Disposing of Video Casseettes

HB13DISH

What is the best way to dispose of a video cassette that has personal recordings on them?

I have a lot of cassettes that are taking up space and weigh a lot compared to a DVD disc, but I don't want to erase the content first using a VCR as it can take ages and can wear out the VCR machine.
Also I don't need a back up like recording to a DVR. Just want to throw them away.
I can dismantle the cassette and then take out the tape reel and throw it away in the dust bin after giving it a bash with a hammer, but I am looking for a better idea.
Wish they invented the DVD-RW discs first instead of these horrid tape cassettes.

BombedOne

take heavy magnet from old speaker
slide it along cassete case several times up-down
you've done.

acezon

Im not quick enough, i was also going to say use a magnet,

HB13DISH

Did you try this yourself and does it erase it completely all along the whole reel or just a portion?

acezon

if the magnet is strong enough it should effect the whole tape, but ive not tried it to clear a tape i just know that it will effect the tape, but always worth trying if you have a magnet around

SST12

Magnet does not wipe all of it, a burning bin does

compufunk

I was also going to suggest a strong magnet.

Or, submerge them in sugary water and they'll be practically useless.

You cant beat good old brute force though. Smashing things up with a hammer is very therapeutic , as is burning things.

HB13DISH

I don't like burning plastic as it will cause air pollution.
Will go the dismantling option, and then take out the reel and cut the tape with a sharp knife or a hacksaw along it's radius.
You are right compufunk. I feel good already just thinking about it.

Topper

If you wanted something different, I can recommend the lemony smelling mosquito oil, nobody will be able to play the tapes again. I know this from the bitter experience of packing some such spray in my suitcase with all the full tapes returning from a trip to Turkey about 10 years ago. I still have the camera.....

Oh and the magnet will work very well if placed over the top of the tape whilst it is moving, but unless you have an external winding mechanism this is not practical, this used to work very well with reel to reel audio recorders

War does not determine who is right, it determines who is left!

Formerly toppervte33h
whose six pack has turned into a keg

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Analoguesat

Put the tape spools in a bucket then chuck some acetone (nail varnish remover) on them

Should crinkle them up nicely.

Analoguesat's message to the world Analogue forever!

Site Services

Stick them in a bucket and pour a saucepan of boiling water over them, that'll do the job.

nanochickin

Give them to the kids to play with

My kids are very good a destroying them



Nano

BombedOne

Depends on magnet...

Generally, in worst case you'll have "second something visible, another second - nothing".

The best results I've obtained was using tv degauss coil - 100% erase, tape was so heavily damaged, that can't be even recorded again.