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Author Topic: The Logic of Threading a Projector Top to Bottom Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 01-20-2003 04:39 PM                     We'll have a mini-training seminar next time you come to town Paul. It's easier and MUCH faster.  |  IP: Logged Jennifer Osborne Film Handler Posts: 27 From: Columbus, IN, USA Registered: Apr 2002 posted 01-20-2003 04:46 PM                     I was also taught to thread top to bottom. While lurking around here one day I found out how to thread bottom to top and the benefits of doing things this way. So I started threading bottom to top, and tried to get my co workers to do the same . . . unfortunately the trend never caught on.  |  IP: Logged Josh Jones Redhat Posts: 1207 From: Plano, TX Registered: Apr 2000 posted 01-20-2003 05:13 PM                        I was also taught top-to-bottom, but for the last six months or so I have tried the bottom up method. The main reason I switched is to keep the leader off the floor. I havent noticed much of a change in threading speed, but if every one of our operators did it this way, I bet our trailers would look a little better Josh  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 01-20-2003 05:31 PM                    I'm gate first, then upper sprocket and loop, then down. But I'm reel to reel and want to thread on a specific frame, usually Picture Start. It's different if you're threading on any old frame. Another way for a platter operator is to bypass the projector and lace up all the way back to the platter, then come back and do the projector. That keeps film off the floor and you can thread the projector any way you wish.  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 01-20-2003 05:40 PM                     Steve, that's the method I use. Brad...you're on! Hopefully that can happen this summer if Josh and I make another trip.  |  IP: Logged Barry Martin Expert Film Handler Posts: 203 From: Newington, CT USA Registered: Jul 2002 posted 01-20-2003 05:51 PM                        At the moment I don't have the time to research the tips section for this answer and would like a practical use answer anyways. Almost everyone who posts says that bottom-top is "better", I would like to know why. Aside from the leader dragging and loop size problems, what benefit is there? I would agree with those two reasons if they were ever problems with my threading. However, when threading my Strong platters and projectors I would start at the platter of course which were on the left of the projectors in all but one instance, pull the film over the top roller and thread it through the bottom roller back over to the takeup tree and thread the platter. There was always tension on the film so it never touched the floor. I would then turn around and thread the SDDS unit (top mounted and on 10 of the 20 screens) then work top-bottom from the top sprocket to the failsafe detector mounted on the bottom of the projector head. As I threaded the projector head the tension tree would be pulled up farther which eliminated the need to set that at a proper height and also keep proper tension while threading. Loop sizes were always uniform, never having one pop loose. I am really just curious about the benefits as I cannot see a reason to change the way I was taught which worked very well for me for almost 4 years and for those I worked with. I do recall upon checking threading by one person who threaded bottom-top that their loop sizes were consistently too small, often causing a popped gate. That of course could just be due to their idea of a proper loop size and not the way they threaded, but it made their advocating of the bottom-top method less appealing if they could not even size loops properly. I have threaded up bottom-top before and have to agree with Paul's "ass-wiping" analogy and I had to resize my loops a couple times because it just felt all out of right. Just my experience.  |  IP: Logged Daniel Burns Film Handler Posts: 52 From: dallas, TX, USA Registered: Jan 2003 posted 01-20-2003 06:06 PM                     At my last theatre we started threading syncs bottom to top to make it easier. Now we're training people to do it on a regular basis. I believe were the only AMC around here to do so.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 01-20-2003 06:32 PM                     Barry, are you disengaging the platter's takeup motor or something? Once you put the film into the upper constant feed sprocket there is just not enough film in the platter's accumulator to be able to thread the rest of the projector. Perhaps you could reword. Paul, you do know that you have to be able to thread the projector and penthouse reader with proper size loops and in frame in under 10 seconds to graduate, right?  