Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Film shedding

This is topic Film shedding in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Patrick McDonough (Member # 1363) on 05-09-2003, 10:08 AM:

We have a Century projector that keeps shedding film for some reason, we have tried to reverse the sprockets, we have tried to change the gates, and it keeps on shedding, I know its not the load becase it sheds for the other projectionist, and that is the only projector that does it.

Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 05-09-2003, 10:33 AM:

The usual things I would be checking, other than the sprockets, are;

Film trap. Condition of trap side runner and alignment.

Film trap spring bands, damage or uneven wear.

Moving gate for damage/uneven wear and also alignment to trap (azimuth for want of a better description!))

Correct clearance between moving gate and film trap (1/4" if my memory is working)

Condition and alignmet of intermittent sprocket shoes.

Happy hunting!

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 05-09-2003, 10:41 AM:

Is it just the one print that sheds or lots of different ones? If the latter then it's a projector issue. If the former it could just be an NFG print.

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 05-09-2003, 11:25 AM:

I used to have a Century where the side runner had a very small splinter (barely noticable) and it caused film to shred...took me way to long to find that. [Big Grin]

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 05-09-2003, 02:13 PM:

Which flavor of Century is it? If it's the Century SA-TA... The Turret model with the gate that slides open and shut I would definately check to see if the gate is to tight.

In the manual there is a section about setting the gate tension using a 1/4 inch allen wrench trapped between the trap and the shoe. It's important that this setting be done carefully, lest the film be scuffed when it runs through the gate. We had one projector that actually SNOWED when it ran! The projector would fill up with white flakes as the film ran through. It would have to be vacuumed out between each show! Any print that was run through that projector would forever be a "snow print" and any projector that it was run through in the future would have to be cleaned frequently as well.

As mentioned above, also check your gate bands, shoe runners and your intermittent shoes for burrs and nicks that will scuff the film as well.

Film Guard will do a good job of calming the "snow effect" of a print that has been scuffed up by a maladjusted projector but it's no substitute for repairing the offending machine... Your film IS being damaged!

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 05-09-2003, 03:15 PM:

Patrick, sounds as though there is a gross mis-alignment somewhere if the gate parts are otherwise in good condition.

The last Century SA I saw do this was because of a broken band and the intermittant sprocket show became discombooberated.