See Eddie Ciletti's page on using a food dehydrator for a great way to dry tapes...
I have a bit of trouble with som old ReVoxes if they've been sitting for a long time in a damp enviromnent, check the hubs where the brake bands grab. ReVox did it the 'opposite way' to a lot of manufacturers, in that the brake band is just a sliver of spring steel, and the 'friction' material is stuck on the hub. If the adhesive breaks down, it can become gooey and leech through the fabric of the friction layer, gluing itself -either partly or completely- to the brake band.
A quick check for giooey white mess around the brake bands is all it tales to eliminate or confirm this particular issue...
Keith