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If you are addressing a bubble in the quartz glass itself, something got on it. Maybe a blotch of oil or an oily finger touched it.

I would not recommend using that bulb. It will probably blow up. The damage has already been done, and take it out of service immediately if you haven't already done so.

DON'T TOUCH THAT BULB unless you are wearing a helmet, flak jacket and heavy gloves protecting your arms and hands 100%.

It is simply not worth the risk otherwise.

You can be killed or maimed for life by that thing.

If you don't have ADEQUATE safety equipment, I would almost say it would be safer to just post a warning sign on the lamphouse [DO NOT OPEN!] and let the bulb run until it does blow up, if it is going to. Once it has blown up, if it does, it cannot blow up again and then you can safely clean up the mess and install another bulb.

Unfortunately you can also have a show broke down in the middle, which is why I have always questioned the wisdom of running single projectors with platters -- there's no backup and in case of a breakdown you just can't get back up and running quickly as we could in the old days with 2-proj. & sometimes 3-proj. booths.

Could others here comment on this, perhaps?

I'd rather have one show be 2 minutes late than have to tell a theatre full of Moms and their kids that they can't watch the rest of 102 Dalmations because "The light bulb burned out..." Kids don't understand those things.
The Moms don't understand things much better than the kids do, either. Most lay people think it's just an ordinary light bulb. They just don't understand about the intracacies and dangers of xenon lamps.

Yeah, I know I may have been rash about saying to change the lamp out between shows. It CAN be done but I'd rather not do it unless it was an emergency. However, I'd say that this IS a borderline emergency. At least it WILL be an emergency if that puppy blows on you!

If you think you can change the lamp on in-betweeners just shut the lamp off when the credits roll. Maybe let most of the people leave the theatre first. This will give the lamp a few extra minutes to cool off. Yeah, I know that's cheezy presentation but this is an emergency, right? Get all your tools laid out and ready to go so you don't have to fish around for them at the last second. When called upon, I have been able to change out a xenon lamp between shows in about 15 minutes. I don't like to do it but it's nice to know that I can when I have to .

The other alternative is to wait till after last show and do it then. Maybe if you're lucky there won't be anybody in the auditorium for the last run. (I can hope, can't I?) Then you can run the show with the lamp off and do it right when the film tails out. Again it won't take you more than an extra hour to do it. If your boss says he doesn't want to spend the payroll money, ask him which he would like to pay for... $10 for you to stay late and fix the problem? OR about $1,000 dollars to repair a F***ed up lamphouse? It's his choice. If you want to compromise with him tell you can come in an hour early next morning and do it. If you let him think it was his idea, all the better.

I may sound a little rash in this post but I really believe in what I'm saying. I have seen too many things get messed up simply because somebody didn't take action when the should have and it cost them a LOT more than it could have if they took care of the problem right in the first place.

Use your judgement and don't take unnecessary chances but also do the good work that I KNOW you know how to do!

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That thing is a hand gernade with the pin already pulled.

If it lasts that long without exploding, please get out of the room when your tech changes it, if you can.

If you are required to be there when it is changed, make sure you are wearing protective gear and face shield, also.

Paul

Are you capable of doing it safely?

I don't mean to sound like I'm putting your boss down but I think he's being a "weenie". If this thing is as bad as you say, it really NEEDS to come out of there RIGHT AWAY! I think he just doesn't understand the gravity of what's about to happen.

If that fucker blows up on you it will sound like a shotgun going off! It'll probably take out the reflector dish. If your lamphouse doesn't have a heat shield in the snoot, the thing will shoot glass particles out of the lamphouse and into the projector. They will imbed themselves into the projector gate and will scratch the fuck out of any film you run until you repair the projector... not just the lamphouse... the projector... and the film too!

A brand new trap/gate costs something like $500+ depending on the model. The reflector is going to cost you a few hundred Semolians too. If you trash the print you could be on the hook for over $1,000 (If you're lucky.) This doesn't include down time which could cost you several hundred dollars per show. It'll cost even more if it happens over a weekend. Add to that the lost revene at the concession stand and your REALLY down and dirty! (Oh! And don't forget: You'll be cleaning razor sharp pieces of glass out of that projector for years to come! )

What we end up with is a bill for what? 2,000++ dollars? Why? Because the guy is trying to save a bit of chump change on payroll? You gotta' ask yourself... Is it worth the gamble?

I say you talk to the boss and explain that this is a "Pay me now or pay me later" kind of deal you've got going. If you are capable of doing it you ought to do it. If you are "marginally" capable of doing it, then I say you talk the boss into doing it together. If he's not the mechanical type, then get somebody to help who is mechanically inclined. Just take it slow and easy. Take your time and do things step-by-step. Maybe you ought to wait until the end of the day and do it when the lamp is cold. It's a LOT safer then... something like a factor of 2 or 3. (Going by the internal pressure of a hot lamp vs. a cold one.)

After you do change it you should have your tech. come out and look things over...

1. To make sure you did it right
   
2. To make sure there are no problems that might cause this to happen again.
   

You say your tech is due on site by when? Tuesday? If that thing shits the bed on you, will he still come on Tuesday?

Man! If one of my theatres called me with a problem like this I'd be OUT THE DOOR!!!

PS: Sorry about the swearing. I usually censor myself but I am trying to make a point.

Having this equipment on hand, I believe, is a required by OSHA. You might want to look into that if that makes you feel more comfortable.

For what is worth, I FORBID any of my projectionists to change a xenon bulb without wearing the protective clothing that we have provided in our theaters.

Furthurmore, I forbid them to change a xenon bulb if they didn't feel comfortable about
doing it.

I posted this to further back up Randy, when he asked you if you are capable of doing it safely.

If you feel you can't, then I would recommend that you simply just don't do it. Again, those bulbs are very dangerous.

Before that lamp is taken out, can you get us a picture of it for discussion and teaching purposes for the rest of the members (and lurkers) here?

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If it does, tell this guy that about 1,000 people from all around the world warned him!

The very LEAST he should do is call the tech and have him order you a new lamp. If he calls bright and early Monday morning he can have it delivered Next-Day Air. When your guy gets there he can just swap it out and be done with it.

If I were in your position I would just change the thing and not say anything. When the tech gets there, if he knows his stuff, he'll back you up on it. Just about everybody reading this thread would back you up if they could. I know I would if I were there!

Randy, I don't think he should change it. Sean could be written up for dis-obeying that ***** owner's orders, and his job could be threatened.

Let the F*****g thing blow! The owner deserves it.

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