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MMD > Archives > February 2012 > 2012.02.04 > 02Prev  Next


Music Roll Slips On Take-up Spool
By John Grant

Bob,  As you know, paper skidding has been around a long time.  While
it is most prevalent with new (or newer) rolls cut on "slicker" paper,
usually very long ones that have particularly loud passages toward the
end, I have also experienced it with some vintage rolls as well.

The high vacuum levels called up to play the these passages are also
found, of course, at each tracker bar hole, and provide an effective
retarding force on the paper, many times bring it to a complete stop
while the take-up spool continues to turn, tightening the many turns
of paper until, eventually, the drawing force of the take-up spool
over-comes the retarding force of the tracker bar vacuum and the
play continues.  Again, newer papers with less "tooth" to the surface,
are the more frequent villains.

Polishing the tracker bar can be helpful but is seldom the ultimate
solution.  Somewhat more effective is increasing the force of the
"drag brake" on the supply spool so that the layers of paper build up
with more "tightness" on the take-up spool.  But even this may not be
sufficient for particularly troublesome rolls, and can adversely affect
the Tempo calibration.

So now I am going to suggest something I have not actually tried
myself, but which my "thought experiment" says, theoretically, should
work.  If we accept the premise that the "slickness" of the paper is
at fault, then making it "rougher" should help, if not cure the problem.
Try this, of course, on a roll of which you have an extra, expendable
copy.

Obtain a "sanding sponge" of the type used for drywall finishing work.
3M product 051111026021 is one example but get the finest grit
available.  Then use a belt sander to create a slight bevel along each
of the sponge's edges.  This will help keep the edges of the sponge,
which are surprisingly sharp, from catching the edge of a punched hole
in the paper and ripping it.

Then unroll the roll, back-side up, on a long table and proceed to
lightly sand it with the sponge.  If this does not change the cosmetic
appearance of the paper appreciably, then it might be acceptable to
simply hold the sponge lightly against the front surface of the paper,
moving side-to-side, during rewind.  This would certainly be faster and
easier.  In his case, beveling the edges of the sponge may not be
necessary since they should not contact the paper anyway.

If anyone tries this, please post your results or other suggestions you
may have for "roughing up" the paper.

John Grant


(Message sent Sat 4 Feb 2012, 17:14:02 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Music, Roll, Slips, Spool, Take-up

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