For a current list of degrading analog tapes, click here.
Teaching people how to identify tapes that are suffering from sticky shed syndrome is often difficult.
I would like to propose that a careful inspection of how the tape comes off the pack may be a good way. Please provide comments as to how it’s working for you.
The tape should come off the tape pack at a precise tangent to the tape. If the tape starts to adhere and not pull off straight, that is a sure sign that the tape needs baking.
Of course, don’t bake acetate tapes even if they show this indicator, but on the last batch of questionable SSS tapes, I’ve been looking at this and it’s a fair indicator, and it seems to show at the outer edge of the pack.
More than one “test” or “factor” is needed to be sure, but this one is looking good.
Another almost sure sign of SSS is brown oxide and black back-coat.