Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Film-Guard and 8mm

This is topic Film-Guard and 8mm in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Dave Bird (Member # 490) on 01-16-2004, 09:00 PM:

Just found some of dad's old 8mm that I thought was long lost. And they look great, however some have some sort of mold or mildew growth on them, visible especially in some lighter scenes, it looks like dark "snowflakes". Anyone know what this might be, and if cleaning with FG would help? It's only ever for a minute or two, and not on the entire strip. I'm wondering if dad used different types of films, as it always disappears after a splice.......Thanks.

Posted by Gilbert Travin (Member # 2138) on 01-19-2004, 03:02 AM:

Hi Dave

I have also super 8 films processed 1968-1970 (Kodachrome II and Agfacolor) with dark spots looking as black snow flakes. I think that the quality of processing was not very good at that time ....
I have also a strange phenomena with a 9.5 mm reel of an "edition" film : the acetate seems to break up giving a white powder (like talc) ; of course, it is impossible to run the film in any projector : the perforations are stopped by this powder which returns always even after having cleaned film . Bizarre ???

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 01-19-2004, 03:40 AM:

Cleaning with FilmGuard will probably help to loosen up the mold deposits, Dave. Be careful that the film doesn't get scratched by chunks of mold that come loose though.

Posted by Dennis Atkinson (Member # 345) on 01-19-2004, 05:23 AM:

It may be a fungus eating the emulsion / dye.
A common problem in warmer climates. If it is a fungus, Film-Guard won't help.

Dennis

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 01-19-2004, 07:27 AM:

From the Kodak website:

Emulsion Deterioration

Film Storage

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 01-20-2004, 01:25 AM:

There have been various other threads around the storage and care of film collections in homes; a search should throw some of them up pretty easily...