8mm Forum: Cleaning magnetic sound heads

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Topic: Cleaning magnetic sound heads

Chris Drumma
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 111
From: Feura Bush, NY
Registered: Apr 2005

posted June 27, 2006 02:00 PM

Is this necesaary and how is it done? I have an Elmo St600.
Excuse my ignorance,
Chris

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Dan Lail
Film God

Posts: 2110
From: Loganville, Georgia, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 27, 2006 02:11 PM

Hi, Chris, yes they should be cleaned. You could use tape head cleaner from Radio Shack if they still sell it. I think Film Renew would be okay also(ask Kev). I use a cue tip, but some people use a cloth because a cue tip may leave fibers.

[ June 27, 2006, 03:54 PM: Message edited by: Dan Lail ]

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Kevin Faulkner
Film God

Posts: 4071
From: Essex UK
Registered: Jun 2003

posted June 27, 2006 03:32 PM

I go alomg with that method. I also use qtips dipped in isoprop or tape head cleaner. Dont know about using Filmrenew but Derann's Liquid Film Cleaner work a treat as its mainly isoprop. I also use this for doing the whole film path including the rollers and capstan etc.

Kev.

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GS1200 Xenon with Elmo 1.0...great combo along with a 16-CL Xenon for that super bright white light.

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Steven J Kirk
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 873
From: Southern England
Registered: Apr 2008

posted August 08, 2008 03:19 PM

Thought I'd renew this thread to talk about sound head issues...

What about degaussing - demagnetising - Super 8mm sound heads? I have a degaussing iron/rod. Is it worth doing? What are the issues here?

In the long term what prospects are there for recutting or reshaping sound heads, etc. I did a search on the board and there is reference to companies that might do this. The thread was old though. What's the current state of affairs on this?

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VistaVision
Motion Picture High-Fidelity

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Osi Osgood
Film God

Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005

posted August 09, 2008 11:15 PM

Wouldn't your standard "rubbing alcohol" be good for cleaning magnetic film heads? I remember with my tape decks, (which I still occasionally use), they would have a little bottle of rubbing alcohol along with the head cleaning cassette.

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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 10, 2008 06:23 AM

Rubbing alcohol is useful for a lot of these things but you need to look for the "good stuff". Regular rubbing alcohol at the pharmacy can be as low as 50% alcohol, which leaves a lot of water when it evaporates. I can get 91% pure rubbing alcohol for a little more money. If you really want to pay you can get much closer to 100% pure, but that's an industrial chemical and a pharmacy won't carry it.

It's important to keep the bottle sealed as much as possible because alcohol just loves to pull moisture out of the air. Besides, who wants to spill something flammable enough to be a motor fuel?

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003

posted August 12, 2008 02:16 PM

Yes, this is a good thread to bump.

Regarding the different styles of magnetic sound heads in projectors, some are easier to clean than others.

I have used Sankyo ST-800's for over two decades. The sound heads are very easy to clean. After the outer projector cover is snapped off, they are right there, accessable.

However, on my BAUER T-610, I can't figure out how to get to the heads. Does anyone on this forum have experience with BAUER projectors, that could give advise?

They don't appear to need cleaning yet (the sound is fine), but, in time I will want to clean them.

Thanks, hope someone can help.

James.

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