Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: How to retrofit a film cleaning loop on a reel-to-reel projector?

This is topic How to retrofit a film cleaning loop on a reel-to-reel projector? in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Dan Chilton (Member # 2288) on 10-30-2005, 08:27 PM:

I'd like to buy a Kelmar cleaning loop and use it with our reel-to-reel projector (Simplex XL). However, I don't see how I can fit one in. It won't fit on the top, as the top reel ends 2" above the projector head, which is then filled with the feeding spindle; and the space between the soundhead and the bottom reel is taken up by the fail-safe. Any suggestions? Has anyone installed a film cleaner on a similar projector set-up?

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 10-30-2005, 09:16 PM:

The bracket that mounts the Kelmar should be able to adapt to a reel arm for 6K reels (if your running these). And you might have to raise the arm with spacers to allow the reel diameter to miss the Kelmar.

Yet, I do believe that there are adapter plates that are specially formulated for reel operation that a Kelmar could be mounted on. Something to check on.

-Monte

Posted by Chris Trainor (Member # 9) on 10-30-2005, 10:22 PM:

Dan, the projector bracket for the film cleaner is meant to mount between the projector and the reel arms. You remove the reel arm, install the bracket and put the reel arm on top of the bracket. Then you can mount the cleaner to the bracket. I used my Kelmar film cleaner with reel-reel for years in my screening room that way. Works quite well.

--Chris

Posted by Dan Chilton (Member # 2288) on 10-30-2005, 10:50 PM:

Chris/Monte: Thanks for the tips! How much height does a film cleaner add, do you think? Five inches?

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 10-31-2005, 12:19 AM:

It'd be the height of the actual mounting bracket itself - be close to 5 inches (if you have the ceiling space..)

-Monte

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 10-31-2005, 06:38 AM:

Alternately, you can mount it on the rewinder so one cleaner will do for both projectors. Another advantage to this is that you don't get the streaky first show since the film is cleaned on the rewind, not just prior to projection. Search this site for pictures of my set up (high speed cleaning or some such title).

Posted by Chris Trainor (Member # 9) on 10-31-2005, 12:34 PM:

Here is that thread.

--Chris

Posted by Dan Chilton (Member # 2288) on 10-31-2005, 07:45 PM:

Steve: I like the idea about putting it on the rewind table, but our rewinds are still done manually (the same way the Amish do it). I'm not sure how safe it would be to install the film cleaning loop between two hand-cranked reels.

I do, however, have five inches to spare on the top of my projector. If I successfully install the film cleaner below the top reel, will the first screening still be scratchy, or will the initial application be enough to make every screening look awesome?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 10-31-2005, 08:42 PM:

For prints that are not ran daily (such as in a screening room), my recommendation is to saturate the media pads at least 24 hours...up to one week prior to your show. That will greatly minimize the streaking visible on the first show and won't make your print overly lubricated if it only gets run once or twice before being shelved for months.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 10-31-2005, 08:49 PM:

quote: Dan Chilton
I'm not sure how safe it would be to install the film cleaning loop between two hand-cranked reels.

If you have and working on an old Neumade film bench with the cranks on each end, and are willing to drill a couple of holes in the middle of the bench to mount an "L" shaped plate that has the two holes drilled in it to match the mounting bracket of the Kelmar so the Kelmar is facing upward with the film travel inline between the reels going through the Kelmar, then manual film travel still can go from left to right through the Kelmar.

Something to think about.

-Monte