Special cleaning cassettes are available to remove snow from 8mm equipment.
A snowy picture on an 8 mm video tape is almost always due to dirt and dust accumulations on the head of the camcorder or video cassette player used for playback of the cassette. These contaminants make it difficult and eventually impossible for the tape heads on the 8 mm camcorder or VCR to read the analog information on the tape. Because the heads cannot get a clear signal off the tape, the translated image resembles snow flickering on the screen, with occasional waves of light and noticeably diminished sound quality. A good cleaning is the solution.
Instructions
1. Place 4 to 5 drops of 8 mm cleaner solution in the cleaning cassette through each of the designated holes. There is typically a hole on top and a hole on the bottom of the cassette for the cleaning solution.
2. Insert the cassette in the camcorder or VCR, press "Play" and run the cleaning product for 30 seconds to remove dust and dirt from the tape path and the electronic heads inside the equipment.
3. Remove the cleaning cassette and allow any residual cleaning solution to evaporate completely.
4. Test playback by inserting an 8 mm cassette in the equipment to check for a cleaner image. If snowy interference persists, remove the cassette.
5. Dip the end of a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and swab the tape heads inside the camcorder or VCR for a more thorough cleaning. The heads are metallic and shiny, typically located straight down inside the tape compartment in a camcorder.
6. Spray compressed air directly on the 8 mm cassettes and around all openings in the tape mechanism to remove dust that can build up on the tape heads in the camcorder or VCR.
Tags: cleaning solution, tape heads, cleaning cassette, heads camcorder, heads inside, remove dust, tape heads camcorder