Re: How to use back side of 5.25 diskkette without punching

["Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com>]

jsnospam@cimmeri.com wrote:
> Just my 2 cents... don't flip disks in a single sided drive.
>
> Main reason being, you've got a felt pressure pad in there that's
> supposed to be replaced every year or so depending on amount of use.
> Read any Shugart service manual.   Since we no longer get replacements,
> these felt pads start getting quite dirty and even squishy after so
> long..acting more and more as an abrasive pad as time goes on.   Let
> the pad abrade one side only.    If you've got a true double sided
> drive, this isn't a problem.
>
> Secondary reason being, when you flip the disk, the rotational
> direction inside the sleeve reverses.. thus working to back out any
> crud that the inner liner has captured, sliding it into the felt pad,
> and some back to the other side of the liner.   Process reverses next
> flip to whatever degree.
>
> In the 8" world, all these effects were VERY noticeable... and are to
> me since I still use 8" drives.   Good habits to carry to the 5.25"
> drives.

I have to agree with Warren--this is all theory.

I have *never* seen a 5.25" "flippy" disk fail for any reason
related to flipping the disk.

If you actually disassemble some disks, you'll see that the working
environment for all reasonably well cared-for disks is quite clean,
and there is no visible dirt on the inside pads--except from a coke
spill or mold infection.  ;-)

And the pressure pad that picks up a little oxide becomes nothing
more dangerous than an inefficient burnishing pad.  Now, if it got
a steel filing stuck in it, that would be different (and injurious
to non-flippy disks), but they don't.

-michael

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