8mm Forum: What film cleaning fluid for which film stock?

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Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on October 17, 2012, 01:57 PM:

A question from a good cine friend brought up a question I have never actually seen on the forums, and I think it could be helpful if true ...

Are there certain film cleaning fluids that work either better or worse with certain film stocks?

For instance (to just pose a question and not make a factual statement), would AGFA tend to suffer under "Film Renew", while LPP would work better?

Would an acetate print tend to be dried out by this or that cleaner, where a polyester film print would not? After all, much of the film stocks out there do have a high alcohol base to them and alcohol does tend to have a drying affect.

... and, can a prints actual "base" (dyes) actually "fleck" off if an improper film cleaner, for that film stock, is used?

Your comments, oh learned colleagues?

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on October 18, 2012, 04:14 AM:

The only film lubricants I.ve used on film Osi are the original 2.22
that was made by Kanus Chemicals which sadly is no longer available and was the only one that did indeed hide surface marks, the original Thermofilm from Gemini that was just as good,I now
use Filmrenew from Urbanski and Cresclene from CHC which do
the job.Neither is a substitute for the first two, but various
chemicals have been outlawed in manufacturing by the global
warming mob, so that is bound to affect the end result.When I
first started in this hobby in '69, I used to clean film with
Carbon Tetrachloride until I was warned off it by my Father,and
rightly so as it is deadly.Regarding the nylon film bases used
now,I honestly can't see any film lube/cleaner having any
detrimental effect on them as they wont penetrate the film base.Just to add, I've never had film emulsion break away from
the film base of either acetate or estar stock.

Posted by Laksmi Breathwaite (Member # 2320) on October 18, 2012, 12:09 PM:

I pointed this question to Osi before. That I had been useing Film Guard to clean and lube my films . At first I did not notice anything then I saw that some of the film stock did not like the clearner and actual "base" (dyes) actually "fleck" off . But it did not hurt like my Fox Star Wars or other films with slightly faded prints. I used at one time a long time ago that Kodak film clearner that dryed up my films did not do much to lube so I got scratches. Then I used this stuff from Red Fox films it was lemon oil polish . And it work well to take off scratch lines but green lines would show. So I stopped using that . Then I got Film Guard . Is there a nice lube cleaner I can use that won't damage? Or some light oil or something?

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on October 18, 2012, 06:46 PM:

Laksmi,

I have never had this happen in years of using both FilmGuard and FilmRenew. I would think that your print is simply in a state of decomposition in which the dyes are breaking down. In such a state an application of any liquid would yield the same results. There's also the possibility that the film has been lightly scratched and bits are coming off when wiped.

Doug

Posted by Laksmi Breathwaite (Member # 2320) on October 19, 2012, 12:46 AM:

Yeah Doug I have never had this happen in years of using Film Guard all my films look great. I think what you said is right it was on the film and the cleaning made it visible were as it was hidden before. The film jumped a splice and was gone on the the rest of the reel. What you said hit it right on the nose Doug that the film is in a state of decomposition in which the dyes are breaking down.

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