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Topic: What type of cleaner to use to clean the heads?

Wolff King Morrow
Master Film Handler

Posts: 490
From: Denton, TX, USA
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 09-02-2005 06:52 AM

My list is the same as Dominic's, though I've found Filmguard is an excellent cleaner for the runners, so I've never had to resort to anything else. I use a lens cleaner solution for the lenses and glass ports. I've found the lens cleaner works better on the ports than any standard glass cleaner I've tried.

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Don Furr
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 509
From: Sun City, Ca USA
Registered: Nov 2002

posted 09-02-2005 07:22 AM

I use to clean with Filmrenew until I discovered Film Guard. I clean the traps and gates with Film Guard after every show. I use clean rags and a toothbrush on the rest of the picture and sound head.

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Andy Bergstrom
Film Handler

Posts: 44
From: St. Cloud, MN
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 09-02-2005 09:31 AM

Be sure to cover the sound lens and solar cell when cleaning and remove the lens. More than one do gooder has gotten inside the projector to "really clean it up" and forgotten to remove the lens resulting in some anxious moments with lens cleaner and tissue trying to clean the brake cleaner stains off the lens. Fuller Brush makes an excellant cleaner called Spray and Wipe that really works well on removing film build-up especially on film rollers. Just use common sense and moderation.

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Olivia Coleman
Film Handler

Posts: 53
From: Bend, OR USA
Registered: Jun 2005

posted 09-03-2005 02:50 PM

We are forbidden to use rubbing alcohol except on port windows. What we use during the day is:
Toothbrush for sprockets, gate and tension bands
Paint brush for dusting off all rollers
Q-tip for the hard to reach areas

For end of the night we do a 'mini' detail which includes a projector wipe or rag with Filmguard and clean EVERY roller, gate and tension bands. I also dust off with the paint brush if not compressing that projector. Plus Q-tipping.

For weekly details we do the same to all the rollers. Plus wiping down the entire platter tree with a Simple Green soaked rag. (This means we wipe all empty platters, the platter arms and legs, and the mast.) Wipe the outside of the projector completely with same rag and the sound tower. (Each projector has it's own tower next to it!) [Razz]

We even wipe the vents to help cut down on the dust they collect. In the projector head we wipe all the rollers then we use a DRY Q-tip on the sound optics and clean the lenses.

It has been said our booth is one of the cleanest in the company (if not THE cleanest!) [Big Grin]

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Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 09-04-2005 02:02 AM

quote: Olivia Coleman
We are forbidden to use rubbing alcohol except on port windows...

Yea, that's a REG rule for sure. Yet, I broke this rule plenty by hiding my bottles of rubbing alcohol well when I was with REG before I left REG back in '02.

Sorry, when using alcohol for many moons and when someone tells me that it's bad for machines and when whoever tells me this don't know crap about what they're talking about since they've only been told that one certain way is the only way and not knowing the tricks on how to use the stuff CORRECTLY ... (granted, I know why, though, due to insurance reasons - just like some circuits can't use bleach on the floors downstairs in the snakbar to aid in cutting up the popcorn grease...)thus,you might say that I got a little bull-headed with this and realized that the new ways have a very hard way, or just doesn't mix with the old ways of doing things.

Course, REG is a big company and want to make rules as simple as possible to follow, so no differences will arise in operational procedures. And I guess that all large circuits have the same sort of operational procedures - no individualism is allowed so the "boat doesn't get rocked", so to say.

-Monte

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Frank Angel
Film God

Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 09-04-2005 11:59 AM

So what's their logic for not useing alcohol? Usually those SOP rules and regs have a basis. It would be interesting to find out why. Same with bleach on the floors...why not? Bleach is an excellent disinfectant, they are even adding it in one spray cleaner that we use for counter tops and such. Perhaps it can become probematic if it is splashed around willy-nilly, but as you say, Andy, if you use the stuff with moderation, it should be quite useful. But I guess the country must have a growing population of morons since it is now necessary that every product has the admonition, "Only use as directed." I guess without that warning, people would be drinking the stuff. [Eek!]

