Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Alcohol

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

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Posted by David Whitbeck (Member # 894) on 12-13-2003, 02:41 PM:

Back in the day when I was cleaning a bunch of used AW3s that we were getting ready to install I went on an alcohol binge. I found that it cleaned more efficiently than my other love, Simple Green. Anyhow, I basically cleaned the entire units with alcohol. Making sure this was OK I checked with the techs that were doing our installs, they said it should be no problem. Now I come here to this Harkins and our tech says no alcohol on the rollers as it will dry them out... They insist on 409 for all of the platter unit cleaning and then using alcohol to finish off the platters themselves. Where do I stand here? Is alcohol an acceptable cleaner for these Christies or no? At the same time, is 409 or Simple Green acceptable?

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 12-13-2003, 02:45 PM:

I use 409 to clean the platter surfaces and rollers, works beautifully. Quick note: FilmGuard is also great to use when cleaning out the projector gate. It takes all the build up on the tension bands right off! [thumbsup]

Posted by David Whitbeck (Member # 894) on 12-13-2003, 02:50 PM:

I could imagine the battle trying to get Film Guard at this place, they go for quantity not quality here. I usually use alcohol on the bands as that is definitely no problem, although if 409 takes the build up right off I'll give that a go in that area.

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 12-13-2003, 02:51 PM:

I always use foaming germicidal cleaner for jsut about everything having to do with film transport. Works great for platters, MUTs, reels, centerdrop split reels. Makes aluminum parts (like platter decks look brand new) and it doesnt leave any residue behind. I dont use it for the projector or lamphouse of course.

Posted by Jeff Stricker (Member # 224) on 12-13-2003, 03:59 PM:

Is foaming germicidal cleaner basically "Scrubbing Bubbles"? That's the stuff I've used to clean up the carcasses of these vintage projectors I've restored. It's great stuff. [thumbsup]

Posted by Don Anderson (Member # 397) on 12-13-2003, 07:09 PM:

Don't use rubbing alcohol or denatured alcohol on any rubber parts. It does dry the rubber. I'd be careful using any type of cleaning solvent on any rubber rollers. Use a clean rag dampened with good old H2O. Must equipment manufacturers recommend nothing but water to clean rubber parts. [thumbsup]

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 12-13-2003, 07:18 PM:

I use alchol to clean rubber pinch rollers all the time and never has an issue with it just don't sock it on

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 12-13-2003, 07:30 PM:

Is "Scrubbing Bubbles" also good to clean out all the mess and goo in the belt and gear compartments? Can you simply wash it down the sink or is it environmentally dangerous? What other solutions do you use to degrease and degoo?

Posted by Carl Martin (Member # 1146) on 12-14-2003, 02:04 AM:

hmm, the platter rollers aren't rubber (are they?). i clean them frequently with alcohol. i used to clean the decks with alcohol too but in another thread someone said that corrodes the aluminum. indeed, it did leave black stains on the paper towels. now i just use dry towels for that.

carl

Posted by Jeff Stricker (Member # 224) on 12-14-2003, 02:59 AM:

Yes Gordon, I've used alcohol on tape deck pinch rollers for 45 years --- home and broadcast stuff. Never had any problems.

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 12-14-2003, 03:11 AM:

Simple Green works great on just about anything. I have used it to de-louse printed circuit boards in transmitters, degreasing engine parts, projector parts, projector castings, etc. It is strong enough to do deep cleaning and as long as you don't let it soak too long, it usually will not damage the paint job unless you let it sit too long. However, it is much easier on the skin.

Scrubbing Bubbles works great! However, it has a ton of "red flags." I would certainly recommend reading the warnings and precautions if you use Scrubbing Bubbles. It'll chew up skin and aluminum, and the fumes can be toxic.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 12-14-2003, 10:51 AM:

Gordon was using alcohol when he wrote that, too.

[Big Grin]

Posted by Ken Layton (Member # 133) on 12-14-2003, 11:57 AM:

I've always used alcohol on rubber pinch rollers without any problems. I don't go overboard with it.

Posted by David Whitbeck (Member # 894) on 12-14-2003, 04:18 PM:

So is it legit on platter rollers or no?

Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 12-14-2003, 04:39 PM:

quote:
our tech says no alcohol on the rollers

Does it really matter what we have to say?

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 12-14-2003, 04:55 PM:

The bottom line is the man (or women) who signs the paycheck says the company policy is do it this way then that is what one had better do unless it is dangerous to yourself or others or is illegal

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 12-15-2003, 01:45 AM:

Slightly off-topic but please indulge me...