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 01-20-2003 06:55 PM                     Fine with me, Brad. I would like to be in a position where I can thread that thing as fast as you can, and still be able to give an grin like someone I know...  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 01-20-2003 07:31 PM                        On our Strong platter/Christie projector setup (with platters on non-operator side) I pull the trim ring (center, whatever you want to call it) place it on the take-up platter. I turn the motor switch for the take up platter OFF as I thread thru the payout assm'y, over to the projector, down past the lower roller, back to the platter and back onto the take-up platter. I walk back around and thread up thru the projector making sure that the head of the first ad/preview/etc is just over 1/2 way between the platter tower and upper roller on the projector. Thread thru the penthouse readers and on down thru the projector. Proper loop sizing doesn't seem to be an issue, I always have enough leader to thread both in frame and pull some back to me should I need it for whatever reason. The final thing I do prior to walking to the next unit is turn the take-up platter motor back on. I know there are some of you who will question WHY I do this, as it must seem like an extra step or three, but I do so becuase it works for me. I've done it this way for 15 years and leader on the floor is a non issue when threading this way. Your milage may vary.  |  IP: Logged Per Hauberg Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 883 From: Malling, Denmark Registered: Jul 2000 posted 01-20-2003 07:38 PM                        I'm beginning to believe, those platters are giving too much chattime between reels  |  IP: Logged William Leland III Master Film Handler Posts: 336 From: Charleston, SC, Registered: Aug 2002 posted 01-20-2003 07:55 PM                        I was trained Top to Bottom, like most. I have tried Bottom to Top, but saw no point in it. Yeah it was "fun" to try and learn a new technique; I didn't like it or think it help me. quote: with Simplex and Kinoton (where the intermittent shoe is part of the gate), I find it easier to thread the upper loop before the intermittent. quote: Scott, I thread just like you on Simplex Projectors. But I make my frame first, close the intermittent gate, then make my top loop, and so on  |  IP: Logged Sam Hunter Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 779 From: West Monroe, LA, USA Registered: Jan 2002 posted 01-20-2003 08:40 PM                     Maybe I missed it due to my ADS but what about threading bottom to top on a changeover type setup or something like I use? I feel like it could be done but would just like to see a proceedure.  |  IP: Logged Joe Redifer You need a beating today Posts: 12859 From: Denver, Colorado Registered: May 99 posted 01-20-2003 09:03 PM                        Looks like everyone was taught to thread top to bottom. That's fantastic!!!!! But that really wasn't my question. My question is basically "Why is everyone taught to thread top-down in the first place? Why isn't better teaching more commonplace?" I think Sean McKinnon had the best answer. Though if anyone ridiculed me for threading bottom-up, I would either kick their asses, blow up their cars, set their homes on fire, kill their pets, or just ridicule them for doing things in a far less efficient manner.... whichever requires the least effort from me. Jason, why not set the take-up switch to Rewind as you begin to thread, thread thru the payout as normal all the while the take-up platter is spinning. Let the "elevator" drop after you thread though it and are guiding the leader to the top roller The take up platter stops spinning just in time for you to wrap the leader around the ring or jam it into the notch. The payout platter may have two or three layers of "wrap" around the brain, but you have lots and lots of leader anyway (or at least you should, right?). You get to the projector and pull from the bottom as you grab leader. The take-up platter engages. Be sure to grab it in a manner so that the elevator is nearly at the top of its travel and doesn't take off wildly. Thread "up" and then you don't have to wander back to the platter and engage the take up motor. Quick. Easy. Efficient. Fun! BTW, are you saying the leader on the floor is a non-issue because the leader is never on the floor, or just because you feel that getting the leader on the floor isn't something we should be concerned about?  |  IP: Logged Gerard S. Cohen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 975 From: Forest Hills, NY, USA Registered: Sep 2001 posted 01-20-2003 09:50 PM                     "I started at Concessions. Manager says if I can learn to thread faster, he'll let me work double shifts." (Thanks, Lewis Hine.)  |  IP: Logged

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