Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004
posted July 13, 2014 09:43 PM
I'll also say to Pat: "Please don't leave." Everything is a matter of opinion and I was interested to hear about the test described.
As an example of a different point of view regarding VS, dare I say that personally I think it's a waste of time cleaning a projector that has projected a VS film. VS isn't a virus, it's a chemical reaction. The chances of miniscule amounts of VS-induced gas setting off VS while a subsequent print momentarily goes through a projector is virtually impossible in my opinion, but if anyone thinks otherwise and can find the time for extra cleaning, good luck to them.
I'm inclined to think that cases where VS appears to have spread in a big way are linked to situations in which a lot of prints have been stored in too hot conditions. There have been cases in which people have found a VS print right next to another on the same reel, and the other print is fine. Clearly some films are more susceptible than others.
Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013
posted July 13, 2014 10:33 PM
What's wrong with reporting an experience made on a copy that was on the way to be lost anyway ? As he said, Pat did not advise to repeat it on good prints. And, Doug, thanksfully, Pat did not say neither that he would leave us !
quote:As an example of a different point of view regarding VS, dare I say that personally I think it's a waste of time cleaning a projector that has projected a VS film. VS isn't a virus, it's a chemical reaction.
Yes, I agree. It's not contagious, as I said a few posts earlier.
posted July 15, 2014 08:52 AM
Greetings fellow film enthusiasts!
Ok I took Pat's Febreze challenge and applied it on a VS Film. I did this on Saturday and used the Hawaiian Aloha scent and placed it in the can and checked it this morning and no VS Smell! It's like one of my magic tricks the VS smell totally disappeared Amazing! Thanks for sharing Pat
Also on the subject of Pat he made me a really nice black vinyl dust cover for my Elmo ST-1200HD. He even added the ELMO name logo on the front of the cover. (Elmo would be proud) It sure beats my plastic bag I was using and his price was really reasonable for all the work he put into this project. So if anyone is interested in a custom dust cover for your projector PM Pat.
Posts: 1373
From: Penistone Sheffield UK
Registered: Oct 2012
posted July 15, 2014 10:17 AM
Roger, What was the film called. When I read your post my brain inserted Elvis in to Hawaiian Aloha, we could have smell-o-vision
-------------------- I love the smell of film in the morning.
posted July 16, 2014 07:16 PM
I used febreeze on a stinky 35mm reel of 'TOYS' that had a severe VS. I did it purely as an experiment as it was a faded odd reel anyway. That was in march of 2013, the film still has no odour and there don't appear to be any ill effects so far. The reel was run once in April, and I ran it again this morning after reading this thread and being amazed that someone else was crazy enough to give it a go.
So, not exactly evidence that it won't wreck a film, but just over a year in and it doesn't appear to have caused any damage so far, and my shed doesn't smell like salad dressing any more.
Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011
posted July 16, 2014 07:53 PM
Pat and Pete...Your willingness to think Out-of-the-box is a refreshing example of serendipity. Creativity and discovery is what we need to extend the life cycle and the enjoyment we get from this hobby. "Nothing ventured...nothing gained." Thanks guys
-------------------- Janice
"I'm having a very good day!" Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).
Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013
posted July 21, 2014 02:05 PM
It is interesting to learn that the smell doesn't come back after several months. That would worth further investigations.
Posts: 979
From: Manassas, VA. USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted October 06, 2014 06:33 AM
Sometimes I feel that the vinegar smell of film is similar to pain in a person. The pain is telling you something is wrong with your body. The vinegar smell in film is telling you something is wrong with that film.....that the chemical decomposition is ongoing. From all I have read and heard from experts, masking the smell merely hides the fact that the film is still deteriorating. It also opens up the possibility that a person selling films could use whatever type compound to mask the smell and sell the vinegar syndrome films to unsuspecting buyers.
posted April 19, 2019 04:01 PM
I know this is an old thread, but has anybody else tried using Febreze to mask the vinegar odor smell? I'd like to try it but want to see if anybody has seen any ill effects.
As long as this doesn't accelerate vinegar syndrome then I'd be all for it.
Posts: 1423
From: Weymouth,Dorset,England
Registered: Oct 2012
posted April 20, 2019 01:46 AM
Pat Don't take the criticism to heart. I also have tried a formula which I posted on here and received negative comments, but if a film is affected anything is worth a try because it is doomed anyway. Unless people try then nothing will be achieved. I love to read your posts. You have a great sense of humour, which always makes me smile and lightens up sometimes dull posts. Please do not leave us
Posts: 55
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Aug 2017
posted April 29, 2019 08:56 AM
Well, that is how most forums are. Don't worry about the critics. Just do your tests and move on. Lots of anal people, esp collectors.
I will give it try but I will soak it in Fabreze and then dry it off to age after a few days. But then it has to be aged a long time to see how archival it is.
Larry Urbanski gave me some good advice. He said to air out the films for 6 months or so on a shelf. Then the smell becomes very low or goes away in some cases. Put it in a ventilated can and it should slow down the decomposition. If you can freeze, then all the better. I can't freeze, so I air out. If you can't fix VS, slow it down.
Here are a couple of posts on this subject where I did tests.