Building a Punch to Make Properly Perforated 828 Film

[medasaro]

All -
I just finished a project which I think would be on interest to this group. I have designed and build a device which will accurately produce 828 film, including the perforations, from unperforated 35mm stock. The resulting strips of film can be re-spooled onto used backing paper and spools to provide an inexpensive and high quality source for this obsolete film.

As a teaser, the device is pictured above. For complete details, and a set of plans, please read my blog post on the project at http://www.dasarodesigns.com/projects/building-a-punch-to-make-properly-perforated-828-film/.

What I need now is to find a source for unperforated 35mm B&W film stock (I have already found that I can get unperforated Portra, but I want black and white so that it can be easily developed at home). When I do, I plan sell strips of punched film so that anyone with an expired roll of 828 who is interested in shooting their Kodak Bantam may do so inexpensively. If anyone know who might supply such a thing, please let me know.

Thanks!
Matthew D'Asaro

 

[pdeeh]

Nice article Matthew, and welcome to APUG.

I hope this works out for you and thus for the 828 users out there ... you're obviously an ingenious and methodical worker, and I particularly like that you have released your design into the wild a la GPL

 

[Two23]

I might be interested in some 828 film. As for where to get unperforated 35mm, I'd email Ilford.


Kent in SD

 

[MattKing]

You could slit down 120 or 127 film.

 

[pdeeh]

if you read the linked blog post, slitting 120 is the next preferred option if unperf 135 can't be easily found.

 

[medasaro]

Thanks for the feedback! I have sent a message to Ilford asking if they can supply unperforated 35mm stock. We will see what they say. Stay tuned.

-Matthew D'Asaro

 

[Athiril]

I bought 2 rolls of this to try in 35mm cameras.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-a...330?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c44678d32

 

[Hatchetman]

I bought 2 rolls of this to try in 35mm cameras.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-a...330?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c44678d32

Thanks for the link. I bought a roll for my Bantam Special. Just need to figure out how to expose/develop now. I'm guessing ISO 12 or 25?

 

[medasaro]

Thanks for the link! That looks like it would work nicely.

 

[Truzi]

I've also purchased microfilm on ebay. Just search APUG for information on using microfilm for pictorial use - it can be slow and have very high contrast.

Here is a similar thread about punching film:
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Athiril]

Thanks for the link. I bought a roll for my Bantam Special. Just need to figure out how to expose/develop now. I'm guessing ISO 12 or 25?

I think it's different to the Agfa Copex Rapid that's sold in 35mm and 120, I'll have to test it out when I get my hands on it.

 

[resummerfield]

Matthew D'Asaro... Very Impressive! Thanks for posting this!

 

[cmacd123]

Silting from roll film (120) would give you the correct thickness of film stock. regular 35mm stock would likely be too thick.

 

[medasaro]

Interesting. I didn't know film came in different thicknesses. I will have to go ahead and measure some film now with my micrometer and see.

-Matthew

 

[Hatchetman]

Silting from roll film (120) would give you the correct thickness of film stock. regular 35mm stock would likely be too thick.

??

I've used either and never noticed a difference.

 

[fotch]

Welcome Matthew to APUG & thank you for sharing

 

[OptiKen]

I'll be looking forward to updates. I'm interested in buying the film strips from you as well

 

[medasaro]

Thanks for the positive feedback. Just to spread my net a bit further, I also contacted Kodak to see if they might be able to supply unperforated 35mm B&W. Since Film For Classics 828 claims to be TRI-X 400, they must have some source for it. Of course they may just be slitting 120. In any case, we will see what Kodak says.

-Matthew

 

[medasaro]

Not too surprisingly, Kodak is a no go. See their response below. There is also still no response from Ilford - I emailed both their regional (USA) and international offices.

Dear Mr. D'Asaro,

Unfortunately we no longer source any non-perforated B&W film from Eastman Kodak.

Best regards,
Thomas J. Mooney

-Matthew

 

[Steve Smith]

As someone who makes a lot of test and assembly jigs in an industry which die cuts a lot of polyester sheet - I'm impressed.


Steve.

 

[ME Super]

The person to ask about non perforated 35mm film from Ilford is Simon Galley. He frequents this forum frequently, send him a PM. If they don't have it in their regular runs, you might try getting some when they start taking orders for their 2015 ULF run.

 

[medasaro]

It looks like buying bulk unperforated film is probably going to be too expensive an investment to start out with. My current plan is to build a slitter and sell 120 film which I have slit and punched to make 828. Based on how well that sells I will be able to see how much of a market there is for the product. Then, if that works out well, I will be in a much better position to approach film manufacturers about buying a custom run of unperforated 35mm film. At that point the price per strip of 828 would be much lower.

-Matthew

 

[pdeeh]

Is this a kickstarter job? The bulk price is pretty fair, the question is are there enough people who'd be interested in buying a roll or few of 828 ...

 

[moltogordo]

I think you have an amazing idea . . . . more power to you. And if it is a "kickstarter" job, you'll never get rich or even break even . . . but if you can make a few bucks by indulging in a hobby and being a good neighbour to others, hey, that's what it's all about. All I can say is "Bravo!"

 

[Athiril]

It looks like buying bulk unperforated film is probably going to be too expensive an investment to start out with. My current plan is to build a slitter and sell 120 film which I have slit and punched to make 828. Based on how well that sells I will be able to see how much of a market there is for the product. Then, if that works out well, I will be in a much better position to approach film manufacturers about buying a custom run of unperforated 35mm film. At that point the price per strip of 828 would be much lower.

-Matthew

Might want to use the off cut for 110