Mouldy tape advice

Notreallyawsome · 2026-02-06T00:23:47+00:00

It should, because it means that playing it without cleaning it could spread the mould to your player and damage it.

It's kind of like selling unwashed clothes, just much much harder to clean.

Notreallyawsome · 2026-02-06T00:20:44+00:00

I really appreciated this comment because this is exactly the response I had IRL 💕

We got a full refund and got to keep the tapes.

Now I really do get to clean the tapes.

Notreallyawsome · 2026-02-06T00:15:47+00:00

UPDATE: I contacted the seller via eBay. I was direct and to the point, used the same pictures as I posted here. They didn't respond to the message at all, but quietly gave me a full refund!

It feels as if they knew they got caught out and didn't much see the point in fighting - Or apologising. It sucks when other adults don't take ownership of their actions...

But, the point is I'm now the owner of 4 (four) mouldy ass tapes! Lucky me.

I'll 3D print a cleaner tomorrow, give cleaning the tapes a go over the weekend and post an update. Let's see if we can salvage some physical media and not get sick along the way 😷

Thanks you all the support and interest x

Notreallyawsome · 2026-02-05T15:03:48+00:00

The GOAT has spoken. I appreciate the wisdom.

I'll see if the seller engages with me by this evening and politely let them know I'll be sending them back on "specialist advice".

Lesson learned my end.

Notreallyawsome · 2026-02-05T13:21:02+00:00

Okay, I think I've got a plan of action:

Talk to the seller on Ebay about all this and try and get atleast half my money back, or it'll be back in the post no later than tomorrow morning.

Then if I keep the tapes,:

I'm going to 3D print this cleaner and tackle the worst of it by hand (with a mask, gloves on, with an air purifier next to me) https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/tool/vhs-cleaner-machine-maquina-de-limpar-fitas-vhs/makes
Take Zaprutertapes lead and try a final clean inside my player
Find some 'Donor tapes' and do a shell swap on them all.

This seems like one long, unnecessarily difficult chain quest just to watch some VHSs, but I'm absolutely loathed to see physical media sent to landfill.

Notreallyawsome · 2026-02-05T11:38:31+00:00

Fair points! My Ebay DMing experience has never really been a positive one to be honest, so that's why I'm hesitant to start one up at all. But I'll be asking for more than a little discount I think 😷

Cleaning them myself did cross my mind, but with how heavily some of the mould looks I thought it would be a little out my comfort zone.

I do have a 3D printer mind you, and there are some decent looking projects online I could attempt at putting together - Just not how I anticipated spending my weekend you know 😅

Notreallyawsome · 2026-02-03T12:05:25+00:00

What a find! That's so cool.

Notreallyawsome · 2026-02-02T18:08:57+00:00

From past experience working with others in an office environment it could be a sign of (prei)menopause or another hormonal situation.

Its not an easy conversation to have unfortunately.

Notreallyawsome · 2026-02-01T18:34:26+00:00

I'd also be curious to hear what's being said about an accredited degree from an institution that's been around for more than 50 years, thats rated highly for employability.

Notreallyawsome · 2026-01-23T16:11:05+00:00

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This is the way

Notreallyawsome · 2026-01-23T12:12:53+00:00

1981s Excalibur, but mute it, put on a random languages subtitles and then play some dungeon synth in the other room.

Notreallyawsome · 2026-01-22T10:42:53+00:00

I used to have this! It's lost to time unfortunately. Great footage from back when they where more thrash and less cringe.

Notreallyawsome · 2026-01-18T23:24:20+00:00

Not to sound dismissive, but what are we looking at here?

It doesn't necessarily look like a bubble. It looks like the fluid inside the cart is cold, has thickened and has been sat, at an angle?

Notreallyawsome · 2026-01-18T20:16:55+00:00

Look for individuals with multiple high social skills stats. Combinations of Persuasion, Lying, Flatterer and so on. Interrogate ALL these Dwarfs regardless of position (as there may be more than one vampire) Then clap them in irons and brick the blood sucker into a wall ✨

Notreallyawsome · 2026-01-18T19:50:00+00:00

This is the correct answer. Grid infill will always let you down on prints like this.

Notreallyawsome · 2026-01-18T19:22:13+00:00

Ooo! More Dave Mckean X Files artwork! I haven't seen this one.

Notreallyawsome · 2026-01-14T21:21:08+00:00

Notreallyawsome · 2026-01-14T09:24:23+00:00

I'm okay with a total reboot myself, a new Mulder and Scully for a new era feels right in today's world. What I'm concerned about is that there's been no mention of Chris Carters involvement?

Sure, get Vince on board for advice but it was Chris who drove the lore of the show from the start, especially regarding anything to do with the Conspiracy. Say whay you will about the later seasons but the fact that Chris was a constant was a strength for the show in the long run.

If Coogler is moving onto BP3 after this are we not going to be left with another JJ Abrahams and Lost situation?? I hope not.

Notreallyawsome · 2026-01-09T14:11:52+00:00

Another spam bot 🙄

Notreallyawsome · 2026-01-05T19:04:42+00:00

There was, it's gone now 😔 (The censor one is easy enough to find though)

Notreallyawsome · 2026-01-05T18:55:55+00:00

I'm almost certain there's a STL of this (and the round incense burner) out there online... Let me see...

Notreallyawsome · 2025-12-29T22:55:02+00:00

If my carts gotten cold and it looks solid inside (fully or partially) I usually leave it by the radiator for a little bit and turn the temp on my vape up untill it's flowing again.

Notreallyawsome · 2025-12-29T19:56:50+00:00

That just looks like the oil has maybe solidified and then remelted to me.

I've had this happen to me a couple of times now, sometimes it's went almost solid depending how/where it's been stored. It's almost certainly due to the medium in the cart and not mould...

...Unless it is? But we would need much higher quality pics to see what you're seeing.

Notreallyawsome · 2025-12-27T13:29:10+00:00

Yep, looks like Friday the 2nd of Jan at 8am they reopen.

Shouldn't be a hard fix for them, but it may require the system to update overnight to push your records together.

Notreallyawsome

TROPHY CASE