Bulk erasing MiniDV tapes??? at DVinfo.net

Frederic Segard · September 20th, 2005, 07:58 PM

OK! I'm stumped!

Wanting to wipe the slate clean on some 200 MiniDV tapes (Blacking is way to long for such a task), I got my hands on an old bulky and very heavy bulk eraser. A few days ago, I decided to use it on my MiniDV tapes. Hold and behold... Nothing! Not one dropped frame on the whole tape. I then take a VHS tape, pass it through the eraser, and whamo! Gone! No more video.

I figure the EM field is way too weak for the new formulations on DV tape. Or perhaps age and overuse got the better of the coils? Anyhow, I shop around the usual electronics store to buy a new one... only to be surprised by not finding any.

So where does one find a powerful bulk eraser capable of completely flushing DV tapes?

Glenn Chan · September 20th, 2005, 08:40 PM

miniDV tape uses metal evaporated (technology). It has much higher coercivity than metal particle (i.e. VHS), which makes it much harder to erase.

Apparently the HIGH power version of the radio shack / realistic tape eraser will do it. I have the normal version... it doesn't work. You just get a rolling band of dropouts.

Bob Rosen · July 18th, 2007, 04:48 PM

Anyone out there with a tip on a bulk tape eraser for MiniDV's? I have wasted my money on 2 of them so far with no luck.

Tom Hall · September 11th, 2007, 11:00 PM

I managed to destroy a bunch of tapes by accidentally putting a powerful earth magnet next to them if that counts for anything.

September 20th, 2005, 07:58 PM	#1
Frederic Segard Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 209	Bulk erasing MiniDV tapes??? OK! I'm stumped! Wanting to wipe the slate clean on some 200 MiniDV tapes (Blacking is way to long for such a task), I got my hands on an old bulky and very heavy bulk eraser. A few days ago, I decided to use it on my MiniDV tapes. Hold and behold... Nothing! Not one dropped frame on the whole tape. I then take a VHS tape, pass it through the eraser, and whamo! Gone! No more video. I figure the EM field is way too weak for the new formulations on DV tape. Or perhaps age and overuse got the better of the coils? Anyhow, I shop around the usual electronics store to buy a new one... only to be surprised by not finding any. So where does one find a powerful bulk eraser capable of completely flushing DV tapes?

July 18th, 2007, 04:48 PM	#3
Bob Rosen Tourist Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 2	Bulk Erasing Mini DV's? Anyone out there with a tip on a bulk tape eraser for MiniDV's? I have wasted my money on 2 of them so far with no luck.

September 20th, 2005, 08:40 PM	#2
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	miniDV tape uses metal evaporated (technology). It has much higher coercivity than metal particle (i.e. VHS), which makes it much harder to erase. Apparently the HIGH power version of the radio shack / realistic tape eraser will do it. I have the normal version... it doesn't work. You just get a rolling band of dropouts.

September 11th, 2007, 11:00 PM	#4
Tom Hall New Boot Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 22	I managed to destroy a bunch of tapes by accidentally putting a powerful earth magnet next to them if that counts for anything.