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Author Topic: Cleaning xenon lamp Matthew Taylor Expert Film Handler Posts: 186 From: Essex, UK Registered: Mar 2004 posted 02-16-2006 10:14 AM                     I have acquired a new lamphouse that has an old lamp in it. I am going to have to put up with the old lamp until I can afford a new one. Whilst cleaning the reflector I touch the lamp. My question is would it be ok the clean the lamp using some alcohol wipes to remove any grease?  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 02-16-2006 10:51 AM                        I seem to remember that we swabbed newly installed xenon lamps with alcohol-soaked clean cotton editor gloves before buttoning up the lamphouse. Just a precaution to get any inadvertant knuckle prints off the quartz before striking it up.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-16-2006 12:18 PM                     Christie used to package an alcohol wipe with each lamp, specifically for the purpose.  |  IP: Logged Dominic Espinosa Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1172 From: Boulder Creek, CA. Registered: Jan 2004 posted 02-16-2006 03:29 PM                     Pure alchohol and a lint free cloth is what I've always read.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 02-17-2006 02:35 PM                        Yes, pure isopropyl alcohol can be used to gently remove any fingerprints. USE PROPER SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES! If you leave the prints on the lamp, they can etch the surface, eventually causing a lamp failure.  |  IP: Logged Jason Miller Expert Film Handler Posts: 241 From: Little Rock, AR, Registered: Mar 2004 posted 02-17-2006 03:32 PM                    I was told to use Denatured alchohol. Is Isopropyl the right one?  |  IP: Logged Thomas King Expert Film Handler Posts: 119 From: Sheffield, Yorkshire, England Registered: Oct 2004 posted 02-20-2006 05:16 AM                        Denatured alcohol is simply ethanol that's had stuff added that makes you go blind if you drink it. Isopropyl alchol is propan-2-ol, and is much better for cleaning. Tastes better, too.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-20-2006 06:35 AM                     Ethanol will make you go blind if you drink it! Denatured alcohol is ethanol mixed with acetone and METHanol, thereby rendering it undrinkable. The problem is, as much as ethanol is good for cleaning things, methanol and acetone, even in small amounts, can destroy plastics. Therefore, don't use denatured alcohol on plastic without testing to see if the stuff attacks the plastic.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 02-20-2006 10:30 AM                        Pure (anhydrous) isopropyl alcohol (2-propanol) should be available "behind the counter" from most pharmacies. "Rubbing Alcohol" is usually isopropyl alcohol with water as an impurity (usually 70% or 91% purity are "over the counter" rubbing alcohol). Methanol or acetone will definitely attack some plastics, including triacetate film base.  |  IP: Logged Jason Miller Expert Film Handler Posts: 241 From: Little Rock, AR, Registered: Mar 2004 posted 02-20-2006 12:22 PM                    quote: Randy Stankey The problem is, as much as ethanol is good for cleaning things, methanol and acetone, even in small amounts, can destroy plastics. Therefore, don't use denatured alcohol on plastic without testing to see if the stuff attacks the plastic. but we are talking about cleaning the quartz of lamps here. not plastic. is denatured not allowed to clean lamps?  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 02-20-2006 12:58 PM                        The issue is that the chemicals used to "denature" ethanol vary. Probably safe for quartz, as long as there is no residue.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-20-2006 01:59 PM                     quote: Jason Miller we are talking about cleaning the quartz of lamps here You are correct. As long as you are cleaning the glass, it's probably okay to use denatured. Just be sure there's no resudue left over. Wipe the glass completely dry. Make sure there's no white, streaky junk left behind. I mentioned the problem with plastics because there are a lot of people who think if a little of something is good, then a LOT must be better. I've seen people spraying alcohol all over the inside the projector. If they did that with denatured alcohol and the acetone attacked the plastic parts inside the projector, they would be SCREWED! Just doin' a little C.Y.A.  |  IP: Logged William Hooper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1879 From: Mobile, AL USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 02-21-2006 02:10 AM                        Isopropyl alcohol may taste better than methanol, but it's still not a recommended beverage. It's oxidized to acetone rather than acetic acid, & causes gastrointestinal bleeding. Drink isopropanol & poop blood.  |  IP: Logged System Notices Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi Posts: 215 Registered: Apr 2004 posted 03-26-2009 03:58 AM                 It has been 1129 days since the last post.  |  IP: Logged Paavo Mardi Film Handler Posts: 27 From: Tartu / Estonia Registered: Sep 2008 posted 03-26-2009 03:58 AM                     Hello! Can I use acetone instead of alcohol to clean xenon bulbs?  |  IP: Logged

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