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Author Topic: Cleaning Plastic Keepers/Rollers Mike Miller Film Handler Posts: 6 From: Penticton, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Feb 2002 posted 09-25-2004 09:46 PM                     Hello, What would be the best way to remove years of crud/build-up and stains from my white plastic keepers and rollers? In my case they are from Strong A5 Carbon Swith payouts. I have removed them all from the payouts for ease of cleaning but am not sure what kind of solvent/cleaner will not cause harm to them as they are plastic. Thanks for your help! Mike Miller  |  IP: Logged Ken Layton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1452 From: Olympia, Wash. USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 09-25-2004 11:40 PM                     Spray them with Mean Green cleaner/degreaser and throw them all in a big bucket of hot water. Scrub with a toothbrush then rinse off with warm water. Then after they dry give 'em a final treatment with Novus #2 Plastic Polish.  |  IP: Logged Dustin Mitchell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1865 From: Mondovi, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 09-26-2004 12:25 AM                     I've found that if you soak part of a rag with nail polish remover (acetone based, not non-acetone) a simple wiping taking care of all the grime without having to remove them from their mounts.  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 09-26-2004 02:28 AM                        Hmm, acetone and polymers, the perfect mix!  |  IP: Logged Dustin Mitchell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1865 From: Mondovi, WI, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 09-26-2004 03:02 AM                     never had a deformed roller yet. The stuff evaporates almost instantly. Obviously one wouldn't want to soak them in it, but using a rag soaked with it is harmless.  |  IP: Logged Bill Langfield Master Film Handler Posts: 280 From: Prospect, NSW, Australia Registered: Apr 2001 posted 09-26-2004 07:28 AM                        Hey Mike, For the white rollers (for me Speco) let me know if any of the above ideas remove the dye stains, but I've a feeling there is no removing that. In the '70's my father just used to clean anything and EVERYTHING with petrol(eum) and a paint brush! Bill.  |  IP: Logged David Kilderry Master Film Handler Posts: 355 From: Melbourne Australia Registered: Sep 1999 posted 09-26-2004 08:49 AM                        We simply used to have a complete set spare and take home the dirty ones and put them in the dishwasher. Always use the top shelf to protect them from heat and always relubricate the items when refitting them to the shafts. It worked fine with the grey Kinoton rollers. David Kilderry  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 09-27-2004 12:28 PM                        For most plastics, cleaners/degreasers using D-Limonene (e.g., Simple Green, Mean Green, "Citrus" degreasers, etc.) are usually quite effective in removing any greasy/oily dirt and debris. Most engineering plastics will withstand moderate heat, so the use of the top shelf of a dishwasher can also work well. Avoid the use of strong solvents (especially acetone), as they can craze and even dissolve some plastics, or leach out plasticizers. Most solvents have some degree of toxicity or flammability as well.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-27-2004 02:52 PM                     Since you have the old carbon pile type of control heads I have to wonder if they have the all metal ball bearings in the center as POH's fomr that era usually do.....??? If they do I wouldn't submerge them in anything. Best to just saturate a rag with Formula 409 and wipe them clean. Then apply a drop or two of LaVezzi oil in each bearing and they'll run just fine and will never become gummy. 409 is also an excellent deck cleaner but just don't leave it on anodized surfaces for a long time...spray on and wipe right off makes cleaning these parts effortless. Mark @ CLACO Live On Vacation!  |  IP: Logged Kris Brunton Expert Film Handler Posts: 108 From: Napanee, Ontario, Canada Registered: Apr 2000 posted 09-27-2004 03:40 PM                     I like isopropal achohol for cleaning rollers. Wiped on with a rag. If they are really dirty Fantastic works good to get them really clean. quote: Mark @ CLACO Live On Vacation! Mark is on vacation?? What is a vacation??  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-27-2004 05:28 PM                     quote: Kris Brunton Mark is on vacation?? What is a vacation?? I can tell you want vacation is.... Its spending the whole darn day replacing the spare tire release cable in my KIA Sportage. What a KIA! I sould have gone to work... its far less frustrating than anything to do with the KIA. At least tommrrow I can go up in the mountains and have some fun. Am planning on going to the Rail Museum in ELY, NV. on Wednesday and to the Lehman caves on Thursday... then I plan on hiding out in the Great Basin area where there is no cell phone coverage!!. Its the first vacation I've been able to get away for in two years! http://nevadanorthernrailway.net/ http://www.nps.gov/grba/cavephotos.htm Mark @ CLACO Live On Vacation!!  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 09-27-2004 05:53 PM                        quote: Mark, in the process of vacating the state then I plan on hiding out in the Great Basin area where there is no cell phone coverage!! Will you be on tape delay then?  |  IP: Logged Steve Kraus Film God Posts: 4094 From: Chicago, IL, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 09-27-2004 05:57 PM                    No I think he will be cached til service resumes.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-27-2004 10:38 PM                     You want tape delay.... I'll give you tape delay !!! Caching would be way too boreing..... Mark @ CLACO Live On Vacation!!  |  IP: Logged Mike Miller Film Handler Posts: 6 From: Penticton, British Columbia, Canada Registered: Feb 2002 posted 09-28-2004 09:10 PM                     I used a Citris Cleaner on the rollers and it worked very well. I soaked all the plastic parts in it for an hour, then rinsed off in hot water and wiped clean. Parts with bearings in them were hand cleaned, not soaked. Didn't know that keepers could spin so freely on their cores. Thanks for all the help! Mike Miller  |  IP: Logged

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