And Olivia, you can come work in my booth any day; sounds like you and your crew are consumate professionals.

All you need to do to find out what kind of presentation values you will see on the screen is to go to the booth and look at how clean or how dirty it is. That goes directly to how consciencous the crew is. Even if management puts untrained, illprepaired people up there, a clean, orderly booth is at the very least a sign that those workers have a decent work ethic and even if they are not terribly well trained, you know all someone has to do show them proper procedures and they will be eager to follow them and even to learn more. And again, at the very least, you know they are not going to be laying film down on the floor and walking all over it, like some places I been where the screen image looks like that's exactly what they do.

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Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 09-05-2005 03:26 AM

quote:
So what's their logic for not using alcohol?

As much as I know and realize is that rubbing alcohol, the store bought variety, is the common 70percent variety, which points to the 30 percent water that is mixed in with the substance to reduce flammability and to retard evaporation.

But, the claim is that when alcohol is used on metal surfaces that isn't stainless steel, rust and corrosion will eventually result of surfaces not immediately wiped off after the use of alochol. Plus, the misuse of the toxic substance is quite high in these areas that isn't monitored with professional hands.

Some theatre operators get a hold of the medical professional 99 percent isoprop alcohol, which does one heck of a job of cleaning, which is just about next to Carbon Tetrachloride - just, that it's ten times more flammable and has to be used with care.

This sort of liability is what some circuits doesn't want to occur.

Or, you might say, with circuits with "B-usher"/minimum wage operations, the existence of proper/professional operations is far from being practiced.

Also with the massive turnover rate these circuits experience, the need to eliminate any such complications in the operation and to have things as simple as possible - simple that a 10yr old can halfway figure things out.

Not to pick on Olivia's operation, but once again, she was trained well through the expertise of the REG Technical Services on how they want things to be at her location there in Bend, and she's doing her best to follow those things to the letter.

Thus, her theatre staff know that she's in control of the entire operation.

-Monte

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 09-05-2005 09:49 AM

quote: Monte L Fullmer
As much as I know and realize is that rubbing alcohol, the store bought variety, is the common 70percent variety, which points to the 30 percent water that is mixed in with the substance to reduce flammability and to retard evaporation.

Oh come on Monte. Where are you getting this...the flash point and boiling points on every sheet I've found hasn't made a distinction between pure and rubbing alcohols.

The purpose of the water content in rubbing alcohol is so that it may be rubbed on the skin without causing cracking and other damage to the skin...and even then it has limitations on exposure. The last thing one would want rubbing alcohol to do is not evaporate quickly...the idea is that the alcohol evaporates leaving the water behind so it is less of an irritant.

Rubbing alcohol belongs in your medicine cabinet next to the hydrogen peroxide, not in the booth as a cleaner. I can't tell you how many rusted out bearings I've come across in otherwise clean projectors...every damn time rubbing alcohol was used, which is why I have a great disdane for it as a common cleaner.

When 1,1,1 TriChlor was banned, I switched to pure Iso, anhydrous and had decent results on mag heads. Even then I mostly just dry wipped between reels (to avoid removing the head shield every 20 minutes and wearing out the fasteners (the AA2 was great about this since one could remove that shield without tools, same is true for the DP75 and FP75E).

For the painted surfaces, I've yet to need more than a clean rag and just keep up with it. If you let it build up first you are going to have a tuff time...if you keep up with it with daily cleaning and wiping the gates down each reel (show, for platter types), it just doesn't build up enough to warrent solvents.

Simple green is pretty good stuff by the way but avoid spraying ANYTHING at the projector or putting so much on that it will drip/ooze beyond the surface being cleaned.

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Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 09-05-2005 01:07 PM

quote: Steve Guttag
Simple green is pretty good stuff by the way but avoid spraying ANYTHING at the projector or putting so much on that it will drip/ooze beyond the surface being cleaned.

