If I apply film-guard to a print, I have a major problem with it shaking as it passes the main gate in front of the apperature plate. I have tried adjusting the pressure bands to the maximum tightness and it still does not seem to help. Luckily, after 2 or 3 shows, this problem goes away. I am pretty sure I am applying it correctly. I am using the Kelmar media type film cleaner with the media soaked in film-guard (just like in the directions).

Does anybody have any ideas to fix this? I do not want to have to run each movie 2-3 times on Thursday nights to get the film-guard worked in.

Incidentally, what media are you using. I have found that some soak up and apply more than others.

Steve

I have had this same problem on Strong/Simplex projectors. I found at least in my case two problems, one of which is solved easily. Just make sure that your film path in the projector is squeeky clean between each run. The other is a maintenance issue so I wont bother to go into that one.

Also, while soaking the pads is good, I used a wire mesh screen to sit them on after soaking, so they could lose any excess film guard. Too much film guard is not a good thing.

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Steve

Adjusting the gate tension on these babies is an inexact science. There's a stop screw that adjusts the gate closure. It just might be the case that you need to (have your tech) check up on that.

From everything I've been able to find out, there's no specific setting for that screw. You just have to "eyeball" it.

Point is that if you don't have stop screw set correctly you won't get enough tension, no matter what you have the tension knob set at. Normally, without F.G. you should be setting it at the minimum number to get a steady picture. With the F.G. making the film slippery, you might be needing a tension setting that's outside of the range of normal adjustment.

AMC Mesquite 30 has these projectors and they had issues 2-3 years ago when they started using it. Apparently Strong had some sort of gate/shoe/trap/something-or-other upgrade/fix and that solved their problem. Any idea what that could've been? I can call and ask their tech to see if he remembers what they did specifically if this doesn't jog your memory. Overall though, people with problems in the field are extremely rare. 99% of all projectors run FilmGuarded prints perfectly without any extra steps. Those few that do I generally tell them if on their first time to use FilmGuard (not the first time on a given print, but the first time period) that if they can not control the jumping during the trailers, just to pull the film out of the cleaner and the fix is always easy and generally needed to be done to the projector to run film properly anyway.

BTW, the AMC I spoke of earlier was using "white" Kelmar pads.

Just find a setting that works and leave it there. That's what everyone I know does. Otherwise you'll have to change that setting every time you load up new pads in order for it to work properly...kind of like having to change out those pesky dts discs every time you load up a new movie. You don't forget to change out discs, do you? Of course not. This is no different, except for the fact that you CAN find one gate tension setting and just leave it there.

Bottom line, just set them once and forget about it.