My problem is with all the scratches I've been getting on my platters. I'm using Neumade Neuexcel 2000. These platters get scratched very easily. Seems like, doesn't matter how careful we are the still kept getting more and more scratches. Specially with clamps when moving prints. They are also very rough in texture, not smooth as every platter system I used over the years. Questions is are the platter supposed to be coated with something, to protect them? Is there anything that can be filled into the scratches? And if they are coated, is this something we could do? Any help will be appreciation.

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That nick or burr will now scratch the deck (or if bent the other way, the film) each time the clamps are used.

You could certainly use Michael's suggestion regarding steel wool; for deeper scratches; I use the edge of a file to "carve" any burrs away, then file it to smooth it out.

On newer platters, the decks are unpainted and uncoated to allow polyester film to be "grounded" to help prevent the static problems associated with polyester. Coating them might lessen this advantage. I don't know of any filler that would adhere to the small surface area of a scratch. Certainly, nothing that would make the scratches go away, so the decks look good again.

My suggestion is to simply not use the clamps. I dislike them, for several reasons, but mostly because of the "knife-edge" reason. I prefer those round, "doughnut" shaped things made out of thin plywood or maisonite (sp?)

Why not tape a couple of strips of scrap film flat across the surface of the platter? By just taping or clamping the ends, when you need to move a print you can release one end and lift the film enough to get the clamps underneath without scratching the platter. Two strips shouldn't affect the electrical ground, and the film "lifters" could remain on the platters. The thickness should be well within the normal specs.

Anyone see downsides to this idea?

Now if platters had a couple of recessed areas across the width, this wouldn't be needed! I always hated putting pressure on the film to inch it up that first little bit so I could slide a clamp into place.

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Please tell me you're kidding...

You are beginning to scare me.

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Or just scratch the hell out of 'em and buff em down until there's nothing left.

Actually, this is not a new idea! There was an invention called the Non-Slip Platter Disk (patent applied for), sold by Projection Technology, Inc. (phone: (516) 576-0767). This unique invention by projectionists Stuart Boritz, Edmund Nardone, and Andrew Fetherman fit on the platter surface, and although it didn't eliminate static cling, it helped separate the film laps if they stuck together, and provided a non-slip surface so the film roll didn/t slide. I recall that Speco had the disks on display at ShoWest or ShowEast a few years ago.

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thanks for the help