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

» Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE   » Operations   » Film Handlers' Forum   » Christie AW3 Cleaning

Author Topic: Christie AW3 Cleaning John Westlund Expert Film Handler Posts: 204 From: Burney, CA, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 03-02-2003 06:27 PM                     Our AW3 was bought used and needs a good cleaning. I want to know what you would use to clean it with. I know that some things can cause static charge build up on the platter so I dont want to use anything like that. I will probably just use hot water on the decks. The tree is pretty dirty too and I was thinking hot water with some simple green in it. Does that sound ok? Thanks John  |  IP: Logged Paul Konen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 981 From: Frisco, TX. (North of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-02-2003 08:49 PM                     Beware of any cleaner that you might use. Read the Label. Beware of, especially, the Orange Cleaner / Degreaser as they have warnings about using on Aluminum surfaces. I recently found that Windex with Vinegar is good for getting dirt buildup off the platter from hand spinning to wind the tail after the show.  |  IP: Logged John Hawkinson Film God Posts: 2273 From: Cambridge, MA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 03-02-2003 10:05 PM                     Paul, isn't that only true if the platter was recently used for My Big Fat Greek Wedding?  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-02-2003 10:12 PM                     What??? Your guys don't handle the platter decks by the edge and underside? (That's one of the first things I train newbies. )  |  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 03-02-2003 10:46 PM                        Since I generally thread up as each show ends, I just hold the variac in place by holding the arm up with my foot.  |  IP: Logged John Westlund Expert Film Handler Posts: 204 From: Burney, CA, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 03-03-2003 12:17 AM                     I do only handle the platter on the edge and underside. It still has to be spotless though  |  IP: Logged Michael Rourke Expert Film Handler Posts: 159 From: San Luis Obispo, Central Coast of CA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 03-03-2003 12:25 AM                     99% alcohol is good for cleaning everything on the tower. Just keep the deck spinning while cleaning for a streak free shine. Windex works just fine too...Windex! Not "Blue Cleaning liquid."  |  IP: Logged Carl Martin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1424 From: Oakland, CA, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 03-03-2003 01:46 AM                        how often do you guys have to clean your platter components? the horrible black rollers on our aw3's are great at collecting dust (and gnarling leader). i try and clean all those rollers whenever i open, and the brain rollers before each show, using alcohol. the christie-blue aw3r rollers aren't so bad; i only clean those brains every few days. we don't use filmguard, but are hopefully about to start a trial. carl  |  IP: Logged Paul Konen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 981 From: Frisco, TX. (North of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 03-03-2003 10:22 AM                     Yes, we only handle the edges but after a few years, there is dirt buildup that I wanted to get up.  |  IP: Logged Will Kutler Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1506 From: Tucson, AZ, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 03-04-2003 06:33 PM                     Correct in handling platter deck from only the edge and underside! DO NOT USE ALCOHOL TO CLEAN BARE ALUMINUM PLATTER DECKS!!! It reacts to the metal and results in a black oxidation of some sort that takes too much effort to remove. Use a light soap/water mixture alnong with a good rinse and throuough drying. Of course a liquid is applied to rags/towels and not to the platter deck directly. As part of routine weekly maintenance all equipment (including platter decks) were cleaned once a week. And platter deck should also be cleaned prior to a build-up! This chore takes but a few minutes...and if kept up regularly, can really keep your booth looking spiffy.. For painted surfaces I like something like STP silicon based cleaners (automotive use) Keep in mind SILICON. An old rule in classic car circles years ago was to stay away from Armor-All, which was alcohol based and would dry out plastics and upholstry resulting in cracking. On things like rollers on Christe Platters and the like, a clear silicon based bicycle chain lubricant works wonders! I also believe that the Christe manual talks about using a light soap and water solution to clean platter decks.  |  IP: Logged John Westlund Expert Film Handler Posts: 204 From: Burney, CA, USA Registered: Jun 2001 posted 03-05-2003 07:57 PM                     What can I do to remove oxidation from the decks?  |  IP: Logged Will Kutler Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1506 From: Tucson, AZ, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 03-05-2003 09:51 PM                     There are aluminum polishes on the market, but I am not sure if it would have any adverse reaction w/film. I guess a solution would be to rinse platter deck off with light soap/water solution and a good rinse as stated in my previous post. The black oxidation..or whatever it is that is caused by alcohol (on Christie decks) can be removed with light soap/water solution and clean towels...but it is a lot of work! been there and done that! Just be careful not press on the platter decks...for obvious reasons!  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-07-2003 06:13 AM                     Just groove / buff the decks and don't worry about it. They will shine like new and really grab hold of the film well.  |  IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

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.