Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: screen cleaning?

This is topic screen cleaning? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Jeanine Fairchild (Member # 742) on 01-21-2001, 02:35 PM:

Hi-I'm newly registered. My story-I own and operate an old movie theatre. We are a midrange house with beer wine food service. Took over the theatre while still first run.The equipment is very old but has been well maintained and ususally works great. Does anyone out there use a "sword" system? It works on large reels instead of platters. Also, are there any women out there? We were staffed entirely by women at one time (now I'm the only female film handler, my husband is not involved in this business). Anyway, I'm glad to be here and here is my question. Is it possible to clean a screen yourself? I've been told various things. Nobody in this area does it professionaly. We replaced the old furnace which had blown oil into the building a few times. It isn't blotchy but I was told we need to use an air compressor to blow out the dust and soot. The screen is large and high. Thanks!

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Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 01-21-2001, 03:37 PM:

Some people may disagree with me but I have had success with the following methods for screen cleaning.

1. Get a Swiffer Sweeper from the grocery store and use that to get rid of the dust, spit wads and Gummie Bears.

2. For this one you will need an "A" frame ladder or scaffolding so that you can reach the top of the screen. You will also need lots of white terry cloth towels, a couple of buckets and Ivory dish washing detergent. Use towel #1 with the warm soapy water and scrub the screen. Use towel #2 to rinse the screen and towel #3 to dry the screen. Start at the top and work your way down. You must do the entire screen. Work in manageable sizes like 3' x3'. Use care so as not to let the soapy water run and run down your drapes. Perhaps have another person at the bottom of the screen with another towel to catch any drips.

4. Some people have had success painting their screens. This is not something I would take on. You have to make sure that the paint is thin so that it will not clog the holes in the screen. I have even heard of someone in the front of the screen painting and someone behind the screen with a shop vac sucking the paint out of the holes.

5. If the screen is small, it may be best just to replace it. I had a 10' x 24' screen that I replaced for $500.00. We installed it ourselves. We rented a scissor lift. It looks great and the total cost was probably closer to $1,000 installed. But the people quit complaining and the screen looks fabulous and much brighter.

Remember what people see, they see light coming from a good lamp reflecting off of a good reflector out a nice lens through a good piece of glass onto a nice white screen. If you make sure that all those elements are in good shape, your public will have had a good presentation and know it.

At my new theatre we didn't buy new projectors or seats, we bought new lenses, new reflectors, new lamps and one new screen.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 01-21-2001, 05:13 PM:

caution must be taken when cleaning a screen. If it is real old applying to much preasure could rip the screen. If it is a silver screen then washing it is out of the question. The silver coating can be removed causing splotchy reflective surfaces that can be seen during projection. I do not recomend painting it because the cost to have it done by a professional would probably be more than buying a new one. It will reduce the size of the sound holes in the screen. I would, if possable, replace the screen.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 01-21-2001, 10:35 PM:

I bought a 13' by 31' screen from Hurley. It was a Super-Glo. Semi-reflective, 1.5 gain. It's pretty nice and it was about $1,600 and we self-installed it onto a flown frame. It wasn't too hard but be prepared to spend the better part of a day if you haven't done one before. (Take your time.)

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 01-22-2001, 07:01 AM:

Generally, liquid-cleaning a "gain" screen should be left to professionals, as it is very difficult to clean it with solvents or detergent without affecting the coatings used to provide the gain, giving a "blotchy" non-uniform appearance. A matte white screen is usually just pigmented vinyl, so liquid cleaning is less likely to cause damage. Oily dust and soot may be quite difficult to remove.

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Eastman Kodak Company
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7419
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: 716-477-5325 Cell: 716-781-4036 Fax: 716-722-7243
E-Mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com

Posted by Jerry Chase (Member # 660) on 01-22-2001, 10:45 AM:

I've cleaned screens once or twice in the past, much to big Al's dismay until he died. Theatre Services out of Texas used to do a circuit of the country cleaning screens. I don't know what they do now, but you could check for the ad in Boxoffice magazine. Perhaps someone else knows of other companies that do this?

If you do it yourself, the loose dirt has to be removed both from the front _and back_ of the screen. Dirt on the back can bleed through to the front when liquid is applied.
If you can't get to the back, you may have to vacuum from the front to get the worst back dirt.

