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» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Projector Cleaning 101 (Page 2)

 
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Author Topic: Projector Cleaning 101
John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

- posted 09-26-2000 03:04 PM      Profile for John Walsh   Email John Walsh   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
We only used the cans of air ("Dust-Off"), so I'm pretty sure the oil was comming from the projector. I know I said compressed air...but I didn't mean a compresser!

I worked in a booth that had a compressor; I thought it was kinda dumb; it was right in the booth, against the front wall. The thing would start up and make so much noise, I finally shut it off. If it could be mounted somewhere else, that would be OK.

I talked to a fire inspector about putting that compressor in the back room (with pipes to bring it to the projectors) and he got very concerned. He started talking about holes in the wall, risk of explosion if heated during a fire, permits, etc. so I never persued that idea. The place I was working for wanted to remove the compressor to, "save electrical bill costs" so you can see how cheap they were. I knew they didn't want to deal with permits.

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Randy Stankey
Film God

Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 09-26-2000 09:15 PM      Profile for Randy Stankey   Email Randy Stankey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Again, I don't think you should NEVER use a compressor. I have used them on occasion. I just think that you shouldn't use them instead of a rag and a brush. When you DO use them you should know all the pros and cons so you don't wreck your equipment.

I think canned air is a good idea for that ocasional use. Unless you go crazy with the stuff it can certainly be cheaper than buying a big compressor. (Although Lowe's sells a poratble for less than $100)

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Michael West
Film Handler

Posts: 67
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Registered: Apr 2000

- posted 09-26-2000 10:17 PM      Profile for Michael West   Author's Homepage   Email Michael West   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
here at our imax theater we often use the compressed air to aid in cleaning our projectors, but we also have filters and such attached to the compressor.

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 09-27-2000 05:51 PM      Profile for Mike Blakesley   Author's Homepage   Email Mike Blakesley   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I have a small computer vacuum called a "DataVac" which came with a bunch of small sized attachments, perfect for booth use. Cost about 40 bucks from a computer supplies catalog. It is filtered, too.

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Jackson Gilman
Film Handler

Posts: 37
From: Madison, WI, USA
Registered: Jan 2004

- posted 03-14-2004 12:33 PM      Profile for Jackson Gilman   Email Jackson Gilman   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
quote:
here at our imax theater we often use the compressed air to aid in cleaning our projectors, but we also have filters and such attached to the compressor.
Mr. West, what type of filters are you using in your compressors? We have a giant air compressor that supplies compressed air to all 22 of our projectors. Are they located at the tip, where the nozzle is, or at the tank?

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Steve Kraus
Film God

Posts: 4094
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: May 2000

- posted 03-14-2004 05:24 PM      Profile for Steve Kraus     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
The issue of filtering the air is mostly about if you were to use it to blow dust off the lenses and if done at all (see discussion in another thread) is something better done with the Dust-Off type products.

If air is used for general cleaning it's not the dirt or oil coming with the air that is the issue but the dirt already on the machine being driven into bearings, slit lens tubes etc. That said I don't think it should be a problem if used at very sparing pressure (use both hands to regulate how far the valve lever is depressed) and never too close to the things I've mentioned and try to direct the air to blow dirt up and out.

This IS going to make a mess so make sure your platters are covered and plan on carefully cleaning and vacuuming everything the dirt is going to settle on. Use a paintbrush and vacuum and plenty of Q-Tips first to remove as much dirt as possible and use air only as a last resort for what's left.

A vaccum near where you are blowing will catch some of it right away. Because of the mess this can NEVER be your normal everyday cleaning method but only once every so often to clean with various covers off.

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John Hawkinson
Film God

Posts: 2273
From: Cambridge, MA, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

- posted 03-14-2004 10:22 PM      Profile for John Hawkinson   Email John Hawkinson   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
This thread ("CO2 to clean projectors...Pro or Con?") is worth a read if you're seriously considering installing compressed air in your booth (blast from the past!...pun intended).

It's not a good plan to rely on using minimal pressure on the blowgun lever; it's much better to install a regulator and set it somewhere between 10 and 20 psi. That way you know all operators are doing the same thing and it's hard to exactly apply too much pressure.

I don't think it takes much for a compressor to be more cost-effective than canned air, though...

