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Author
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Topic: Filmguard
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Matt McBride
Film Handler
Posts: 62
From: Starkville, MS USA
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted October 19, 2012 04:55 PM
Hi Andrew,
I think FilmGuard is a great product for lubricating. It actually does a fairly good job in filling in scratches as well. Keep in mind though if the scratches are too deep you'll still be able to see them. It won't permanently cover them up as with any other lubricating item it will dry out, but, keep in mind it will take a long time. I remember reading I believe here and in Brad's other site, Film-Tech forum, were he did a test by taking two new stock trailers, coated one with FilmGuard and the other with out, and several years later the guarded one was still plyable and the other had dried out a bit. I also remember reading, that Brad did another test with FilmGuard, were he again coated 1 of 2 new stock trailers, really several sets, and stored them in different places, a closest and a garage are the notable ones I remember, and 10 years later he checked them and the non guarded ones had the onset of vs, some farther along than others, and guarded ones had no trace of vs, though the garage might have I don't remember. In any case, and as Brad would say, FilmGuard is not cure for vs, but it seems to help delay the inevitable. I myself, whenever I get a new print I always FilmGuard it and when I store them, I do the same. If the film stock is polyester base however, it is possible to over due it with FilmGuard, but if it is acetate base you're ok. I am not sure about the other stock bases, Brad would be of course the one with all the answers. In essence I have never had any issues with it, and it keeps the prints clean, looking new and plyable.
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Matt McBride
Film Handler
Posts: 62
From: Starkville, MS USA
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted October 19, 2012 08:39 PM
As long as your film path is clear the film won't get scratched. One of the main issues is if the projector is an auto-loader or a slot loader, the biggest issue is a mechanical error that can cause the film to scratch. If the projector is a manual loader, the biggest issue is operator error from incorrect threading. These films were designed to take a beating in a sense, because if you think about how fast the film goes through the gate and that it isn't a continuous operation, the film has to be durable. Now putting a coat of FilmGuard on the film may reduce the possibilities of film scratching from one of the above issues were as if it wasn't coated, it might scratch. I say may, because there are plenty of people out there that have had different experiences with it. The biggest concern is what you already read that it makes the film more slick and since polyester film is lighter than acetate and other film stocks, it could run through the gate a little more erratic, but that is easily corrected. You just have to make sure the tension bands are tight enough and the film trap goes up them "snug" enough. You don't want it so tight that other films can pass through it easily, as the would jam up the projector causing more problems. The bottom line is, it won't hurt the film applying FilmGuard to it and it will coat the film and keep it lubricated and may reduce possible scratching. I've never read anywhere where FilmGuard has actually damaged film. As usual, you just have to make sure the routine maintenance is kept up. A well kept projector is a happy projector. Even then, regardless of what chemical is put on the film or none at all, and even if everything is loaded correctly, threaded, whatever, there is always a "risk" of some machine failure that could potentially damage film, but again with the maintenance we try to keep that down as small as possible.
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