8mm Forum: Sound Head Question

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Topic: Sound Head Question

Mathew James
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 740
From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Dec 2014

posted December 13, 2014 09:13 PM

Hi all,
I've read some people say "no wear to the sound head".
I was just curious what i should be looking at/for to see if there is any wear on my new projector. I would like to check my other projector as well....
Both sound great to me, but I have no baseline to compare against.
I understand the elmo st1200 series have some 'warming up' issues with sound in some cases....other than this, is there a particular size the sound heads should be or something showing wear? Thanx for any info.
Cheers,
Matt

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Cheers,
Matt 📽

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Timothy Duncan
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 150
From: Russellville, KY, USA
Registered: Sep 2014

posted December 13, 2014 09:35 PM

Hi Mathew,
You would know if your sound heads are worn by their performance. I'm not so sure that there would be anything that you could visually see since parts such as these wear 'out', not 'down'. If you're getting good sound, the sound heads are fine. Someone here might have some maintenance tips to help prolong their life.
-Tim

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted December 13, 2014 10:58 PM

IMO the best way to prolong the life of your sound heads is to regularly clean and lubricate your films. What you want is a nice smooth slippery surface on the stripe. Also keep the heads themselves free of stripe dust by cleaning gently with a Q-TIP as required.

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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013

posted December 14, 2014 01:54 AM

It is advised to demagnetize them from time to time but I Wonder if this is really necessary as I presume many projector owners never did that.

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Dominique

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Mathew James
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 740
From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Dec 2014

posted December 14, 2014 07:59 AM

Thanx folks!

I think cleaning would be a good idea at some point. I have never cleaned any film before, but i can tell you that after every 3 or 4 film, there is a good amount of 'debris' that is always blow out with a can of compressed air and keep my isopropyl handy to clean out the main paths....
Is there a good 'homebrew' cleaner or do I need to buy some better stuff?..... Any recommentdations?
Thanx!
Matt

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Cheers,
Matt 📽

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013

posted December 14, 2014 11:13 AM

Did you clean the head with alcool (on a Q-tip as suggested) ?

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Dominique

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Mathew James
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 740
From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Dec 2014

posted December 14, 2014 12:20 PM

Hi Dominique,
Not yet, but a very good idea(Thanx Paul!).
I think i would need a box of q-tips for some of them [Smile]

So alcohol wont hurt the stripe i gather. Interesting.
Thanx,
Matt

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Cheers,
Matt 📽

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted December 14, 2014 02:46 PM

Paul is exactly correct in his advice.

In my years of using S8 film projectors, what I have learned regarding keeping sound heads in as good condition as possible for as long as possible, is simply to keep them meticulously clean using alcohol and "cotton buds" (or if American.. Q-Tips), and clean your films with the wonderful lubricant that can only ever be "Filmguard".. cleans, protects your films, makes all black lines disappear and lubricates the entire film path where in close contact with the film but most importantly.. keeps your stripes silky smooth!

I personally, have never felt the need to de-magnetize the heads.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

Posts: 4486
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jun 2013

posted December 14, 2014 03:54 PM

I will try to remember this word, Andrew, cotton bud, thanks.

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Dominique

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