8mm Forum: Cleaning the film gate on Bolex cameras

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Topic: Cleaning the film gate on Bolex cameras

Carl Richards
Junior
Posts: 6
From: Newcastle, England
Registered: Aug 2017

posted October 18, 2017 06:17 AM

Hi. I have a Bolex C8 and a B8 camera. I have had film back from the C8 and it is obvious that the gate needs cleaning. However, I can't seem to get a brush in there, and the gate is so small, it is difficult to tell if it is clean or not.

Can anyone give me any pointers, or explain how they do it?

Thanks very much.

Regards

Carl

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted October 18, 2017 09:44 AM

Page 29 from Instruction Book:-

1) Open the pressure-pad by moving lever
2) Remove the pressure-pad by pulling it towards you
3) Using a clean cloth around the end of a small wooden stick clean the pad gently, particularly around the taking aperture. If any deposit is sticky and hard to remove moisten the cloth slightly
4) Put the pressure-pad back into place by carefully introducing it at an angle. Check it is in the correct position
5) Close the pressure pad by pushing the lever back into position.

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Maurice

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Carl Richards
Junior
Posts: 6
From: Newcastle, England
Registered: Aug 2017

posted October 18, 2017 03:41 PM

Maurice,

Thanks for that.

I have had a bash at this tonight and the issue is that the gate is so tiny, even magnified it is difficult to see that the edges are clean. I have used orange wood sticks and a Giotto blower and I think I have done it (but can't be 100% sure).

Regards

Ark

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 18, 2017 04:45 PM

Unscrew the lens and then use a compressed air can to blast air through the gate aperture.

--------------------
The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted October 19, 2017 02:29 AM

I am sure members are well aware of my comments about compressed air cans.
They contain a combination of under pressure gases which I would never use within a camera or projector.

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Maurice

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 19, 2017 07:22 AM

Maurice, I can appreciate the danger in using compressed air around lenses ( possible damage to coatings), but do not understand what the danger is around a mechanism. Seems to me that totally removing the lens from the camera before blowing out the gate eliminates any possible danger. Plus I buy my compressed air from a camera shop.

--------------------
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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David Roberts
Master Film Handler

Posts: 405
From: Suffolk. England
Registered: Apr 2004

posted October 19, 2017 07:28 AM

Carl,
I had a bolex pocket camera years ago and didn't know the pressure pad just pulls out for cleaning. once you do this,a soft brush should be all it takes,check with a loup magnifier and you will be ok.

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted October 19, 2017 09:35 AM

I personally, would not use cans of compressed air as they contain gasses compressed into liquids which might coat the gate in some way.
Even more to clean !!

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Maurice

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Carl Richards
Junior
Posts: 6
From: Newcastle, England
Registered: Aug 2017

posted October 19, 2017 09:54 AM

Maurice,

Yes I used a can of compressed air on an a games console a while back and it did coat the fan vents in a layer of residue, so I would agree that it is not suitable for use with film cameras.

Regards

Carl

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted October 19, 2017 12:29 PM

The air can I use says" moisture and residue free. I tested it by spraying on a sheet of paper and there was nothing. So clearly all air sprays are not equal. I shall continue to use the brand I buy for blowing out my projector gates (after first removing the lens), as it seems to be the only way to get a totally clean gate aperture edge.

--------------------
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 October 19, 2017 12:38 PM

Paul, that's correct, they are not all equals. Some state clearly that they are not intended for photo material. The trouble is that sometimes nothing is specified and you don't know.

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Dominique

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Bryan Chernick
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 654
From: Bothell, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2010

posted October 19, 2017 11:59 PM

I clean mine like Maurice described after every roll. Get all the edges and you should be good. I wet it with rubbing alcohol and also clean the pressure plate while I have it out. Before putting the pressure plate back I rub some oil on my finger from the side of my nose and rub it on the pressure plate for lubrication. That’s an old cameramans trick that I read about years ago.

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Dominique De Bast
Film God

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

posted October 20, 2017 01:13 AM

Bryan, I always heard that oil should be avoided on film.

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Dominique

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