I would ask Rich Hess if he thinks the complete peeling of coatings would've been fixed if not run first. I suspect not.
Splices are another matter. Generally, we have mostly Scotch white splicing tape and later on, some blue. I bake, then spool in library mode to check splices and general condition, and repack. If the splices seem to be holding, I go for a transfer, trying to listen carefully for audible anomalies especially at splices - sometimes they can slip a bit. Sometimes, the original splice is just at a bad spot (these are not commercial release recordings). Sometimes, the splice has left some goo on the adjacent layer of tape (usually at the edges), causing a stick-bobble during play. On these I use a dry soft cotton wipe to try to reduce the goo enough to play without damaging the oxide. Sometimes the splice just falls apart, in which case it has to be redone. I have been using a bit of Goo-Gone on a cloth to try to remove adhesive residue; put the tape end on a pad of paper, wipe longitudinally down toward the end of the tape, of course. I can usually remove most adhesive without taking off much, if any, back coat. Then re-do the splice. I try to take care since Ampex polyester will stretch rather than snap if deformed. Goo-Gone appears to be a lemon-scented oil type adhesive remover; alcohol would remove the coatings immediately. I have no clue whether Goo-Gone is doing other harm either short or long term, but consider these transfers to most likely be the last time these reels will ever be touched.
Sometimes I have to do a transfer 2-3 times if enough problems crop up, including just getting the levels wrong. It seems I can surf the web and still hear most, if not all, anomalies during a transfer!