[rescue] VS80 DLT tape drive question

[Curtis H. Wilbar Jr.]

Mr Ian Primus wrote:
> --- "Curtis H. Wilbar Jr." <rescue at hawkmountain.net>
> wrote:
>
>   
>> The RS eraser.... NO GO !  I gave it 30 seconds on
>> the top,
>> 30 seconds on the bottom, I can still READ ! the
>> tape....
>>
>>     
>
> Hmm. I was afraid of that. Well, you need to find
> something that puts out a stronger magnetic field than
> the eraser you have. A TV degaussing coil might be a
> good thing to try next. You can also make a tape
> eraser out of a really big transformer. Simply find a
> nice big heavy transformer, and knock all the
> laminations out of it. Separate all the laminations
> and line them up the same way. (they alternate, you
> want to have them all pointing the same way). Stick it
> all back together and hook up a mains cord. Wrap the
> whole mess in duct tape. Instant bulk eraser. Don't
> leave it on too long though.
>
>   
>> What sort of bulk eraser would be required to do DLT
>> tape ?
>>
>> Or since DLT has been around long enough... just try
>> finding used
>> DLT8000 formatted media or unused media... ?
>>     
>
> Any used media should be fine, you just need something
> to erase it. Experiment with stuff that generates an
> electromagnetic field, try making your own, etc.
> Basically, just look for things with nice big coils of
> wire.
>
> Actually, perhaps you could use the magnet out of a
> hard drive, mount it to a bracket on an old DLT4000
> drive with a head problem (but will still load tape)
> such that it will almost, but not quite, touch the
> tape as it goes by. Load the tape, then unload it.
> That _might_ do it. All you really need to do to get
> the drive to recognize it and rewrite it is to screw
> up the initial header at the BOT. That should work,
> but no guarantees - I've never tried it.
>   
I thought of the magnet idea.... but I don't have a DLT drive to
sacrifice :-) I do however have HD magnets ! :-)


> Hmm, or maybe if you duct tape the cartridge to the
> side of your car's alternator... <grin>
>
>   

I'm sure that would have worked nice on my 5.5 hour commute
yesterday (which is normally an hour !)... albeit I doubt the drive
would have liked the water... (or ice if I didn't give it time to thaw)

-- Curt

> -Ian
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