Posts: 130
From: London, United Kingdom
Registered: Jul 2017
posted November 14, 2017 04:42 PM
...so what other options are left that we can use for cleaning our 16mm film? Can't ship these products from the U.S. due to safety regulations. Does anyone know of any other cleaner out there that cleans and perhaps lubricates? Thank you,
Posts: 1006
From: West Midlands United Kingdom
Registered: Aug 2011
posted November 14, 2017 05:19 PM
Filmguard is available from jackro in the uk, just had new stock in, 900ml bottle size £70.00 plus vat plus postage, around £100.......
Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004
posted November 15, 2017 12:24 PM
Cresclene from Classic Home Cinema is a good cleaner/lubricant. They can't post it though, so it has to be sent by courier, which obviously pushes up the cost. If you're not going to Blackpool but you're within easy reach of Croydon, you're welcome to contact me as I currently have an unused bottle I could sell.
posted November 16, 2017 03:21 PM
I’ve just bought Filmguard from Jack Roe. Try emailing jonathan@jack-roe.co.uk. Excellent service and very quick delivery.
Posts: 978
From: Bapchild, Kent, UK
Registered: May 2004
posted November 17, 2017 03:34 AM
Following Maurice's link the Jack Roe price now seems to be £0.00 per 900ml - time to fill your boots!
Allowing for their somewhat clunky website pricing error if the Jack Roe price is £100 and the Reel Images price is $59 (ie: about £50) this is yet another case of 'Welcome to Rip Off Britain' surely?
Posts: 978
From: Bapchild, Kent, UK
Registered: May 2004
posted November 17, 2017 04:07 AM
Just clicked on their link, says 'In Stock' and price £0.00 so perhaps they are having a re-think price wise - to me this stinks of profiteering now they are the only UK stockist.
Posts: 405
From: Suffolk. England
Registered: Apr 2004
posted November 17, 2017 04:57 AM
I am happy with cresclene,though do agree the smell is a bit pungent. have used filmguard in the past,great product but £100 a bottle! cresclene will do nicely thanks.
Posts: 130
From: London, United Kingdom
Registered: Jul 2017
posted November 17, 2017 09:17 AM
Thank you all for your replies. Seems like theres a few options to pick from.
I did email Jack Roe via their sales email address and a jonathan@jack-roe.co.uk replied saying they actually do still stock Filmguard!
"We do still supply. The cost per bottle is £70.17 + £11.30 shipping. Prices exclude VAT."
So it probably does come to around £100 per bottle with VAT. He didn't state what volume though.
@Brad Miller : I believe you're the creator/owner of Filmguard am I right, based on what I've read on other forums?
I came across a site while looking up 16mm film cleaning and it states that Filmguard is not really recommended as its main intent was for films that were constantly projected in cinemas. I'm just curious is there any truth in that or is he mistaken? Is it still okay to use it on films that'll only be projected once in awhile?
Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted November 17, 2017 12:22 PM
Can,
What that site says is complete nonsense. I have used FilmGuard on hundreds of films in my collection over the years and have never had any issue with it.
Doug
-------------------- I think there's room for just one more film.....
posted November 17, 2017 03:35 PM
I can also say I have used the same bottle of Filmguard for the past 12 years (a bottle does go a long way) and cleaned miles of film and never had any issues other than clean films that run smoothly thru my protectors.
Posts: 525
From: Dallas, TX, USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted November 17, 2017 03:46 PM
Can - That link was written by a troll who was stirring up nonstop drama many, many, many years ago on the primary Film-Tech Forums and I had to boot him after repeated warnings. His retaliation was spreading false rumors of the product to try and "get back" at me for booting him, including going through the trouble of creating an entire website. Some people have nothing better to do I guess. Regardless there are prints cleaned and lubricated with FilmGuard from the late 80s and in all the years not one legitimate case has ever been reported of film damage.
Jack Roe's price isn't a ripoff, it is literally costing us noticeably more to produce the product these days. This is partially due to the increased cost of chemicals as well as the significantly lower quantities we are producing in. It just cost more to make now and I think the Reel Image simply doesn't have an updated price posted.
The standard 32 ounce and for the first time ever, new 16 ounce size bottles will be available by the end of the year.
posted November 18, 2017 03:05 AM
I love Filmguard but does anyone else get the small white flecks or flashes if you like on prints with it, more noticebale on colour films and darker scenes etc.
I usually find they show up on a film you`ve not run for a while, run it a few times over the sound drum they go away more or less, but do pop back up again in future.
Is there any way of sorting something in the UK for collectors here Brad please to make it more affordable. It would be appreciated I`m sure.
Posts: 978
From: Bapchild, Kent, UK
Registered: May 2004
posted November 18, 2017 03:54 AM
You are describing the classic effect of over-applying Filmguard there Mark - the excess droplets refract light and show as defined edge silvery min-bubbles - fixable by careful slow winding through clean lint free cloth - just an indication of the amount wasted by some in over applying in the first place.
I would imagine the one positive effect of the price increase maybe collectors think twice before making their films dripping wet by using less in the first place.
Brad - thank you for clarifying the increased manufacturing cost position and that Jack Roe or other Filmguard re-sellers are not profiteering - sadly though when my two remaining bottles are used up I will think very carefully before spending this much on film cleaner and it may also cause others currently wanting to clean their films to try 'home brew' methods - Classic will no doubt be in their shed night and day ramping up Cresclean production in the hope of picking up lost Filmguard customers.
Posts: 130
From: London, United Kingdom
Registered: Jul 2017
posted November 18, 2017 10:52 AM
Thank you for clarifying that Brad. I just wanted to be sure and when I saw that site I wasn't. Thank you for all the replies and recommendations.
As Filmguard is available I'll be looking to buy a bottle of it from Jack Roe after payday.