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Author Topic: Platter/Brain cleaning John-Layton Jenkins Film Handler Posts: 15 From: Carrollton, Tx, USA Registered: Dec 2003 posted 03-09-2004 12:56 AM                     Hey, first post here, just wanted to say hey to everyone. I'm sure Brad can help me out the most here, since I work at Galaxy now. Anyway, I was wondering what is the best way to clean the platters and brains? As in, what type of chemicals should I use or not use. Our brains are filthy, and I'm trying to get them cleaned. I took one of them and had to apply an extreme amount of pressure on the wheels to get the gunk off of them. Even after that, it left the brain looking fairly dirty still. We're going through a spring cleaning type deal here and I just wanted your opinions. Thanks.  |  IP: Logged Dustin Mitchell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1865 From: Mondovi, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 03-09-2004 01:00 AM                     Acetone based nail polish remover. It removes gunk with little to no effort, just soak the corner of a cloth and wipe the dirty areas. In all the years I've used it I've observed no damage to rollers and since it evaporates almost immediatly it won't harm the film.  |  IP: Logged John-Layton Jenkins Film Handler Posts: 15 From: Carrollton, Tx, USA Registered: Dec 2003 posted 03-09-2004 01:04 AM                     Ah, nice. I'll look into it. We have some bookers coming to our theatre, and the GM wants it cleaned. I've cleaned the entire booth, except for the brains. I did the platter, but the don't look clean, even though they are. I know I was told Brad used to use sandpaper on the platters, but I'm not experienced enough w/ sandpaper, so I'm not about to use it.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-09-2004 02:25 AM                        The sandpaper thing was (is) not for "cleaning" -- it's a method to remove the mirror-finish the platters get after thousands of miles of film have run across the surface, and restore the micro-grooves which makes it look new and also helps keep the film in line. If you get the new platter rings this isn't an issue anymore.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-09-2004 02:51 AM                     With as badly scratched up as the platters were the last time I dropped by the theater, they need to be buffed. An added benefit of the buffing is that it will buff away all of that caked in dirt. From there, if you will run the film cleaners, you won't see that kind of buildup down the road (plus your presentation will be improved). I showed Mark (assuming he is still there) how to do this. If he isn't around anymore, I can show you how, but it'll probably be April with my current schedule.  |  IP: Logged John-Layton Jenkins Film Handler Posts: 15 From: Carrollton, Tx, USA Registered: Dec 2003 posted 03-09-2004 03:16 AM                     Yeah, Mark is around still. I only really see him like once or twice a week because of our schedules though. I've worked booth at MacArthur and LakePointe for the last 2 years, and the scary thing is, is that I've never really had to do major cleaning. At MacArthur, everything stayed clean year round, so nothing grand had to be done. LakePointe was a shit hole that nobody took care of, so anything I did there was ruined the next shift. Anyways, I do use film cleaners now but it seems pointless to tell the truth. With dirty platters and brians, the dirt get right back on the film after its been run through. I think we're up to 5 cleaners that work, and like 2 or 3 broken ones. It would be a perfect world if we had 1 for each projector. With all the theatres closing, it may be possible, but I'm working with what I got as of now.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-09-2004 03:49 AM                     Get everything good an cleaned once, then run FilmGuard on those cleaners every possible chance you get (running dry doesn't really do anything), and life will be much better up there.  |  IP: Logged John-Layton Jenkins Film Handler Posts: 15 From: Carrollton, Tx, USA Registered: Dec 2003 posted 03-09-2004 03:53 AM                     Ya, that's what I've been planning. Just kind of hard getting it implemented. I got dropped down to 4 shifts a week, and there always seems like something to do since Passion has come out. Zina isn't scheduling many people, so we have to go clean.  |  IP: Logged System Notices Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi Posts: 215 Registered: Apr 2004 posted 03-14-2007 10:45 AM                 It has been 1100 days since the last post.  |  IP: Logged Chad M Calpito Master Film Handler Posts: 435 From: San Diego, CA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 03-14-2007 10:45 AM                        I have a question and am seeking opinions. Recently, I was told that using WD-40 to clean our platters was good by our technician, but, I disagreed since WD-40 makes the platters slick and would possibly have the prints move of center or worse. I currently use rubbing alcohol to clean the platters, which works good and the platters aren't slick as opposed to using WD-40. In a booth meeting recently, all of the booth staff and I are in agreement that we should stop using WD-40 as the main thing to use in cleaning platters. So, the question is, should I continue with rubbing alcohol or should I use WD-40? And, if any of you have any other ideas, I'm open to any kind of suggestions, opinions, and the like. Thanks!  |  IP: Logged Phil Ranucci Expert Film Handler Posts: 236 From: Carpinteria,CA, United States Registered: May 2006 posted 03-14-2007 01:22 PM                     Formula 409 works well on the decks, alcohol on the rollers.  |  IP: Logged Sean McKinnon Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1712 From: Peabody Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000 posted 03-14-2007 01:34 PM                        In my opinion, WD 40 should be banned from projection booths except when a qualified technician needs to use it properly. I would not use WD 40 for cleaning and film handling surface. WD 40 is not a lubricant or cleaning solution it is a "Water Dispondent" it is useful to remove "gunk" from different parts during servicing but it has to be thoroughly dried and removed or else it will cause even worse "gunk" build up. I always used rubbing alcohol for cleaning because it evaporates very quickly and ideally that is what you want. You don't want to leave any chemical residue on any film handling surfaces.  |  IP: Logged Ron Curran Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 504 From: Springwood NSW Australia Registered: Feb 2006 posted 03-14-2007 08:36 PM                        I use the used Filmtech pads. Seems to work fine and it is amazing how much solution is still left in them.  |  IP: Logged Chad M Calpito Master Film Handler Posts: 435 From: San Diego, CA Registered: Apr 2006 posted 03-14-2007 10:23 PM                        Thanks so much for the advice & opinions. I would agree with you Sean that WD-40 should be banned from booth, with the exceptions as you mentioned. Luckily, I haven't had any prints do the Slip-Sliding-Away since I started using Rubbing Alcohol and have been lucky that it hasn't happened before using Alcohol. I was always on a constant patrol through-out the booth just to ensure all prints were fine.  |  IP: Logged Kevin Raisler Film Handler Posts: 52 From: Warsaw, IN, USA Registered: Jun 2003 posted 03-15-2007 01:58 PM                    I use fantastick great cleaning plus it kills bacteria! alcohol works good too.  |  IP: Logged

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