First timer - loading bulk film

[rayonline_nz]

Hi - so I have been given 1976 expired film Kodak Plus X. I have this loader in this youtube link also given to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eqnuilNnAM

Problem. In daylight I used a spare old opened canister of 35mm roll of film and I cannot load it. I put the film sleeve up there. I then rotated the dial and it goes out and in depending if I go clockwise or counter clockwise. When I look at the little gap where the film comes out of - it is shut. Is there a way to open this gap? Or is my loader defective? If I use my fingernail and push it down it opens but as soon as I release it it slams shut.

Oh don't worry fixed it you need the winiding crank on it before it is unlocked. Working now with that sample strip of film. Got it from:
http://vimeo.com/4770922

 

[Michael W]

You are talking about where the film comes out of the bulk loader body & enters the cartridge you are loading into? The little hatch only opens once the lid is closed and the turning key inserted. This makes sense, because you only want that little hatch to open once the light is not able to get in. You also have to have that turning key inserted when first putting the bulk roll into the loader, otherwise it can't get past the locked hatch.

 

[summicron1]

first time i ever saw someone start with a question and then say they answered it, so never mind?

In any event, don't be opening that gate with the lights on or you fog your whole 100 feet of film. If you buy reloadable cassettes from Freestyle you don't need to tape the film to cut ends of old film, you tape it directly to the core and it's more secure.

good luck.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Once you open a commercial film cassette it is imposable to close it properly again. They are designed that way. You either have to buy re-useable cassettes or you can also get cassettes from photo processors. They recycle them as scrap. In this case you tape the film to the short stub of film sticking out of the used cassette. Don't open them. I suggest taping both sides for a better grip. Look closely at the cassettes in the video. You can see what he is doing.

 

[Jim Jones]

Older American metal cassettes had snap-off caps for easy reloading. Some more recent film from overseas had similar cassetes. I found them better to use than current reloadable plastic models.

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

If recycling commercial cassettes you need to tape a good wrap and a half around the left over bit to get it really secure. Too much tape though and it may not fit back into the cassette. I actually like the black plastic vs the snap cap type. Too many uses and the metal snap caps can get too loose.