I'm aware of two basic types of pressure pad in cassette tapes. Type 1, I'll call it, is a thin pad mounted on a thin & springy piece of metal. Type 2 is thicker (deeper, taller,...) and mounted on a non-springy piece of metal. I diligently save both types from tapes that can't be rescued, but I am out of Type 2s and every seller I've seen (eBay, Amazon, Ali, etc.) seems to be only providing Type 1s. Is there anyone supplying Type 2s or is there something else I can use that performs well and is durable? Thanks in advance for any help.
The search results can be different depending on the country you search from, I was hoping to see other results than what you were gettting.
@DutchNick Is it possible to change typ1 and typ2 , so can you put type 1 in a cassette, where is typ 2 originally installed ? And vice versa ? Or is there missing the slot for typ 1 in typ 2 cassettes ?
You could replace a full Type 1 (including the spring) with a Type 2, *if* there is a good enough base area to glue the Type 2 pad to. It's very difficult trying to get a Type 1 - including spring - into a shell. I have never managed it. If you have a damaged Type 1, that can't be fixed by just gluing a new pad onto the spring, the best advice (probably) is to remove the Type 1 completely and replace with Type 2. Incidentally, earlier in the thread Mister X provided a link to a US-based provider of the Type 2 pads. Sourcing form the US can get expensive for those of us who don't live there - but I found a thread on tapeheads and copied this advice from it: "I'll go to the hardware store, and buy a roll of weather stripping. Then you can cut your own pads. Weather stripping is softer than foam rubber upholstery and more like the original pads and you do not need to cut it or shape it to the correct thickness. I also go to the dollar store, and get some crafting felt, nice purple coloured felt, and you can glue down the weather stripping on the little white plastic strip from the original (dry rotted) foam pressure pad. and for good measure peel the sticky side of the weather stripping and put a little piece of the felt on that side and carefully trim it to shape, voila!" That poster also provided this damn good advice(!): "Then once that's taken care of, all you have to worry about are the splices. If you are playing a tape that you haven't tested, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS catch the tape at the splice and check it to make sure the splice is secure!!! (Generally it is NOT secure anymore and the glue is not strong enough to hold it together) Any time I've had a tape deck eat a tape it's because I didn't make sure the splice was ok. Sometimes the splice comes off before the tape catches it in the roller but sometimes still feeds itself back inside the cartridge and it's a real mess to deal with if the splice goes back into the tape and isn't winding properly. Really the hardest thing to do is open up a cartridge without damaging the label or the printing on the shell, especially if it's a rare or collectible tape, I'd leave those alone unless you're ok with all that. There is a real skill to this, it takes patience, remember: you can't rush ART!!!" That's all from me for now.
But, if a typ 1 is damaged, aren`t you able to change it with any other typ 1 from another, may be used cassette ? Aren`t the measures standardized ? I know, there are more variations of method of constructions, but all i know have the same length, also means the position of the angled ends.
Now i understand the problem - you mean the difficulties with non-screwed, but glued cassettes - yes, that`s really a problem.
I should have been clear about the construction of the cassette! Screwed ones, pretty easy; glued ones, often a matter of luck (or age) as to how easily and neatly they split. Generally, splitting a glued cassette is a last-resort option and you should be prepared to do a re-shell if it goes wrong.
Just found this site, they carry different kinds of pressure pads. Also other handy things like tab plugs. https://tapeheadcity.com/collections/repair-replacement
