8mm Forum: 8mm film being covered in wax?

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Topic: 8mm film being covered in wax?

Jon Addams
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 638
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Apr 2007

posted December 24, 2011 09:46 AM

This morning I received an email from a friend in the transfer business in which he asked the following questions:

“Have you ever heard of some 8mm film being covered in wax? Apparently they did it to some 8mm and I have now ruined 2 customer’s film by cleaning the wax off and the pictures become un-viewable. I feel awful about this and I need to know how to determine if the film is covered in wax. Have you heard of this?”

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Thank you

Jon

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Jon Addams
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 638
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Apr 2007

posted December 26, 2011 07:28 PM

Anyone?

[ December 27, 2011, 01:55 AM: Message edited by: Jon Addams ]

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Graham Sinden
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1131
From: Kent, UK
Registered: Aug 2005

posted December 27, 2011 04:13 AM

Jon I cant shed any light on your original story except to say that Im pretty sure that 'Cresclean' film cleaner contains small amount of wax in its mixture to help prevent scratching.

Graham S

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Michael O'Regan
Film God

Posts: 3085
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Oct 2007

posted December 27, 2011 04:25 AM

I seem to remember hearing about a substance which was at one time used to "treat" 16mm prints by coating them in a waxy layer, though I can't remember any more details.

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Ricky Daniels
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 587
From: London & Kent UK
Registered: Jul 2003

posted December 27, 2011 04:27 AM

Merry Christmas.
Film treatment used to include 'waxing' but I've never heard of it being used on 8mm.
Best,
Rick

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John Clancy
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1954
From: Cornwall
Registered: Jun 2003

posted December 28, 2011 03:05 AM

Thermofilm used to contain a lot more wax than it did in the finish.

Never heard of this problem though so I'd like to know what really went on. Is it possible that rubbish Derann were selling called 'Liquid Film Cleaner' was used on an acetate home movie. I would expect the end result would be a print that was irrepairably damaged. Sadly Derann wrongly assumed that because Film Lab North used this film cleaner it was okay to use on Super 8 prints. It turned out it was only suitable for polyester prints and caused shrinkage on acetate prints which meant they could never be projected again.

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British Film Collectors Convention home page www.bfcc.biz. The site is for the whole of the film collecting hobby and not just the BFCC.

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Mark Williams
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 846
From: West Sussex
Registered: Mar 2007

posted December 28, 2011 04:32 AM

I believe most airline prints were waxed by the labs to protect the prints from scratching due to there heavy use.

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Jon Addams
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 638
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Apr 2007

posted December 28, 2011 03:16 PM

My sincere thanks to all of you who responded, I appreciate the input.

Happy New Year

Jon

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Michael De Angelis
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1261
From: USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted December 28, 2011 03:26 PM

35mm prints are edge waxed and after a full run, are eventually trashed.

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Isn't it great that we can all communicate about this great
hobby that we love!

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Wayne Tuell
Master Film Handler

Posts: 488
From: Minden, NV
Registered: Jul 2009

posted December 28, 2011 09:34 PM

Jon, is there any idea of how old the film may have been?

I remember waaaaay back in jr.high my science teacher had an old Polaroid type camera that dated back to the late 1800's or early 1900's. He explained how the modern (at that time) Polaroid camera picture would go through a process upon exiting the camera that would stabilize the image...and how the original type film needed to be waxed so the image would not scratch off the paper with even the slightest abrasion. He took a picture of the class, then lightly rubbed the image with his nail and the emulsion would come off...then he waxed it and he could not rub off the image even with mild force.

I'd be real curious if this was a process used in early films. maybe give the L.O.C. a call on the issue.

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www.16mmDrive-InFilms.com

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Jon Addams
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 638
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Apr 2007

posted December 28, 2011 10:02 PM

quote:
Jon, is there any idea of how old the film may have been?

I have no idea Wayne but I will check with my friend and post back.

Jon

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Scott Mallory
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 146
From: Montreal, QC
Registered: Jan 2011

posted December 28, 2011 11:19 PM

I have an old 16mm projector/viewer that used to be used as a sales' tool. It's self-loading and will play commercial films too, but they have to be waxed and put into cartiridges first.

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Scott

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