I just found a box of stuff that hasn't seen the light of day since my
company moved to our current building some 15 years ago.
In it was a Bulk Tape Eraser. The box pictures it being used on 5.25
floppies (as well as an 8 track tape and reel to reel tape). Is it safe
to use on floppy disks? I have a stack of HD 3.5's that I want to blank
out. Previously I just run them thru a computer to format them, but if a
bulk tape eraser can be used, it just saves me the trouble.
Also, how exactly are you supposed to use one? It has been as long since
I used one (probably this same one, used to use it to blank reel to reel
audio tapes). I thought I remembered that all you do is turn it on, hold
it over the item for a few seconds, wave it back and forth a bit, and
that was it. The item would be erased.
I just tried this one on a VHS video tape, it doesn't seem to do anything
to it. The picture is slightly distorted, but the tape is certainly not
blanked, not even close. I left it on for a good 30 to 45 seconds (the
label on the side of it says 1 minute on 20 minutes off, so I didn't want
to go beyond 1 minute).
It has a momentary switch on the handle, so it clearly isn't designed to
be left on very long. It makes a slight humm when on (and vibrates just a
touch, nothing visible, but you can feel it in your hand) so I assume it
is working. However, this is a Radio Shack brand item, so who knows if it
is doing what it should considering it is probably over 20 years old.
Any clues?
-chris
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Received on Mon Jun 17 2002 - 16:32:25 BST