Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Unknown Blue fluff

This is topic Unknown Blue fluff in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Jeremy M Smith (Member # 4913) on 04-29-2011, 08:38 PM:

Any body have any ideas what this is found it in the gate after a screening.

I haven't seen any thing like it in 20 years.

This gate the film slips on start up sometimes could this be the cause?
http://images.trademe.co.nz/photoserver/82/169876882_full.jpg

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 04-29-2011, 08:58 PM:

It's part of the print. As the film went through it shaved it off the print.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 04-29-2011, 09:02 PM:

(too add this to the FT collection..)

Bet you got a gate runner that has a sharp burr on it to shave off the edge of the film...

Wait until you get some blue "Easter Grass" that get's piled up below the machine. Then you know something is dreadfully out of wack in the projector...

-Monte

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 04-29-2011, 11:16 PM:

My original booth trainer called it Angel Hair. He said it was caused by thin slivers of material being shaved off the edges of the film.

Sometimes it is caused by unsmooth edges left over after the film was cut. As it runs through the projector it should go away by itself.

Now, I don't believe 100% of that story. While it is possible for the edges of the film to be rough, IF they were rough enough to cause a problem, it would have been rejected at the lab or the "angel hair" would have been worn off already. Further, modern film manufacturing methods should not leave this rough edge behind. Maybe it could happen in the old days but not now.

Anyhow, whether you believe the "Angel Hair" story or not, I think it would be prudent to check your film path for burred components, out of line pad shoes and to be sure that all your gate runners are smooth and properly aligned.

That's where I think the problem comes from... A burred or misaligned gate.

Posted by Jeremy Weigel (Member # 4208) on 04-29-2011, 11:46 PM:

Do you happen to have a Dolby digital penthouse reader? If so, if someone didn't set the proper tension on the "pinch rollers" they can cause this "angel hair" problem as well. Especially if they are routinely not set correctly and the upper roller has developed sharp edges on the flanges.

Posted by Bruce Hansen (Member # 281) on 04-30-2011, 11:08 AM:

Did the just start happening? New print? Could this be too much wax on the edges of the film?