Always use a screen brush before wet cleaning. Forget about cleaning huge screens by yourself. This is a job for pros.

If you have a medium or small screen, two pool brushes and extension poles are your best tools, along with a number of rolls of strong soft absorbant kitchen paper towels (Brawny or similar). Use a clean garbage pail to hold water and a small amount of spic-n-span - the ivory soap is soap and not as effective as detergents, plus spic-n-span dries to a powder and soap dries to a gummy mass.

Wrap both brushes in paper towels, dip one in the weak spic-n-span solution and starting at the top, lightly bring the sopping paper towels down the surface to the bottom of the screen. Work only in about a three or four foot wide section at a time. _Wait_ to let the detergent work without scrubbing, then go over the same area a second time with fresh solution and paper towels. Use the dry paper towel wrapped brush to dry the remaining liquid, again working from top to bottom without scrubbing.

If you find nacho cheese dried on the screen, you can try McDonld's napkins , but you're probably stuck with the stain unless the screen can be patched.

Gummy Bears come off with a dry screen brush, but the shiney spots from Coke and the Gummy Bear spots need the spic-n-span solution. Oil is going to be much more difficult, and you might need to use a degreaser, like Titan, which won't be good for the vinyl or surface.

As a _temporary_ emergency measure, painting a screen with quality ceiling paint is possible. Muddy sound and reduced gain are less objectionable to customers than an ugly stain looking like a huge zit on Julia Robert's face.

Replacing a bad screen can be one of your best investments, so if the results of your cleaning look anything less than great, strongly consider getting a new screen.

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 01-22-2001, 12:16 PM:

Here's some links to professional screen cleaning services:
http://www.theatre-services.com/
http://www.cinemacleaning.com/

You might also contact the various screen manufacturers for their recommendations.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-22-2001, 02:22 PM:

I thought someone told me Al Wiggingham's son took over the business. Can anyone verify or have contact information?

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 01-22-2001, 03:11 PM:

Yes, AFAIK Big Chief Al's family was at ShoWest last year, and will be carrying on the business after their parents' untimely death in the car accident. The link is to their business:
http://www.theatre-services.com/

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 01-22-2001, 03:35 PM:

Thanks for the link John! I've seen the level of quality of their screen cleaning and it is fantastic.

Posted by Jeanine Fairchild (Member # 742) on 01-22-2001, 06:23 PM:

Thanks guys! This is all very helpful. I won't drag out the scrub brushes and comet cleanser. I have a silver screen, it's in good shape, so I'll be careful with it.

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Posted by John Eickhof (Member # 323) on 01-22-2001, 10:50 PM:

Hi! I can probably help with anything you may need on the 'Sword' system! I have manuals, etc, and have worked on them in the past!
Just E-mail me if I can be of any service!
Also, "Broken Hand" (Formerly with Theater
Services is still cleaning screens the good-old-fashioned way with guaranteed results! I will forward his email to you when I get back home from this work trip in a week or two! have fun! Good luck!

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John Eickhof President, Chief Slave
Northwest Theatre Equipment Co., Inc.
P.O.Box 258
Wendell, ID. 83355-0258
208-536-5489
email: jeickhof@nteequip.com

Posted by Rachel Carter (Member # 693) on 01-23-2001, 12:07 AM:

Jeanine Fairchild wrote : "Also, are there any women out there?"

Yes Jeanine, We're out here!!!

Posted by Jerry Chase (Member # 660) on 01-23-2001, 09:26 AM:

IIRC "Broken Hand" was the one who did most of the screen cleaning anyway. Highly recommended.

Posted by Jerry Chase (Member # 660) on 01-24-2001, 12:31 PM:

I just got off the phone a little while ago with Frank Fisher of Harkness-Hall. Frank says that the company is just finishing up a screen cleaning kit that includes a special electrostatic glove and cleaning compound. Apparently by dabbing with the glove, it will remove the shiney spots of Coke and Gummi Bears that are a problem.

Frank's number is 540-370-1590. He says he'll be at Showest in March.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 04-14-2002, 04:48 PM:

Bumping up since someone brought up a screen cleaning question