Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Static

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

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Posted by Justin Gorka (Member # 3727) on 03-16-2007, 03:07 PM:

We have a print that has a continual static problem. The booth has a good humidity level, the platters are aluminium, so earthing will not work, we're not allowed to add 'foreign' substances to prints - polish, Filmguard, hashish etc, and I've used anti-static cleaner on the platters. It is just this one print. We have Strong platters and associated brain units.
Any ideas?

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 03-16-2007, 03:20 PM:

quote: Justin Gorka
the platters are aluminium, so earthing will not work

Why not? Aluminum conducts electricity.

Posted by Justin Gorka (Member # 3727) on 03-16-2007, 04:04 PM:

Extremely poorly. I did try that last night!

Posted by Ken McFall (Member # 845) on 03-16-2007, 04:17 PM:

What has worked for me in the past is to alternate the waythe print runs onto the take up plate. One show sound up the next sound down.....

This also worked in the early days of towers when polyester prints first became the norm. We would run sound out then sound in on the take up spool.

Hope this helps.

Posted by Frank Dubrois (Member # 3042) on 03-16-2007, 08:33 PM:

quote: Justin Gorka
we're not allowed to add 'foreign' substances to prints - polish, Filmguard

No Filmguard? I bet your prints look fantastic after running for a while.... [thumbsdown]

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-16-2007, 08:40 PM:

It is possible to not use Film-Guard and still have good looking prints. Just not as easy.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 03-17-2007, 03:01 AM:

quote: Mike Blakesley
It is possible to not use Film-Guard and still have good looking prints

.. just the daily blowing out of the dust, or even between each showing, can keep a print clean without FG for weeks on end. Been there and done that LONG before FG came into being.
....but I wouldn't use any antistatic stuff since it's a bit on the stickey side where it leaves a residue (I've seen theatres use ScotchGuard on prints to "try" to eliminate static cling...so retarded) and your static problem will remain on that one.

Maybe, run the booth on the slight moist side since A/C units drys out the air and promotes static like mad.

..and earth as much as you can with those STRONG units.

good luck - Monte

Posted by Justin Gorka (Member # 3727) on 03-17-2007, 08:03 PM:

No Filmguard? I bet your prints look fantastic after running for a while....
Well we've had Bond running since it opened, had the last Pirates for months, the only time we have problems is with poor quality prints or so called "treated" prints that have been abused before we get them. Plastic additions, in my opinion, are for the amateurs.

Posted by William Phillips (Member # 1162) on 03-18-2007, 06:58 AM:

Whats the film your playing with static problems?

Posted by Justin Gorka (Member # 3727) on 03-19-2007, 09:58 AM:

Outlaw. Apparently we're not the only ones to have problems. Must be a film stock problem. Have given up trying to sort it and requested a new print.

Posted by Kevin Grahams (Member # 4226) on 03-19-2007, 02:40 PM:

We had trouble with "Outlaw" too, but only the one performance. Dug out the PTR's and, touch wood, no problems since.

Posted by Justin Gorka (Member # 3727) on 03-22-2007, 08:19 PM:

In the end I gave up and ordered a new print. 2 days now with no sign of a wrap and on the same platters in the the same screen. Must have been some sort of stock fault!