8mm Forum: Newbie's first question: SSL-0 overhaul?

This is topic Newbie's first question: SSL-0 overhaul? in forum 16mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Dimitris Triantopoulos (Member # 591) on April 15, 2006, 12:19 PM:

Hello everyone,
I am also new to the forum, and I want to say hello to everyone.
My name is Dimitris but everyone calls me Mitsos (a nickname for Dimitris).

I am slowly (my work is not in the film field) learning about 16mm filmmaking, projecting, film-handling, etc.

I recently bought a used EIKI SSL-0 on Ebay. I have learned how to thread it and have watched my first roll of 16mm color reversal (Kodak 7285 - Ektachrome 100D).

I am thinking that I should probably get the projector overhauled, though, by a specialist. (I want to make sure that it doesn't scratch the films I will be projecting.) Is there someone in New York City that you could recommend?

Posted by Dimitrios Kremalis (Member # 272) on April 15, 2006, 12:52 PM:

Welcome to the forum synonomate [Wink]

I'm not a specialist on 16mm, but I'm sure you can find many gooroos here [Big Grin]

.

P.S. Xairetismata sto Niou Giorki [Smile]

Posted by Tony Milman (Member # 7) on April 15, 2006, 02:10 PM:

Welcome Mitsos.

Like you I am still learning but what I do is run a strip of leader in a continuous loop for a few minutes and then check it for any scratching. [Wink]

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on April 15, 2006, 04:14 PM:

Hello Mitsos,

Glad you can join us! If you still feel that your projector needs an overhaul, I believe the folks at

Du-All Camera
231 West 29th Street
Suite 210
New York, NY 10001.
Phone# 212-643-1042

might be able to help you or point you in the right direction. I haven't used them myself but they have a good rep as a rental house with repair service.
Doug

Posted by John Whittle (Member # 22) on April 15, 2006, 04:56 PM:

Hi Mitsos,

Unfortunately in the world today the number of qualified people who work on projectors is few and their rates are high. Many times a general inspection and cleaning will cost many times more than the cost of the projector.

As a matter of survival, get yourself a copy of the service manual (they may even be available for download as a pdf file). That will clearly explain the operation of the projector and the procedures to remove and replace parts.

The first thing you can do to check for scratches or damage is to clean the film path and then take a "new" piece of film which you've visually inspected to be free of scratches and splice it into a loop of about three feet. Then thread the projector and let it run for 10 minutes. After that inspect the film and you'll have the results 120 projections of a print.

The most troublesome area on any projector is the gate where dirt and emulsion particles can build up and scratch the film. Keep the gate and pressure plate clean, do it after and before each screening of any important print. On the Eiki, it's easy to remove the pressure plate for cleaning and then snap it back in place.

Welcome and good luck.

John

Posted by Colin Wilson (Member # 571) on April 15, 2006, 04:57 PM:

hi mitsos
can't help with your question like yourself i am a newbie just wanted to say welcome !
colin

Posted by Tony Milman (Member # 7) on April 15, 2006, 05:33 PM:

John

thanks- exactly what I meant to say [Frown]

Just couldn't find the words-sorry!

Posted by Dimitris Triantopoulos (Member # 591) on April 15, 2006, 07:01 PM:

Thank you folks for all the input...

I agree with John that technicians are becomimg rare. Someone mentioned (in another list I was subscribed to) that projection equipment (or the lack thereof) will be the biggest problem in the future in terms of 16mm film screenings.

I will do the loop with some leader and see what happens.
I have white leader. That should do it, I hope. I guess on white it might be a tad more difficult to see the scratches but I'll do my best. Is clear leader easily available?

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on April 15, 2006, 09:00 PM:

Mitsos,

If you have white leader you can still do a scratch test. Take a black permanent marker (preferably a Sharpie) and draw a line across both the base and the emulsion sides. Allow the mark to dry and run the film through the projector. Any scratches will be readily visible in the black line.

Doug

Posted by Dimitris Triantopoulos (Member # 591) on April 15, 2006, 09:09 PM:

quote:
Take a black permanent marker (preferably a Sharpie) and draw a line across both the base and the emulsion sides. Allow the mark to dry and run the film through the projector

Now, that is smart!!
Thanks much!!

Posted by Dimitris Triantopoulos (Member # 591) on April 17, 2006, 02:53 PM:

Hi all,
just an update...
I made the loop with the white leader and I actually painted the whole thing black (both sides) and ran it for 10 minutes through my EIKI. On the side that faces the lamp the black dye got removed quite a bit. On the other side not so much. There also seem to be a few scratches. Also, the white rollers are now black from the marker (I guess I needn't have painted the whole width of the film strip, all the way to the sprocket holes [Big Grin]

)

Isn't it inevitable, though, that after so many runs, a film will scratch some? Or not?

So, I removed the gate, and I will be washing it. It feels quite exciting and rewarding to be working on one's one machine, I must admit. Mine was the property of a school...

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on April 17, 2006, 08:23 PM:

Mitsos,

Ouch! My suggestion was a simple black line across the width of the film. That's a very easy way to see if there are any scratches, something all good assistant cameramen do when changing film magazines or checking out camera equipment from a rental house. A single line dries very quickly, a strip of leader totally coated in black doesn't (as you've discovered!). What type of marker did you use?

Doug

Posted by Dimitris Triantopoulos (Member # 591) on April 18, 2006, 11:49 AM:

Oops,

I used a Sharpie, and it dried out completely, thankfully. And it's prety easy to wipe it off the rollers. I can also make another strip (just white leader) and see how much dirt/black marker stuff it will collect if I run it again for a few minutes.

You see, when I was doing it I didn't have your post printed, and only when I went back to it did I realize that I remembered it wrong... [Big Grin]

So, now it's a little dirtier than it was before [Big Grin]

That's ok... I can still clean up the film path with Q-tips and water/alcohol, or no?

Live and learn... (and note to self: read the posts/suggestions better!!)

Posted by Tony Milman (Member # 7) on April 18, 2006, 02:34 PM:

What's a "sharpie" [Confused]

Posted by Dimitris Triantopoulos (Member # 591) on April 18, 2006, 02:46 PM:

quote:
What's a "sharpie" [Confused]

Sorry for the US-centrism (from a Greek, mind you!)
Sharpie is a popular brand of permanent markers here in the US.

Here it is:

Posted by Scott G. Bruce (Member # 384) on April 18, 2006, 10:29 PM:

Not to be confused with Buffy the Vampire Slayer's beloved "Mr. Pointy."

Just to be clear.

SGB

Posted by John A. Pommon (Member # 292) on April 21, 2006, 12:06 AM:

Hi Dimi -

Get your hands on one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Eiki-Series-SSL-E SL-Projector-Repair-Manuals_W0QQitemZ7610103073QQcategoryZ15254QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Christos Anesti -

aka: Yonis Pomonis

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