I have seen a fingerprint lamp failure, but as far as I know, I've never caused one. I normally have enough dexterity to manipulate and install a lamp touching only its
base, however I leave the foam on as a precaution and use the alcohol
whip on arc lamps. For an
HPL, however, I'm usually not as careful, and while I have a
best seat in my bag, I've never used it.
What is cool is when someone has only just lightly touched a lamp so that when said lamp finally dies of natural causes one finds a perfectly burned in etching of someone's fingerprint.
I know there is a debate regarding residue. This is my opinion.
For this discussion I refer to a light
bulb, lamp=
globe=
bulb.
I have never seen anyone use 'special clean gloves' to re-lamp. I have used Simpson racing kevlar gloves to remove globes we didn't have time to let cool.
I am a firm believer in not leaving any residue on
Tungsten Halogen lamp envelopes.
I always use Techspray brand wipes from our expendables dealers. They are large sized to help keep fingers
clear when working. They are also a high quality & percentage of isopropyl alcohol.
I believe that in the studios I work in (Hollywood), T.H. lamps are literally run till they die, or noticeably off normal output levels.
So, while some people have done 'tests' on the oily bulbs, and not seen a difference, my years of swapping globes tells me otherwise.
I too, feel that you can see the fingerprints on some globes when they are swapped out.
I spent time with the GE Lighting scientists and engineers who develop our Studio
line of globes. They assure me that it is detrimental to the life of the
globe to have (finger, taco, fish, any type) oil on the bulbs
envelope.
I have been to the Wolfram factory and in discussion about the
HMI bulbs, it is told to me that the 'outer'
envelope oils don't cause early failure like the T.H. cycle bulbs.
Now, of course, I admit I can certainly mix up facts or forget things over time.
I DO know that I lack knowledge & education & experience when compared to the people I look up to for such.
I may not grasp or fully understand the "why'', but when it comes from people I feel would know the correct info, I go with it.
Steve Terry would be a great example of this. Of course there are many many great people out there and in here on CB, I single out ST, just as an example. There have been times I see a post and think, "How can you disagree with Steve Terry?"
I certainly cannot.
Maybe that just makes me a fanboy of people I think are smarter than me!!
Regarding swabbing globes with alcohol, I will stick to that philosophy.
BTW, I only use what CB promotes as proper
DMX cable.
I always alcohol globes on re-lamp.
I never have my knee on the
ground when I
tie in ANY cable or
connector.
I always use U.P.S.'s on my rigs.
I back-up my
console early & often.