8mm Forum: How Do You Clean Your Film Path?

This is topic How Do You Clean Your Film Path? in forum 16mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on July 24, 2005, 02:11 PM:

Thinking outside the donut, I thought it would interesting to find out what materials and methods people use to clean their projector's film paths. How do you clean thoses hard to get to places on a B&H 1500 series for instance. [Eek!]

An Eiki SLL-O is more acessible I think. [Smile]

Posted by Jan Bister (Member # 332) on July 24, 2005, 02:50 PM:

Dunno about a B&H 1500... incidentally I just picked up an Eiki SSL-0 on eBay which will be here tomorrow [Smile]

but back on topic... for my Elmo ST-1200HD I arm myself with Goo-Gone and a few Q-tips, and get down and dirty... well, down and clean I should say [Razz]

Posted by Jim Schrader (Member # 9) on July 26, 2005, 12:46 PM:

for my ST1200HD i use film cleaner or rubbing alcohol with a qtip swab and run it along the path of the film and across the sound head and especially by the gate area that swings open, the same on my Eiki- SSL 16mm one the gate pops out for easy cleaning on that one. [Smile]

Posted by Jan Bister (Member # 332) on July 26, 2005, 06:29 PM:

Rubbing alcohol? Not by any chance the stuff that's 30% alcohol and 70% pure water?? [Eek!]

I did that once, (forgetting about the alcohol/water mix), then ran a film through and watched in horror at large brown splotches all over the projected image. I hurried to rewind the film and properly cleaned it to prevent any lasting water damage... after that I re-cleaned the entire film path with Goo-Gone (which seems safe to use as a film cleaner also).
I'm assuming you let the cleaned sections dry before using your projector?

P.S. since you're bringing up the Eiki SSL-0, I wonder if you know where I can get a copy of the user's manual for mine (it arrived yesterday). There doesn't seem to be a downloadable copy either on film-tech.com or the filmshooting forums. [Frown]

Posted by Bob Pucci (Member # 8) on July 26, 2005, 07:35 PM:

Hi Jan Try [URL=http://www.texsales.com/products.php?cat=8] he has a bunch of manuals listed.Bob

Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on July 26, 2005, 09:58 PM:

Don't use alcohol on rubber parts. It can cause the rubber to expand. I use smelly old rubber cleaner. I clean magnetic heads with head cleaner and Film Renew for the film path and film. [Wink]

You might be able to find an owner's manual for the Eiki at Urbanskifilms .com

Posted by Tony Milman (Member # 7) on July 27, 2005, 03:14 AM:

Dan,

I thought I read somewhere that Filmrenew is not safe on plastic and that you should use metal reels to put film on when treating? Is that the case and if so do you risk the guides with long term use?

Posted by Jan Bister (Member # 332) on July 27, 2005, 07:24 PM:

FilmRenew will weaken and discolor plastic if you soak film (on plastic reels) in a container filled with the cleaner (for several days, that is)... but if you just run film through a cloth soaked in FilmRenew, using a plastic reel to wind the film up is OK (although I've experienced minor spots of discoloration on some of my reels, but then these were very old reels anyway, and already showing signs of use).

Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on July 28, 2005, 05:23 PM:

Hi, Tony, Jan's right about soaking. Only use a metal reel when soaking a film in Film Renew. As far as cleaning the film path, I think it's safe because it evaporates fairly quick. I've been using it on my projectors for about four years and haven't noticed any deterioration. This is one of the reasons I made this post. I would like to know if there is a better way to clean film paths. [Smile]

Here's a "how to" link for Film renew: http://members.tripod.com/~Moviecraft/filmclean.html

Posted by Chris Smith (Member # 132) on July 28, 2005, 05:27 PM:

I have been using Isopropyl Alcohol (91%) and q-tips for 25 years on the first Elmo ST 1200 I owned, as well as on the other 14 or so projectors I acquired since 1980. They get a thorough going over every few months, depending on usage. (I would never run a film through them with any chance of moist alcohol residue--wait a bit for evaporation.) I also use canned air and a soft brush after every reel that runs through the projectors. As important, with the Super 8 magnetics, I demagnetize the sound heads periodically.

Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on July 28, 2005, 05:34 PM:

Chris, the soft brush and canned air sound like an excellent idea. I have both and will start using those also. [Cool]

Posted by Jan Bister (Member # 332) on July 29, 2005, 02:47 PM:

I have a nifty little soft brush attached to a squeezy baggie kind of thing (what do you call this thing?) - I push and it blows air right through the brush hairs. I have no idea how long I've had it or where/how I got it, but it's proven itself indispensable. [Big Grin]

Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on July 29, 2005, 05:40 PM:

Jan, I think it's called a 'puff 'puff :-) Sounds like a nifty gadget though. [Smile]

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 30, 2005, 10:41 AM:

Thats a lens blow brush your on. [Wink]

Posted by Jan Bister (Member # 332) on July 30, 2005, 11:59 AM:

There seems to be a lack of agreement here. Would one of my quick, lousy webcam shots help? [Big Grin]

Posted by Dan Lail (Member # 18) on July 30, 2005, 12:19 PM:

Yep! That's a 'puf 'puf. [Big Grin]

where can I get one? [Confused]

Posted by Jan Bister (Member # 332) on July 30, 2005, 01:02 PM:

Come to think of it... way back in Germany, early 1990s, my Mom and I were in this photo shop downtown. They still had some super-8 items that they were more or less clearing out... and there was one huge kit of just about everything for film editing - leaders, tails, animation strips to intercut with your film, antimagnetic precision scissors, lens wipes... and the "puff puff" was part of that kit, I think. I remember that the guy sold that kit to me for maybe $5 back then. [Big Grin]

As for where you can find one like mine... I don't know. Maybe you can find it on eBay looking in the crafts or toys/hobbies listing pages... [Confused]

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