Found a box of my dads old mixtapes, how do I play them without wrecking them?

by quietmornings on Jul 30, 2026(edited)

#cassettes#repair
Cleared out the garage this weekend and found a shoebox of my dads tapes from the eighties and nineties. I do not own a tape deck. What should I be looking for in one so that the first thing I do is not destroy something I cannot replace? And is there anything I should do to a tape that has been sitting in a garage for thirty years before I press play on it?
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1 reply

  • jojo-rewindcity on Jul 31, 2026(edited)

    for the tapes themselves: fast forward each one all the way through and rewind it before you play it. thirty years in a garage means the tape is packed tight and possibly a bit damp. if one squeals, stop immediately. if it squeals ive fixed it with silicone lubricant and a q tip before, theres videos on youtube.
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