Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Restoring Popcorn Popper?

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Topic: Restoring Popcorn Popper?

Dave Bird
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 777
From: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 04-18-2001 01:39 PM

Those of you who have looted a closed theatre may have been where I am. I have a Cretors DI20F Diplomat Popper that's cleaning up quite nicely. All the metal has been blasted and painted and I've rewired. Stainless is cleaning up well too, but it's the kettle I'm having some trouble with. Inside, it's typical. But outside, the stainless and/or chromed portion is not what I'd call rusted but "pitted". Wondering how (and which chemicals) to use without damaging the finish too much. Anyone ever "rescue" a popper? Also, can't seem to find much about "Cretors" online, is there a parent company?

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Dave Bird

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Jerry Chase
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1068
From: Margate, FL, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 04-18-2001 02:54 PM

www.cretors.com

Not sure what you mean by pitted. If you mean the metal itself is pitted there isn't a whole lot you can do. Sometimes the pitting is in the gunked on coating of old oil. If it isn't aluminum, spray-on oven cleaner and a stiff bristle brush can help. I've had to use wire wheels on particularly nasty caked poppers.

Cretors has a boil-out for inside the kettle, IIRC.

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Kyle Abel
Film Handler

Posts: 56
From: Plano, TX, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 04-18-2001 03:28 PM

Dave,

Pro-Star chemicals has a liquid kettle cleaner that is very potent. We have been using it every day for a year and it has cleaned up all of the crud and has kept it looking bright and clean. Combine that with a metal scraper (like one to scrape gum off carpets) and it works great. Use gloves with it or you'll burn the crap out of your hands.

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Kyle Abel
General Manager
Plano Movies 10

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Dave Bird
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 777
From: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 04-18-2001 08:02 PM

Thanks fellows. Server must've been busy the other night, now I see the cretors site. It appears they still make an incarnation of my model. Yes Jerry, it's more like oil/grease VERY stuck almost to the point of discolouring the metal (unfortunately I believe it is aluminum). The kettle cleaners sound good, will try it, thanks again.

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Jerry Chase
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1068
From: Margate, FL, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 04-18-2001 09:54 PM

<doh!> Dave, I just remembered spray-on engine degreaser and liquid degreasers like "Titan" can help remove that grease/oil. Guess my brain could use some degreasing too.

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