K0⁰

It's also known as something related to Scotch tape (as 3M would call).

The block has a channel in it with a gently concave polished face. The tape sits in the channel (well most of the time!) while you can apply the splicing tape.

Your KZfaq videos in this series have been invaluable in teaching me how to disassemble, repair and reassemble Video8 cassettes, and how to fix the 'sticky mould' problem. I was able to recover and digitise footage of irreplaceable family memories which I thought had been lost for ever from two badly damaged cassettes . I don't have professional equipment, but managed to do reasonable quality perpendicular non-overlapping splices by following your examples, and in the absence of an 8mm splicing block I used (non-ferrous!) coins as weights to hold the tape in position as demonstrated in another KZfaq video: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284165784423 (although I only applied the splicing tape to the side of the magnetic tape which is not in contact with the tape head!). I didn't have an electrical tape winder, but used the shells of two sacrificed cassettes to hold the spools directly opposite each other, and manually wound them fully forward then back again before reassembling (not too arduous if only doing 2 cassettes: took about 15 min per spool to fully transport tape in one direction). Thanks again for sharing your expert advice.

Update: I bought my splicing tape from a UK based eBayer who was incredibly helpful. Following our correspondence, he has recently started to manufacture and sell high quality CNC 8mm aluminium splicing blocks: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284165784423 I now have no need for an 8mm splicing block, as I've repaired all my broken cassettes; but hope this information is helpful to others in the UK who are looking for splicing blocks for Video8 and similar formats (I have no commercial interest to declare).

That's due to mould on the tape. I've done a detailed video about that problem.

@@video99couk Thanks I'll check it out!

Most (not all) Digital8 camcorders make very analogue 8mm players. Consider a TVR-120E, they appear on eBay. Not cheap though.

A good splice is safe to run past video heads. There will be disruption to the picture for a few seconds as the splice runs over the head drum, but that's all.

There can be several reasons. If the tape has been folded over along one edge by a faulty camcorder, then the spools fill up with too much tape since it no longer sits flat. I cover this in another video. The tape could be sticky due to grease from a mechanism having got onto the tape. There could be other issues though I don't think sticky-shed is the cause in your case.

The damaged parts will have a corrupted picture and sound but it will still play. Just don't start fixing snaps with Sellotape because that will foul the heads or worse.

It will generally play fine in a camcorder like that, but bigger decks like the Sony EV-S9000E won't accept a damaged tape.

If it is crinkled, it may have been folded over along one edge by a camcorder with a defective pinch roller. It's almost impossible to recover a tape which has been folded over like that. But if the tape damage is only over a short section of tape, the rest may be recoverable. It needs to be looked at by someone who knows what they are doing. You can contact me if you wish via colin@video99.co.uk or my website video99.co.uk

Actually I've found Sony head cleaner tapes to be excellent, they are my go-to brand for head cleaners, along with TDK.

@@video99couk thankyou very much

I prefer to use chamois swab sticks with 99% IPA to clean the heads on camcorders and VCR's. It's the safest and most effective way to clean the video heads. I'd use a piece of print paper soaked in 99% IPA too if I don't have anything else at hand.

@@video99couk I have used the Sony head cleaner tape and it worked perfect. Thank you very much for the advice. I have another question: How does the splicing block to keep the tape in place? Does it have something like a sticky surface?

I just want the assurance that if one day I want to open it up again, I can. For now, the screw just won’t come out 😭

It might be that you missed the screw hole and put it into one of the ident holes nearby. They are sometimes confused. It probably won't do any harm.

I've done it on VHS tapes. Yes you can do it but the clear plastic flange has to sit perfectly flush with the hub of the reel.

No, but see my first video on Chris Squires of savethosememories.co.uk who does: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/obGdpZCkm77MqWg.html Also I'm just about to release a new YT video on the same subject this week.

Don't confuse 8mm video with 8mm film. You need a professional scanner to transfer from 8mm film. One that scans the film one frame at a time (this is crucial for restoration jobs) and ideally equiped with wetgate. I use the HDS+ from Filmfabriek. These are pricy but are worth every penny. Please don't use that crap made in China (Wolverine).

@@josegti84 Yes I know the diffrence beetween Video 8 and Super 8. But I have some super 8 movies and Im wondering how youre supposed to transfer them since the only super 8 machines where projectors. Im going to buy a scanner then since I want to transfer the movies

@@SwedishRetroTechNerd You can build your own scanner using parts from a projector but that usually takes skill and lots of time.

If you're going to play the tape in a camcorder, you can leave the spring out. If you're going to play it on a mains machine then maybe transplant the spools over to different shell.

I had the same issue, it is actually easy when you look at the process. Assemble the case with the lever in but without the spring and scew it together. Then lay the cassette upside down, the spring is a strip with a 'V', lay the spring with the v pointing down ito the gap between the lever and the case and then push it into the gap using a cocktail stick in the back of the V until both ends click into place. The spring folds in half and pushes on the back of the lever and the case.

Some don't and that's a pain. You have to break open the shell by force and transplant it into a cassette shell which does have screws.

In the case of Scotch branded tapes, just miss it out. It's hellish to get the spring in the right place. Most video recorders and camcorders will work fine with the spring and latch missing (though a few models won't tolerate it).

@@video99couk mine doesnt tolerate it though

Video8 tapes are metal formulation. You would be amazed how much magnetic energy it takes to erase one.

Regular scotch tape is usually ok for a quick repair job but it's a temporary fix. The best way to repair these tapes is with professional splicing tape. The worst thing about these butchery jobs is that most of he times the bad splices are hidden and when you finally see them it's too late. That's why I always use a dedicated rewinder before actually digitizing the tapes. You usually spot the bad splices with a close up inspection of the reels.