An 8mm film should be seen, not left to rot.
An 8mm movie has sprocket holes that the projector uses to keep the film moving correctly through the path of the light that projects the image. The film gate and take-up reel can stop working correctly due to age and so cause the movie to jump and stutter as it plays. Cleaning these parts of the 8mm projector can alleviate this problem so that the 8mm film runs smoothly through the projector.
Cleaning the Film Gate
Make sure the 8mm projector is turned off and unplugged. Remove the screws that hold the film gate to the 8mm projector. Put the screws to the side. Carefully pick up the film gate by the edges and blow off any dirt that is adhering to it with a camel's hair brush. Wipe the film gate off very carefully using a lint-free cloth. Take a Q-tip that has been lightly moistened with rubbing alcohol and clean around the edges of the film gate.
Blow any dust off of the area where the film gate was removed from the 8mm projector using a camel's hair brush. Take a Q-tip and lightly moisten it with rubbing alcohol. Use the Q-tip to clean around the edges where the film gate was removed. Replace the film gate and put back in all of the screws after the alcohol has dried from both the film gate and the area where it was taken out of.
Cleaning the Take-Up Reel
Remove the screws that hold the film hub to the take-up reel of the 8mm projector. Put the screws aside. Blow off any dirt on the outside or inside of the hub and then clean it using a lint-free cloth. Take a Q-tip that has been lightly moistened with rubbing alcohol and clean around the edges of the film hub.
Clean the area of the take up reel that has been exposed by removing the film hub with a lint free cloth. Clean around the edges as well using a Q-tip that has been lightly moistened with rubbing alcohol.
Replace the film hub on the take up reel once the alcohol has dried from both the film hub and the area where the film hub was removed from. Put the screws back in to hold the film hub in position.
Checking Playback
Turn on the 8mm projector's motor to make sure the take up reel turns freely. Turn off the motor. Put an 8mm film on the projector's holding reel and thread the 8mm film through the projector's film gate. Attach the loose end of the 8mm film to the hub of the take-up reel and adjust the tension so that the film is taut going through the film gate.
Turn on the 8mm projector's motor and advance the film so that it is moving through the film gate. Watch to see that the film is moving freely through the gate and being picked up by the take-up reel correctly. Rewind the film back to the beginning. Turn on the bulb and advance the film.
Tags: film gate, around edges, rubbing alcohol, that been, with rubbing, with rubbing alcohol, area where
