my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Projector bulb disposal? (Page 1)

This topic comprises 6 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6

Author Topic: Projector bulb disposal? Ron Davis Film Handler Posts: 23 From: Morgantown WV, USA Registered: Jan 2007 posted 01-08-2008 11:54 AM                        We have heaps of old, dead xenon bulbs from the projectors but everyone is afraid to throw them out as they fear it could end civilization as we know it. Is there a safe way to dispose of these? Should we encase them in concrete and sink them in the ocean? Loaded into a rocket and sent to the sun? Any advice would be greatly appreciated... Thanks all!  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 01-08-2008 12:18 PM                        I usually just wrap them up in several inches' worth of newspaper and towels, smash them with a hammer, and toss the remains. Be sure to wear a protective facemask when doing this. One of the electrodes (the anode?) is made of tungsten; if you save enough of these, you might be able to get some cash for them at a scrap-metal dealer (I've never tried).  |  IP: Logged James Westbrook Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1133 From: Lubbock, Texas, Usa Registered: Mar 2006 posted 01-08-2008 12:28 PM                     This is how I dispose of my old xenon bulbs. It required the original box the bulb was in, and duct tape. Substantial gloves and the "blast suit" should be worn. This can take place in the booth (if it's a substantial hall-like booth like the current multiplex booths) but must be done in an isolated area. Due to the loud noise these bulbs may make, this should be done before the theatre opens or after close. Place xenon bulb, without protective cover if the cover is hard plastic, into original (or similar) cardboard box. Close box. Wrap the box with duct tape. You don't have to wrap it completely up like a mummy, just enough to keep the glass shards in the box. Take the wrapped box and, as hard as you can, toss the box onto a hard floor away from you. (most booth floors are hard enough to bust the bulb.) If the bulb is huge, you may want to toss bulb from behind something substantial, like a lamphouse console. The duct tape should reenforce the box enough to contain the bulb's glass shards. Then place the box in a trash container.  |  IP: Logged Pete Naples Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1565 From: Dunfermline, Scotland Registered: Feb 2001 posted 01-08-2008 01:19 PM                     Here in the UK and probably the rest of Europe, spent lamps (and not just Xenon short arc lamps) have to be disposed of according to the relevant national and local laws. Many of the lamp supply companies will provide a bin on site, which they collect when it's full. In this bin go fluorescent tubes etc. Xenon lamps usually get sent back to the manufacturer for disposal/recycling. There is of course a cost involved with all this green-ness  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 01-08-2008 01:23 PM                        Toss all of them, all at once into a big fire.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 01-08-2008 01:23 PM                     I take them outside, stand behind a dumpster and toss them over the dumpster against a brick wall, then clean up the mess afterwards. Yes, those big boys do make a nasty pop when they get busted - you can almost feel the concussion waves when they do.  |  IP: Logged Kurt Zupin Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 989 From: Maricopa, Arizona Registered: Oct 2004 posted 01-08-2008 01:29 PM                     Back in the day when I worked for a company back in Michigan when I took over the booth we had about 3 dozen old bulbs just chilling upstairs. After a while I got sick of looking at them. We were located next to a bar in downtown. So around 2am people would start leaving the bar and heading to there cars. Our emergency exit door on the booth was located in the back of the building and under it was our dumpster. The bar exit was right there as well. Nothing like dropping a Xenon bulb from 20 feet in to an empty dumpster. The sound that comes from it sounds like a Shotgun. I've never seen drunk people run for cover so fast in my life. That was one fun night.  |  IP: Logged Peter David Bruce Expert Film Handler Posts: 187 From: East Anglia -England Registered: Aug 2007 posted 01-08-2008 03:00 PM                    love THAT story! we dont have any fun ways to dispose of ours. as with Pete, in the UK the manufacturer seems to have to get them back... thats IF they survive the trip in the lorry back to them.... cant imagine the shock on the drivers face as he thinks hes just had a blowout, but infact its those damned bulbs going (all 7 that we have sitting here). I think thats why we 'collect' them. saves any issues when sending them back. One day ill chuck em and film the results. just need to add some molotov's.  |  IP: Logged Ben Wales Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 602 From: Southampton. England Registered: Jul 99 posted 01-08-2008 03:11 PM                     I was reading or heard somewhere in the UK, that TLS sell the "Xenon Distructor", it is in basic a long plasic tube with a plunger and the Xenon is sealed and you hammer in the Plunger on the side that degases the Lamp and it is safe to dispose of the Lamp. The real test for anyone who is experienced is to degas a 15kw Xenon Lamp - now that is a real Big Lamp  |  IP: Logged Peter David Bruce Expert Film Handler Posts: 187 From: East Anglia -England Registered: Aug 2007 posted 01-08-2008 03:26 PM                    ooh ooh we have A big black tube... its like REALLY tough (ive been told) and we store all old tube bulbs in there... but not xenons. i want to think of alternative uses for old xenons... although even the oldest have a chance to blow up in your face. oh, and is it really an explosion? i mean fireballs and stuff? or is it a puff of gas and lots of little glass shards? cos if its the latter... all this talk of blowing them up in the trash seems a little exaggerated, in my mind. sure they blow, but everyone says its alot of fun to do... so?  |  IP: Logged Alastair Comrie Film Handler Posts: 28 From: Auckland, New Zealand Registered: May 2007 posted 01-08-2008 03:46 PM                     Theres a few videos on youtube of people destroying Xenons in interesting ways. Like with a samurai sword... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lyC4X38Xx8 Personally i just wrap it up in all the original packaging and give the box a bash on the floor. Seems to do the trick and is great fun if u sneak up behind someone and do it.  |  IP: Logged Peter David Bruce Expert Film Handler Posts: 187 From: East Anglia -England Registered: Aug 2007 posted 01-08-2008 03:49 PM                    does it really make a bang sound?  |  IP: Logged Aaron Sisemore Flaming Ribs beat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups any day! Posts: 3061 From: Rockwall TX USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 01-08-2008 03:53 PM                     Yes. and quartz shrapnel. -Aaron  |  IP: Logged Alastair Comrie Film Handler Posts: 28 From: Auckland, New Zealand Registered: May 2007 posted 01-08-2008 03:54 PM                     Yea like Kurt said, it sounds like a shotgun going off next to you  |  IP: Logged Peter David Bruce Expert Film Handler Posts: 187 From: East Anglia -England Registered: Aug 2007 posted 01-08-2008 03:58 PM                    wow. so i guess when installing a new xenon, the effects would be pretty explosive! they always seem quite tough bulbs to be honest. not that ive knocked em about, of course. some of my old colleagues used to almost be scared of handling new ones.. im nonplussed about it really. they seem ok when youre wearing all that kevlar. so yeah just counted, we have 13 old xenons here at the moment...  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 6 pages: 1  2  3  4  5  6

Printer-friendly view of this topic

Hop To: Select a Forum: Category: Operations -------------------- Digital Cinema Forum Film Handlers' Forum Large Format Forum Ground Level Feature Info, Trailer Attachments & REAL Credit Offsets Category: Community -------------------- Film-Yak Film Handlers' Movie Reviews The Afterlife Bob Maar's Joke-A-Thon Category: Classified -------------------- Equipment and Supplies Wanted/For Sale Help Wanted/Seeking Employment Category: System -------------------- Software Beta Testing Forum

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.