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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsAny ideas on how to "shred"/destroy ruined VHS tapes? 9 of them.
They've been "stored" outside for months and got rained on and whatever. Who knows what's on them (not porn, maybe a little family stuff), maybe some movies.
First, I tried hand over hand unspooling: Egad, it must be miles and miles!1
Then tried punching out the center of the spools to "cake" the tape out in one piece, no go.
Even, a hacksaw through the roll of tape. The stuff is indestructible!1
Now I'm thinking the tapes can't be ruined after all for being indestructible. Maybe should try VIEWING them?!1
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)when I started work back in the very old days, we used to have to walk through magnet detectors because they were terrified we would lay a magnet on a tape or disk.
UTUSN
(70,740 posts)THEN punching out the leftover core of the spool. I doubt anybody in the recycling center will go to the trouble of repairing and viewing these tapes, but this paranoid "security" has filtered down to my level. I also reconcile the monthly receipts with the bank statement and shred. Ugh.
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)arcane1
(38,613 posts)"Maybe should try VIEWING them?"
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)And drive your car over them.
UTUSN
(70,740 posts)UTUSN
(70,740 posts)UTUSN
(70,740 posts)grab hold of the whole rolled tape and TWIST it off of the core. On to the pancakes!1
rug
(82,333 posts)seveneyes
(4,631 posts)Which depends on the desire and ability of the arson at hand.
LiberalElite
(14,691 posts)if they're ruined, then they're in a sense destroyed already. There were lots of programs that at the time seemed soooo important I had to tape them. But I never got around to watching them. Unfortunately I didn't bother to label the VHS tapes and, over time I amassed dozens of "mystery tapes." One day I just put them in a big garbage bag and sent them down the garbage chute.
UTUSN
(70,740 posts)Special Prosciuto
(731 posts)With an electric drill, with a wide bit or auger, drill right through the bulk of the rolled tape - not the center of the spool, that would just spin it. That should put thousands of breaks in the tape.
UTUSN
(70,740 posts)not for destruction for now, although I don't even have one of those players anymore. Will keep this in mind, thanks.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)sharp_stick
(14,400 posts)to specify "not porn".
You know us pretty well around here don't you?
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)A big, whompin' electromagnet should work nicely and scramble all those little bits of ferrite.