8mm Forum: Vinegar Syndrome reels and cans

This is topic Vinegar Syndrome reels and cans in forum 16mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=001438

Posted by Dave Groves (Member # 4685) on May 21, 2016, 07:33 AM:

I've just had to throw a short away that was more twisted than my wife is!!! My question is, did vinegar syndrome affect the reels and cans or can I go on using them?

Posted by Clyde Miles (Member # 4032) on May 21, 2016, 07:46 AM:

dave, i wash them in soap and water, and let them air till the smell has gone.

Posted by Nigel Higgins (Member # 4312) on May 21, 2016, 08:56 AM:

I too have the same problem wit a feature and in sure if reels and cans are any good

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on May 21, 2016, 10:46 AM:

Personally I would just chuck em big time.

Or you could use for some polyester films, but even so !!!

Best Mark.

Posted by Dave Groves (Member # 4685) on May 23, 2016, 08:50 AM:

Thanks for your thoughts guys. Divided opinions. This vinegar business is not something I'd really come across until quite recently. Perhaps I've just been lucky!!

Posted by Mark Todd (Member # 96) on May 23, 2016, 05:04 PM:

Personally I`m a handle the small loss and get them out of the house person myself.

I certainly would never put acetate on them.

I`ve had some nasty vinegar before and just threw the lot films and all and was happy to shut the out door bin lid and it be gone.

Best Mark.

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on May 24, 2016, 01:27 AM:

Mark
Have you been watching Lady and the Tramp?
'He no speaka the english so good' [Big Grin]

Posted by David Michael Leugers (Member # 166) on June 30, 2016, 06:01 PM:

If the film reels and cans are metal, then I say don't worry and reuse after cleaning. Plastic reels and cans I say pitch them, but I say that anyway... [Smile]

Posted by Michael De Angelis (Member # 91) on July 15, 2016, 11:30 PM:

I avoid metal reels and cans that are rusted. Otherwise metal reels and cans are perfectly safe for film. Reels and cans that are made of quality plastic are safe too.

VS is a result of several factors:
Poor storage, the film is kept in hot areas with high humidity.
Storing films next to VS films, will cause the healthy films to get VS.
Film is tightly sealed in a box or reel, that does not permit the film to breathe,
The Fixing stage of the film is improperly processed.

Posted by David Michael Leugers (Member # 166) on July 16, 2016, 03:40 PM:

Vinegar Syndrome starts from within the film itself almost always (maybe only) due to improper developing technique of the film. This has been pin pointed down to the fixer stage of development. Cans do not cause VS, neither does a high humidity environment and I doubt a properly processed film can catch VS like a disease from a VS film. But the precautions to take once a film has VS can supposedly extend its life somewhat. I am not sure even that can be proven. I had a 16mm print that had started to show it had VS. I took all the precautions and I have a cool dry basement with regulated low humidity. I purposely surrounded the VS film with films without VS I figured I could sacrifice in the name of scientific experiment. Within two years the VS print had become completely destroyed by VS so twisted and shrunken to make projection impossible. The smell was terrible. The surrounding films showed no sign of getting VS. I continue to monitor them for VS so my experiment is ongoing. I have films that have been on metal reels inside metal cans for 80 years with no signs of VS. They also are still pliable and able to be projected. I believe there are way more films meeting a shortened life span not because they are in metal cans, but because they are not. Dried curled shrunken films full of perf damage are death to prints just as surely as VS. Just my two cents, your experiences and thoughts may be different.

Posted by David Hardy (Member # 4628) on July 28, 2016, 10:04 AM:

I too just bin any prints that smell of or get VS.
I keep the plastic spools and cans though.
I just give them a good wash and airing and re-use.

UBB.classic^TM 6.3.1.2