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Author Topic: Why not build onto the platter? Ken Lackner Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1907 From: Atlanta, GA, USA Registered: Sep 2001 posted 09-18-2001 11:45 PM                     OK, I see this thread has been dead for a long time, but I just had to add my 2 cents. Of course I agree that film should always be built up on a rewind table or workbench. The problem with the crappy-ass old theater that I'm at now is that our muts (made by the wonderful folks at Teco, along with our platters and rewinder that bolts onto the workbench) cannot handle the weight of a fully-loaded 1-hour house reel. That's why I love Strong muts. The reels are on top of the table rather than on the side, so the spindles won't bend from the weight of a huge reel. Suggestions? (if anyone even reads this thread anymore.)  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 09-18-2001 11:57 PM                     Actually, I liked the old CFS Super Platter MUTS. I put a bigger top on them, so I could rewind a six thousand foot reel, and still have enough room to work with my splicer, if needed. Then I modified table electrically to handle the Strong Platters. I also modified one to handle the Xetron platters. Those modified tables really were the answer to lots of problems. Paul  |  IP: Logged Scott D. Neff Theatre Dork Posts: 919 From: San Francisco, CA Registered: Oct 1999 posted 09-19-2001 09:57 AM                        The only reason I prefer to make up a print at the work bench is TIME. If I put 3 reels onto a 6000' reel -- I can do the other half of the movie while the 1st half loads onto the platter. Then I can put the 2nd half on and walk away and put my attention elsewhere, I just have to remember to walk back upstairs and catch the film before it tails off the reel. This of course, is with an AW3 mut, or a properly braked Super Platter mut. I wouldn't try leaving anything alone on one of the Super Platter muts that don't have the leather band for tension control... that would just be ASKIN' for trouble.  |  IP: Logged Jesse Skeen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1517 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Aug 2000 posted 09-19-2001 12:35 PM                     This is one area where I must confess I 'cut corners' on. If a print comes heads-up, it goes right onto the platter, BUT I keep a CLOSE watch on it and have plenty of light around to catch anything that might be wrong with it- several years of doing it this way nothing's gotten by me, I've still caught the occasional defects on new prints and fix all the damage on used ones. Some people I've worked with have crucified me for this, but I don't know anyone who's perfect. One good reason for NOT building onto 6000-foot reels was when I ran the first show of "Waterworld", and after reel 3 the end of reel 6 came on upside-down and backwards- the person who made the film up had forgotten to rewind reels 4, 5 and 6 when they finished. Another thing that cracks me up is loading the 6000-foot reel onto the platter and then LEAVING it while it loads- an 'old pro' I worked with once had some film damaged this way when the film running on that platter ended and the tail end got tangled up in the film being loaded. If I am building onto 6000-foot reels, I still don't ever let them load by themselves! Another thing I noticed is some people will cut the tail end off reel 3 before rewinding it back onto the 6000-footer, so the end of reel 3 will have a few vertical scratches so onscreen you can tell how the film was built up! Go ahead and say I'm full of it, but I've tried both ways and just don't see the advantage. When I train people I tell them they might do better by building-up at the bench because it might be easier for them to see where to splice, but for me it's just easier to go straight onto the platter.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-19-2001 01:48 PM                        I build straight onto the platter too, but I only have one screen so it isn't a big deal to stand there and watch the film. I check every splice (and usually remake them, since they're often made with opaque tape, which I hate.)  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 09-19-2001 03:11 PM                     Nothing beats the Goldberg platter reel for building prints...nothing! It takes FOREVER to build up a print using a MUT in comparison and there is far less static on the initial payout when using the platter reel to build on. Sure they are a bit over $300 (without transport case), but you only need one for a multiplex. That's a whole lot cheaper than buying multiple MUTs and a bunch of 6000 foot reels. Plus like I said before, it saves time, which saves more money in payroll hours. Plus, if that isn't enough to convince the bean counters, using the platter reel to build prints on also removes the need to carry the splicer around the building to make the reel joints at each platter. (And we all know how often careless operators tend to drop splicers.) It's also damn near impossible to scratch the film in the build-up process. With this product on the market, I'm surprised more people are not using it. There is a detailed review of this product in the reviews section.  |  IP: Logged Aldo Baez Master Film Handler Posts: 266 From: USA Registered: Mar 2001 posted 09-20-2001 01:55 PM                    Wait, if you only need one, how do you actually do it with the Goldberg reel? Since most prints come head up, you build it up then rewind them to place it on the platter, how would you build up on to the Goldberg then rewind without having two Goldberg reels to do so? Or would you build up the two 6000 reels then put it on the goldberg? Wouldn't that be the same as building up on two 6000 reels then putting them both on the platter?  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 09-20-2001 02:08 PM                     Most reels come heads up. You just load them straight to the platter reel and then it's ready to put on a platter. Should a print come tails up, build to large house reels and then do a quick rewind to the platter reel.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 09-20-2001 03:13 PM                        Check out the REVIEWS section for the Goldberg platter reel review. You'll see how it works.  |  IP: Logged Aldo Baez Master Film Handler Posts: 266 From: USA Registered: Mar 2001 posted 09-21-2001 03:10 PM                    Oh geez, I didn't even see that you could place it onto the platter straight from buildup table. Now lets see if I can convince my manager to purchase one of these bad boys.  |  IP: Logged

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