Any ideas on how to "shred"/destroy ruined VHS tapes? 9 of them.

[UTUSN]

They've been "stored" outside for months and got rained on and whatever. Who knows what's on them (not porn, maybe a little family stuff), maybe some movies.

First, I tried hand over hand unspooling: Egad, it must be miles and miles!1

Then tried punching out the center of the spools to "cake" the tape out in one piece, no go.

Even, a hacksaw through the roll of tape. The stuff is indestructible!1

Now I'm thinking the tapes can't be ruined after all for being indestructible. Maybe should try VIEWING them?!1

[hollysmom]

1. try a big magnet.

when I started work back in the very old days, we used to have to walk through magnet detectors because they were terrified we would lay a magnet on a tape or disk.

[UTUSN]

4. Good idea. What seems to be working is breaking off both sides of each spool and

THEN punching out the leftover core of the spool. I doubt anybody in the recycling center will go to the trouble of repairing and viewing these tapes, but this paranoid "security" has filtered down to my level. I also reconcile the monthly receipts with the bank statement and shred. Ugh.

[NYC_SKP]

2. ~ fire ~

[arcane1]

3. A big-ass magnet, maybe?

"Maybe should try VIEWING them?"

[MicaelS]

5. Lay them on the ground..

And drive your car over them.

[UTUSN]

6. Down to SIX!1 With the break-spool/punch-core method n/t

[UTUSN]

7. THREE to go!1 I'm going to deserve my frozen pancakes when done!1 n/t

[UTUSN]

8. ANnnnd *done*!1 The speediest evolution was to break off ONE side of the spool, then

grab hold of the whole rolled tape and TWIST it off of the core. On to the pancakes!1

[rug]

11. Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.

[seveneyes]

9. Thermite or just a log fire

Which depends on the desire and ability of the arson at hand.

[LiberalElite]

10. To me,

if they're ruined, then they're in a sense destroyed already. There were lots of programs that at the time seemed soooo important I had to tape them. But I never got around to watching them. Unfortunately I didn't bother to label the VHS tapes and, over time I amassed dozens of "mystery tapes." One day I just put them in a big garbage bag and sent them down the garbage chute.

[UTUSN]

12. exactly. nt

[Special Prosciuto]

13. Put the case in a vise with the top or bottom facing you.

With an electric drill, with a wide bit or auger, drill right through the bulk of the rolled tape - not the center of the spool, that would just spin it. That should put thousands of breaks in the tape.

[UTUSN]

14. Ah. Well, I do have some other ones that are stored properly but are more identifiable and

not for destruction for now, although I don't even have one of those players anymore. Will keep this in mind, thanks.

[Blue_Tires]

15. fire?

[sharp_stick]

16. I love the fact that you had

to specify "not porn".

You know us pretty well around here don't you?

[hifiguy]

17. Agreed with magnets.

A big, whompin' electromagnet should work nicely and scramble all those little bits of ferrite.