--jhawk

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 03-14-2004 10:28 PM      Profile for Mark Gulbrandsen   Email Mark Gulbrandsen   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Using compressed air, even filtered, is the lazy persons method for cleaning a projector. I despise people that are so lazy they have to use compressed air blowing into a projector to get rid of the dust and dirt. All of this dirt will noly end up in the booth, on the film and then back in the projector again. Any cleaning should be done by hand to prevent any dust, dirt, or general crud from getting into the mechanism itself and mixing with the grease and or oil and comtaminating it...especially mechanisms such as a Century or other hand lubricated mechanisms. These projectors are even more likely to have this dirt get into the gear train and such.

Blowing off a lens is an even bigger sin and is the equivelent to sand blasting your lens! A camels hair brush should be used for removing large particles followed up by using lens cleaner and appropriate lens tissue. Also....never clean a lens dry, even using lens tissue.

Mark @ CLACO

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Steve Scott
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1300
From: Minneapolis, MN
Registered: Sep 2000

- posted 03-15-2004 08:34 AM      Profile for Steve Scott   Email Steve Scott   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
What's the attitude on cans of degreaser spray? In the past, I've been told to use those on our Century heads, but just to cover up the opening to the soundhead with some paper towels or shop rags...

We use toothbrushes between every show on the gate and sprockets, and a couple times a year, I use rolls of blue shop rags (the kind that look like paper towels) to really get any dirt out of the head. Otherwise, q-tips and lens cleaner for sound optics, lens paper for the lenses, compressed air for the inside of our CP500's.

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

- posted 03-15-2004 09:15 AM      Profile for John Pytlak   Author's Homepage   Email John Pytlak   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Do NOT spray degreaser, WD-40, or anything else that could get into the bearings or damage components. If you need to wipe up a greasy or oily surface, slightly dampen a clean shop cloth with the degreaser or solvent. And NEVER clean a projector while it is running. [Eek!]

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Jackson Gilman
Film Handler

Posts: 37
From: Madison, WI, USA
Registered: Jan 2004

- posted 03-15-2004 01:27 PM      Profile for Jackson Gilman   Email Jackson Gilman   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Please don't despise me Mr. Gulbrandsen. I was told to blow out the projectors after each show when I was trained, it's not a matter of me being lazy...probably our engineer! [Wink] I'll start doing it the "right" way from now on.

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Brian Michael Weidemann
Expert cat molester

Posts: 944
From: Costa Mesa, CA United States
Registered: Feb 2004

- posted 03-15-2004 08:21 PM      Profile for Brian Michael Weidemann   Author's Homepage   Email Brian Michael Weidemann   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Since the entire IMAX projector basically runs on air, the compressor runs through an air-dryer and filters. There's a hose mounted right on the side of the projector and it's used to blow out everything, every show (in addition to good ol' 90+% alcohol with Kim-Wipes every morning). That's how I was trained, so I assumed it was perfectly safe. With constant dusting, vacuuming, and PTR's every show, ambient booth dust has never been an issue.

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Steve Scott
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1300
From: Minneapolis, MN
Registered: Sep 2000

- posted 03-16-2004 08:19 AM      Profile for Steve Scott   Email Steve Scott   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks John, our Facility manager was spending too much on that crap lately, [bs] I'll give it to the ushers to file away in the chemical room.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

- posted 03-16-2004 09:59 AM      Profile for Mark Gulbrandsen   Email Mark Gulbrandsen   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Looks like I've caught some of you and your booth supervisors with your pants down [Eek!] . People that blow out machines only risk causing more frequently needed service!

With Imax and other machines that have sealed cam units and little else to be contaminated by dust, blowing them out is not very detrimental except for that expensive $6,000 plus piece of glass known as the field flattner that is getting sand blasted every time the machine is blown out...... [Big Grin]

Mark @ CLACO

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Matthew Jaro
Film Handler

Posts: 74
From: Gaithersburg, MD, USA
Registered: Jul 2003

- posted 03-17-2004 10:10 AM      Profile for Matthew Jaro   Author's Homepage   Email Matthew Jaro   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Is C-Lube good to use for cleaning rollers or film trap bands? How about sprockets? What should you use to clean the sound head rubber roller (Simplex 5 Star)? Should you use alcohol on Cat 700 reader rollers?

Sometimes a dry cloth or dry toothbrush is not enough. This is especially true for cleaning XL film trap bands where dirt tends to get baked on.

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