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How do you fix a bad splice when the reels are already all spliced together on the platter?

Once I marked it, then when the movie was over tried to pull it out and fix it, but I couldn't get enough slack.

When it goes through the projector and rewinds back on the platter, drop a couple of spacer blocks (3/4" pieces of styrofoam, etc) on each side of the bad spot... When the movie ends you can lift out the bad spot, repair it and drop it back in place without the spacers... Next pass through the projector, the platter will eliminate the gap when the it takes up the film...

[This message has been edited by outaframe (edited April 17, 2006).]

We do the same thing but with a strip foam rubber.

Take the center ring out, perhaps take out he payout assembly, push the film towards the center in 2" incriments til you get to the splice you marked. That should give you enough room to fix the splice. Carefully move the film back in to rough shape. Monitor the payout to make sure nothing goes wrong on that performance.

Ta Da, fixed!

I watch for the splice to get to the takeup, then insert two or three trailers. Others use sponges, as well as examples already posted here. That gives you plenty of room to pull out and repair the splice. Just don't use anything that might scratch the film.

The technique of using foam spacer blocks to leave a gap in the film roll during takeup was first discussed in Kodak's "Film Notes for Reel People", H-50-11, in July 1980!:
http://www.film-tech.com/warehouse/wareview.php?id=959&category=2

(See page 8)

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John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Customer Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: +1 585-477-5325 Cell: +1 585-781-4036 Fax: +1 585-722-7243
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Website: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Thanks everyone.

(This is my first chance to get back here since posting that.)