Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Cleaning a screen

This is topic Cleaning a screen in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 09-28-2005, 09:22 PM:

Years ago there was a guy in Sydney who could clean a cinema screen and make it look like new. Only thing he couldn't clear away was black marker pen...anything else, no problem.

Trouble is, now I have one that really needs a good clean but he's moved on and now can't be found.

Is there anyone here who has a good cleaning solution to brighten up an old screen?

Thanks.

John

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 09-28-2005, 09:44 PM:

I have a trick that I was taught on an amateur level, yet did the job pretty well: Take two 5 gallon buckets, one half-filled with warm rinse water and the other with the same amount of warm water, but a drop of liquid soap mixed in.

Then, take a push broom with towels wrapped around the head. Dip the towels in the soap water and wrap around the broom head, and wipe the screen from top to bottom going two vertical strokes, then rince the towels in the clean water and doing the cycle over with the towels in the soap water.

Another thing before you do this, is to vacuum the behind of the screen to vacuum off the "dust bunnies" that are attached to back ofthe screen. "Dust bunnies" love to come through the holes when cleaning and plug up the holes to reduce the hi-freq sound coming through the holes.

-Monte

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 09-29-2005, 08:16 AM:

The surface coatings on "gain" screens are often very fragile (they are usually sprayed on during manufacture). Even if the coating is not damaged, the reflection characteristics may change enough to be easily seen by the audience. Uncoated "matte" screens are less likely to be damaged.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 09-29-2005, 09:26 AM:

No, it's matte not gain.

This guy used to just spray the screen...never touched the surface at all.

Posted by Daryl C. W. O'Shea (Member # 1303) on 09-29-2005, 01:54 PM:

Was the guy a dry-cleaner by day?

Alternatively, Model KD1010BOE should take care of any dirt.

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 09-29-2005, 03:05 PM:

John wanted to clean the screen Daryl, not strip the paint off the building. [Razz]

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 09-29-2005, 03:34 PM:

Sometimes at the Cinemark here, there's a trace odor of diesel exhaust in the air. That always means they've been cleaning the screens.

[It's a joke for crying out loud! [Big Grin]

]

[ 09-30-2005, 09:48 AM: Message edited by: David Stambaugh ]