About 10 years ago an usher at a cinema where I was working told me that her cassette deck was sounding 'fuzzy and a bit muffled' and wondered if I could help. After establishing that she wasn't just playing a suspect tape I suggested that she cleaned the heads with some cotton buds and a bit of IPA (by which I meant isopropyl alcohol).

She sounded very surprised: was I sure that this was the right stuff to use? Yes, I assured her, use it very sparingly and it'll clean your heads a treat.

She came back the next day saying that she'd done it, that it hadn't made much difference, '...and so I drunk the rest.' 'You did what?', I replied. It turned out that by 'IPA', she thought I'd meant India Pale Ale... and had spent the previous evening trying to clean her tape deck heads with beer! [beer]

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 12-15-2003, 01:49 AM:

That is really stupid. Everyone knows you don`t clean the heads with India Pale Ale...you use Watney`s Red Barrel.

Posted by Christopher Seo (Member # 7) on 12-15-2003, 12:00 PM:

David,

Getting back to your original question, I have used isopropyl alcohol to clean various plastic and metal rollers including Christie, Kelmar, etc. rollers, without a problem. I'm not quite sure how alcohol could dry out plastic rollers that are not exactly moist to begin with.

I would use only 99% isopropyl alcohol and not the watered-down stuff as water can always be a problem around metal parts and film. I suppose I like alcohol for cleaning for two reasons: (1) it evaporates quickly, (2) it is a single chemical. I suppose reason #2 is a bit arbitrary.

But as Gordon said, as an employee you must follow the rules of whoever sets policy.

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 12-15-2003, 12:11 PM:

While I do not recommend that David do anything that his boss would not approve of, there is nothing wrong with learning the right way of doing something. Perhaps you can persuade your boss to do things the correct way.

Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 12-15-2003, 12:26 PM:

As usual, I joined this topic too late. When cleaning rubber items such as pinch rollers and pucks, clean with alcohol and wipe it off very quickly. If you allow the alcohol to sit on the rubber too long, or allow it to evaporate, the rubber will eventually harden. I use it on cart machine pinch rollers all the time.

Josh

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-15-2003, 01:11 PM:

Ewwwwwww, those evil Simplex/RCA soundheads with their pressure roller come to mind! [Mad]

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 12-15-2003, 04:02 PM:

quote:
She came back the next day saying that she'd done it, that it hadn't made much difference, '...and so I drunk the rest.' 'You did what?', I replied. It turned out that by 'IPA', she thought I'd meant India Pale Ale... and had spent the previous evening trying to clean her tape deck heads with beer!

Much better to drink India Pale Ale. [beer]

Drinking Isopropyl Alcohol could put you in the hospital. [Eek!]

Posted by Paul G. Thompson (Member # 655) on 12-15-2003, 06:33 PM:

With Pioneer Broadcasting, the only authorized cleaning agent on the cart deck pinch rollers was isopropyl alcohol. The oilite bushings were cleaned by the same thing, and never oiled.

Never had a failure related to the use of isopropyl alcohol. Never had a failure of a bushing, either.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 12-15-2003, 08:18 PM:

The topic header was a question?

My answer, yes please.

Posted by Tony Ratcliff (Member # 1196) on 12-16-2003, 11:16 AM:

I have found a good combination to be cleaning the trap and rollers with alcohol and then immediately wiping them down with Film Guard.
FYI. Since I've started coating the trap with Film Guard, my old E-7s run quieter.

Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 12-16-2003, 11:35 PM:

Alcohol on the bare aluminum platter decks is a MAJOR NO-NO! Notice how the alcohol reacts with the aluminum and leaves a black residue? As per the AW-3 service manual, the decks should be cleaned with a light soap and water solution. Use a few clean towels, for washing and drying. And don't flood the decks with soap and water. Wet and ring the towel. And be gentle on the decks, no nead to "muscle scrub". If you clean the decks once a week on a schedule, as well as before each build-up, you'd be suprised how nice, clean and shiny those decks will be!

Use a clear, silicon based bicycle chain lube to lube the AW-3 rollers as necessary.

Alcohol will dry out and crack plastic. But I believe the AW-3 rollers are nylon, so alcohol should not be a problem there (at least I never had one).

As for rubber rollers, you'll definately know if alcohol is drying them out! The rubber will start to disintegrate, and will leave a nasty residue and chunks all over the place.

Posted by David Whitbeck (Member # 894) on 12-24-2003, 12:31 AM:

Thanks a lot guys. As for the "do as you're told" statement, well, I'm not very good at that... Anyhow. I have noticed the pad rollers in the projector seem to be coming apart on some machines... Which is funny because they told me no on the platters but go on the projector. Almost feels like they have it backwards.