Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Cleaning Aperture Plates

This is topic Cleaning Aperture Plates in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=010625

Posted by Zack Strickland (Member # 5503) on 09-28-2010, 05:06 PM:

We have strong simplex 35 projector mechanisms and the manual speaks of cleaning them, but not of how to clean the aperture plate itself. They look to be bronze or brass. Jedi of the theater industry, please help!!!javascript:void(0)

Posted by Tony Bandiera Jr (Member # 2365) on 09-28-2010, 05:19 PM:

A simple wiping with lint-free cloth or light brushing is all they should ever need.

If you have dirt stuck in the corners a good trick is to use sticky-side-out tape to lift away any crud stuck to the edges of the plate.

DO NOT ever use any chemicals of any kind on them (there's no need to.)

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 09-28-2010, 06:34 PM:

Be careful of using rags as that is how you get "hairs" stuck in the aperture onscreen. Not sure why you'd need to clean the actual aperture, though.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 09-28-2010, 08:16 PM:

While the trap and gate is open before threading, take a "Q-tip" either dry or soaked in lens cleaner and wipe out the aperture plate opening..

...or, you can use your finger....

-Monte

Posted by Zack Strickland (Member # 5503) on 09-28-2010, 08:32 PM:

here are some pics of what i mean....note the black crud i'm trying to get off.

trying to href images from my website and facebook and it won't let me...help me with this first

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 09-28-2010, 09:21 PM:

you have to read the VFAQ on how to do uploading picts, but have to make sure that it's under 500 pixel size to do the upload. Otherwise, you'll have to get a pix editor to do the resize.

This site has more stricter rules with uploads than with other forum sites out there...and don't shove them in a website (like photobucket or similar, then paste the link in your post, for that's against the rules in the VFAQ.

But coming on your description of the black crud, I've taken "Simple Green" or similar and scrubbed them down to remove that crud. And if it's actually burnt on, that's a knife blade to scrape that stuff off.

-Monte

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 09-28-2010, 11:32 PM:

When you go to make a post, you'll see a link that says "Click here to upload an image" next to the Preview Pot button. Click it. Follow those guidelines and your images will appear.