With this, then it would be a good idea to shoot the rag with the Simple Green first, then wipe down the machine. Like I would do when using the alcohol as well.

(sorry, Steve, once again, it was what I heard, not studied or read...)

-Monte

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 09-05-2005 03:39 PM

Monte, as I said, I generally have found that I do not need any solvent to keep a projector clean but when one inherits a filthy machine or is a service tech where time is of the essence, one needs something a bit more powerful.

I don't doubt you've had good results with your methods, I think you would find that pure Iso would do you better in those situations that you feel you need it...I would wear hand protection with either since even rubbing alcohol is an irritant with prolonged exposure, not to mention the absorbtion into your lungs and skin with prolonged use. All solvents should be thought of as a last resort, not a first line of attack...solvents almost always pose a health risk to contact with skin and with vapor inhalation.

I've noticed that those machines, particularly '70s era Simplexes (from NSS), seem to have white paint issues with repeated alcohol application...turns the paint a sickly gray over time.

I definately don't mean to be picking on you...it isn't my intent...you have touched off some of my personal pet-peeves though.

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Monte L Fullmer
Film God

Posts: 8367
From: Nampa, Idaho, USA
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 09-06-2005 01:07 AM

quote: Steve Guttag
I would wear hand protection with either since even rubbing alcohol is an irritant with prolonged exposure....

..and maybe this is the main reason for some circuits to abolish the use of alcohol. For, once again, if usage isn't under strict and proper control, illnesses and/or health situations do and can occur, the employees could ponder an insurance settlement by blaming the circuits in letting the substance be allowed on the premesises. And this is the last thing that circuits want to face.

Now, taking your practices with solvents and now looked up in Google about Isoprop Alcohol, I can realize now of your great concern of using this substance for cleaning purposes without using some sort of protection. For if abused, this substance can be quite deadly.

Thx Steve, for your reply and concern. I must confess to you that, in the beginning, I've never been trained in any professional manner, neither by any professional projectionists-union and/or non-union - even though I've worked in both atmospheres and still do a duty as a chief projectionist, technician and engineer to a small company who appreciates my talents in keeping their small circuit together.

Thus, I've done many things by learning on my own and developing my own procedures and picking up tips from other operators.

Please forgive me at times on some of my character shortcomings.

You might say, I also come here on FT to learn as much as possible, since I've had to learn from the books alone on a lot of things.

thx-Monte

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R. Andrew Diercks
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 232
From: Marion, Iowa (In the middle of everywhere)
Registered: May 2003

posted 09-06-2005 02:16 PM

I use 91% alcohol which I purchase at Wal-Mart. I have very clean projectors and I have never had any rust or paint problems. I will not use 70% because of the rust risk. Film-Guard is often used as a substitute.

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Joseph Pandolfi
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 213
From: Milford, CT.
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 09-06-2005 08:28 PM

I thought that I was the only one using FG for cleaning. Been using it for two years now in my weekly maintenance. Just a drop on a Q-tip is all it takes. It makes those Christie intermittants look brand new.

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Olivia Coleman
Film Handler

Posts: 53
From: Bend, OR USA
Registered: Jun 2005

posted 09-07-2005 01:54 AM

I forgot to mention that 'mini detail' I came up with!!! [Wink]

quote: Frank Angel
And Olivia, you can come work in my booth any day; sounds like you and your crew are consumate professionals.

I was trained by the booth manager who has 30+ years of experience. I'm also her assistant for a reason! [Big Grin]

quote: Monte L. Fullmer
Not to pick on Olivia's operation, but once again, she was trained well through the expertise of the REG Technical Services on how they want things to be at her location there in Bend, and she's doing her best to follow those things to the letter.

That and the fact that I was striving to become the assistant booth manager!!! [Wink]

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Tony Ratcliff
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 216
From: Madison, IN, USA
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 09-07-2005 01:59 PM

I used to use Xecote, til it was no longer available.
Then when I got FilmGuard, I began using it to clean both the trap and rollers. It works quite well.

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