Old 8mm film reels may be hiding at the back of your closet, just waiting to give you a nostalgia trip. Putting it directly into a projector after all those years may not be the best idea, however. To avoid film breaks and scratches, and to get the best image projection, it is a good idea to clean and lubricate the film first.
Instructions
1. Set up your film reel on an 8mm film editor. This device has a holder for the film reel and one for the empty take-up reel. Using this to clean and lubricate your film will help you avoid the possibility of the film coming off the reel.
2. Use a safe, oil-based liquid solvent to clean the film. Wipe a little on the leader tape to make sure it won't harm the film. This material generally is safe for movie film and recommended by amateur filmmakers. Place some of it on your cotton cloth and begin to slowly move the handle on the film editor take-up reel while holding the cloth to the film on both sides. This should be done carefully and to the entire reel.
3. Use the film polishing cloth on the film as you rewind it in the film editor. The polishing cloth will provide the lubrication needed. Again, this should be done slowly to avoid scratches or film breaks.
4. Use compressed air to remove any visible dust or debris. Compressed air is better than blowing the dust off yourself because it provides dry air and leaves nothing else behind.
5. Clean the projector, too. Thread a cleaning cloth through the film path to clean out any dust and debris there. You also can use compressed air. It is important to clean the projector, because if it is dirty, your 8mm film may pick up debris and dust from it or, worse, get scratched.
Tags: film editor, your film, clean lubricate, cloth film, dust debris, film breaks