8mm Forum: Cleaning Film

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Topic: Cleaning Film

Ronald Green
Film Handler

Posts: 53
From: Delray Beach, FL, USA
Registered: Nov 2016

posted February 01, 2017 07:16 PM

How often should one clean their films? Have used a treated cloth and it seems to do the trick.

Don't want to over clean. Also, thanks for the information on drilling holes in the film cans. No odor of film has been detected.

Is one film cleaner better than the other?

Again, thanks.

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted February 01, 2017 07:28 PM

Clean them as often as is necessary Ronald, no more, no less.

Filmguard does a superb job I've always found. [Wink]

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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David Hardy
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 955
From: Johnshaven Village , Montrose, Scotland
Registered: Jan 2015

posted February 04, 2017 03:59 PM

I have always found that a soapy pad of steelwool does
a great job.
You never have to clean your films again ... EVER !!!

DONT DO IT I AM ONLY KIDDING !!! [Wink]

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" My equipment's more important than your rats. "

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Clinton Hunt
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 845
From: Waharoa,North Island,New Zealand
Registered: May 2010

posted February 04, 2017 04:16 PM

David,when I was a newbie to this hobby I had a Super 8mm film that was stored in a shed and was mouldy and dirty,so I tried cleaning it with meths (I think,or Turps).... and it fixed that dirt problem as it completely took the film off and left a clear strip!
OOOOPPPPS I won't do that again [Smile]

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Cheers from me in New Zealand :-)

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted February 04, 2017 05:49 PM

And on that note Clinton, surely this is where this topic of conversion has ended.

The same might be said of David's comments also.

Film cleaning btw, has been discussed here and elsewhere I might add,a minimum of a thousand times previously.
Have a read and all dilemmas needn't be!

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Douglas Meltzer
Moderator

Posts: 4554
From: New York, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted February 04, 2017 09:42 PM

Ronald,

Once I've cleaned & lubricated a print (I use FilmGuard) I feel that print is fine for a few years.

Andrew's point is well taken. Click on the search link, type in "film cleaning" and you'll find quite a few threads.

Doug

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I think there's room for just one more film.....

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Brian Fretwell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1785
From: London, UK
Registered: Jun 2014

posted February 05, 2017 04:39 AM

I would say it depends on what you mean by "Clean". If it looses loops and stutters in the gate it needs cleaning/lubricating. If it has dust and other dirt on it run it though a clean dry cloth to get it off, like cleaning a vinyl disc before playing.

I rewind through a soft dry cloth every time I project a print, both for this and to endure a tight re-spool so that more dirt won't get in and to reduce the occurrence of scratching if it is tightened (as it is already tight it shouldn't move) on the feed spool as it is shown.

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Daniel Macarone
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 224
From: Summit NJ, USA
Registered: Nov 2015

posted February 05, 2017 12:48 PM

Are you not worried a dry cloth might cause friction and scratching on film? The only time I use a dry cloth is to dry off cleaner that is already on.

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Ronald Green
Film Handler

Posts: 53
From: Delray Beach, FL, USA
Registered: Nov 2016

posted February 06, 2017 01:03 AM

This is great information and I "thank" all of you for your help.

Best Regards,

Ron Green

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Brian Fretwell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1785
From: London, UK
Registered: Jun 2014

posted February 06, 2017 03:25 AM

I haven't had any scratching yet, but I do use a very doft cloth and only use on lubricated films. Sometimes I can see the cleaner/lubricator hasn't spread and dried fully and fursthe wipes makes sure it has. I looked at a film on an editor-viewer recently that I hadn't projected for years and saw small droplet of cleaner on it!!!!!

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted February 06, 2017 03:29 AM

This is an extremely common phenomena when using substances like FG while viewing through an editor.

It evaporates eventually anyhow, and none of these bubbles should be seen while projecting especially if you use one cloth to clean and lube the film, then a dry one afterwards to wipe away any excess.

I'm certain in your case there Brian, if you'd cleaned it again using the same substance as previously, then adopted the method above to dry off the film, those original droplets would simply disappear.

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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David Hardy
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 955
From: Johnshaven Village , Montrose, Scotland
Registered: Jan 2015

posted February 12, 2017 04:15 AM

Joking aside. In a cinema where I was employed as a projectionist we used to clean dirty prints with the
now banned C.T.C. ( Carbon Tetra Chloride ).

It did a wonderful job but you had to remember not to breathe
it in and open the film rewind room windows wide during its
application.

We also lubed our " green prints " with good old film wax.
This stuff was a bit flakey during the first runs but it soon
settled down.

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" My equipment's more important than your rats. "

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