of millwork or casework.

TECALEMIT NO CG3020 Alternative to Zerk type oiler for bridgeport milling machine

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To oil the ways of the mill, oil must be applied daily. in order to do this (conveniently) most mills are fit with a hand pump that pushes oil through the machine through a series of pipes. my vintage machine does not have that…so a handhelf oiler must be used. Normally these come from zerk but I found an alternative in this vintage British made grease pump. Works a charm!

TECALEMIT NO CG3020

$20 on eBay, $100 in shipping and bs