8mm Forum: So no Filmguard, Filmrenew and Vitafilm availability in the U.K...

This is topic So no Filmguard, Filmrenew and Vitafilm availability in the U.K... in forum 16mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Can Sanalan (Member # 5988) on 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,

Posted by Michael Lattavo (Member # 4280) on November 14, 2017, 05:16 PM:

Solvon - check urbanski website

Posted by Paul Browning (Member # 2715) on 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.......

Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on 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 by Nigel Higgins (Member # 4312) on November 15, 2017, 02:26 PM:

The thing is cresclean is very smelly and greasy that is what I have found.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on November 16, 2017, 12:27 AM:

Can - A point of correction, FilmGuard is the only cleaner on the market that can legally be shipped via air.

Posted by Oliver F. R. Feld (Member # 1911) on November 16, 2017, 02:04 PM:

I cannot find a link to order one bottle...
Jackro or Jack Roe?
Is there a link which could lead me to the site?

Posted by Stuart Hilliker (Member # 737) on 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.

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on November 16, 2017, 09:47 PM:

Steve Osborne of The Reel Image in USA sells Filmguard for $59 a quart and ships around the world.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 17, 2017, 02:34 AM:

Link to Jack Roe Cinema Supplies FilmGuard.
http://cinemasupplies.co.uk/ProductDescription.php?prod=CFGUARD

Posted by Kevin Clark (Member # 211) on 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?

Kevin

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 17, 2017, 03:38 AM:

I believe the price was shown as zero when they had no stocks a little while ago.
The words "In Stock" now appear.

Posted by Kevin Clark (Member # 211) on 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.

Kevin

Posted by David Roberts (Member # 197) on 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.

Posted by James Wilson (Member # 4620) on November 17, 2017, 06:15 AM:

Hi Folks,

I`ve been using Cresclean for quite a few years now & I`m very happy with it.

Posted by Can Sanalan (Member # 5988) on 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?

Here's the link:

http://16mmfilminfo.com/clean.html

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on November 17, 2017, 11:42 AM:

Who is the author of that link?

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on 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

Posted by Bill Brandenstein (Member # 892) on November 17, 2017, 03:07 PM:

Can: ditto Mr. Meltzer, except I probably have hundreds fewer films than he does!

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on 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. [Smile]

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 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 by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on November 18, 2017, 02:25 AM:

A smaller 16oz bottle to come, Brad, that's good news.

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on 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.

Best Mark.

Posted by Kevin Clark (Member # 211) on 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.

Kevin

Posted by Can Sanalan (Member # 5988) on 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.

Cheers guys.

Posted by Lindsay Morris (Member # 3812) on November 18, 2017, 06:24 PM:

I will also be VERY pleased to see FG available in smaller bottles.
I had used the stuff for 18 years running 35mm film as well as being a 16mm distributor so every 16mm hire print that came back in went thru the cleaner with FG applied to the pads.

Running a business meant that the FG cost was factored into your overall expenses & was thus affordable PLUS I used to be able to purchase it in Australia from Intec Pacific who ceased stocking it as 35mm film was phased out.

I now have almost 2x 32oz bottles left from the Aussie source as I think I purchased his last remaining stock.
What I would like to see is a dealer in US be willing to supply to hobbyists here in OZ so just maybe the smaller sized bottles @ 16 oz might be more cost effective for hobbyists to purchase & have shipped over by Airmail.

Previously I had bought 2 x 200ml bottles (for mates who did not have facilities to pay for OS transactions) from the UK guy who was decanting the stuff into smaller bottles from the bigger 32 oz size that got Brad so riled up.
However when checking what came it smelt the same as my "genuine" bottle & reacted with film the same doing a super job cleaning & lubricating so I am convinced it was genuine FG just repackaged which is exactly what hobbyists need & CAN afford [Smile]

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