Does anyone know if Cassette Tapes can be Re-Purposed for anything useful?

[msfiddlestix]

I have oodles and oodles of cassette tapes stashed in boxes and rubber maid storage bins in my closets, under my bed and lord knows where else and I'm finding myself once again sorting through each one, organizing by genre, many of which are actually field recordings from hundreds of jam sessions, several are master musicians either just jamming, or giving workshops, some are band practice sessions I even have master studio recordings for demo tapes etc etc etc. I can't seem to let them go.

But then reality reminds me, that I never ever listen to any of these tapes. not for years and years. so why bother keeping them I ask myself. can't recycle and I don't want them in the land fill.

But I think I have to make that decision right now.

Just toss them. in the garbage to be taken to the dump. once and for all. There are no other alternatives that I can think of.

Hence, the question: can cassette tapes re-purposed for anything useful. anyone know?

[msfiddlestix]

19. Thanks Chin music.. our thrift shop chains won't take them, cuz it's so old school.

I appreciate your input. Taking a breakfast break right now, but started sorting out "keepers"... at least I'll be able to make a significant dent in the collection which has been taking up space, collecting dust and adding to the clutterfication of my life!

I have four violins and a mandolin hanging on my wall. at least I play all of them. but the cases need the storage space so trading off what don't use with what I do use. that's the hard part.

[multigraincracker]

2. Here ya go.

"using casset tapes for crafts at DuckDuckGo image"
then hit enter.

[multigraincracker]

3. would most likely work with google too.

I just don't use it for a search engine because of spam.

[msfiddlestix]

20. ✔️ Ty n/t

[multigraincracker]

21. I was given 3 reels of fire hose.

Did the search and found lost of uses for crafts.

[llmart]

4. Pitch them.

No one wants cassette tapes any more. I have worked in libraries and am now a volunteer who takes donations and sorts them. We could never sell cassette tapes even years ago and then we tried putting boxes and boxes of them out for free but no one took them.

We have to trash any that people still may donate, but we rarely get any these days. Now it's DVD's. We have thousands and thousands of DVD's and sell them for a dollar at our used book sales, and some go, but not many. Same thing for CD's. Those seem to sell a little bit but each year less and less. There was a time when libraries made the decision to not carry VCR tapes too. We rarely get those donated any more but those go in the trash also.

[msfiddlestix]

22. ✔️ Ty n/t

[Binkie The Clown]

5. Uspool the tape and braid it to make dog leashes, friendship bracelets and other useful things. nt

[Sneederbunk]

6. Dental floss.

[Ferrets are Cool]

7. The ONLY thing less useful than cassette tapes......

[msfiddlestix]

14. bwhaaaaaaaaa! That says it all. Makes my decision easier to make.n/t

[Ferrets are Cool]

17. ...

[Ohio Joe]

8. Transfer them to MP3's...

Then upload them via some file sharing site. Share them with the world.

[msfiddlestix]

15. I saved them with that process in mind, but still haven't gotten 'round to it..

setting aside a few for that purpose...

toss the rest.

[OAITW r.2.0]

9. LPs - 8 tracks - CDs - to music sticks......

I am happy to just stream the music I want to listen to these days.

[bucolic_frolic]

10. Any media that fails becomes rare over time

So they become a bit rare and more valuable. I frequent thrift stores, I haven't seen diskettes in almost 5 years, and while I don't use them very much, those I do have are failing. It's the same with reel-to-reel tapes, and you can't find a recorder to fit and play old tapes for beans. If you have working 1940s TV's they're worth a bundle. Rarity is the theme here. So your old cassettes, if stored in average temp and humidity, rotated every 5-8 years, and of a quality brand might be worth something for those preserving the genre. They can be reused. On the other hand, some of my tapes failed, became too stuck to play, or lost their detail and had a muffled sound. Again, quality tapes. New ones go for a lot, just like VHS, but used ones low mileage brand names are good too.

On the negative side, cassette players and recorders use drive belts that have to be changed maybe every 10-15 years. That's a project.

[msfiddlestix]

23. good point. I had saved a stack of vinyls from over the years, and now vinyl is highly regarded...

once again. I have begun the process of re-sorting to keep a few that are just too meaningful to toss out, after consideration.

Thanks for the input.

I realize this seems so petty compared to the rest off world's crises. to have the luxury of having too much in a small space, almost seems ungrateful and self absorbed comparatively.

[IcyPeas]

11. Search for "framed cassette tapes". People do make art with them. Look in Etsy too.

Art for arts sake. I would definitely keep one or two and frame them just for memories. I tossed all of mine once my car didn't have a cassette player. Wished I had saved a few now in a frame.

[msfiddlestix]

24. Great Idea! I'll have to try this out! thank you!

[old as dirt]

12. Confetti?

[johnsolaris]

13. Do your Research !!!!

Hi,

Please do not throw them away !!! They can be repaired, look it up on the internet. Some of them might be valuable !! Some tapes go for a few hundred $$$$$. Last resort, there are tape players you can buy online that will convert tapes to digital. they look like the old boom boxes & are easy to use. I spent 35 years in the Radio/Broadcasting industry, you never know what little gem you might have & collectors will pay for them.

2nd last Resort, Do not take them to a 2nd hand re-sell place, worst thing you can do.Those that make fun of cassettes do not know what they are talking about !!!!!!! Do your Research, you might have free cash in your pocket.

[LuckyCharms]

16. Go to Ebay, do an Ebay search for "cassette tapes", then

on the left hand side of the page, click "sold items".

You will see that there is a market for them, and you should probably be able to sell yours.

[msfiddlestix]

25. Wow! That surprises me! I'll do that! Thanks!

[Emile]

18. I would hang on to them. I remember when vinyl was considered trash. 8 track

tapes are collectable with muscle car enthusiasts.

[msfiddlestix]

26. I had no idea, I'll try it this morning, see what kind of responses I get.

Thanks!

[VGNonly]

27. Cassetes

deteriorate over time; magnetic waves, heat, humidity, dirt, overplayed. If you can record to another medium, otherwise they will not last.