Fun and games with gummed up 5x4

[downfader]

I have 7 double dark slides that I had decided to load up tonight with HP5 5x4 sheets. I'd already used 8 sheets and put the rest back in the box, then in a plastic bag in the fridge. This is a normal domestic fridge with food, though as I cannot afford one for my film.

So tonight I took out the DDS gear ready, the change bag (which is annoyingly small, I'd quite like a change tent now I think about it ), and I took the box of HP5 out of the fridge to come to room temperature for about an hour.

When I came to load the DDS's I had got to about the 5th DDS and found that the HP5 was getting stuck. By the second side of the 5th DDS I couldnt get the sheet in properly. It was getting stuck - and I was getting very frustrated. It just would not slide in. 15 minutes later I eventually managed to fill the slide and breathed a sigh of releif...

...I've only been doing large format for 2 weeks, lol! I guess you could say that I'm quite green behind the ears in this field. I dont think you need to be very advanced to realise that there is possibly something wrong with your film or its storage. Or maybe it was the heat in the change bag affecting the film, I dont know, but the remaining sheets are now quite stuck together. Mind you it wont be a great loss at 3 sheets.

Has anyone had this experience? I'm hoping that my DDS's I've loaded will be ok for tomorrow when I go out with the camera (a Cambo SC). I've actually put the DDS in the fridge to keep them cool until tommorow, I dont know if thats the "done thing", it seemed the safest given my evening.

 

[Dracotype]

Very strange. I don't know that heat alone would do it. You might have to get it really hot to have them stick together.

What you really should do is go down the checklist and see if anything is wrong. Are your film holders clean? Have been doing anything funny to the film (you have already anwered that one)? Is it really humid? You can think of other things, but just go through your procedure and check it.

Drew

 

[dmax]

I presume that you are using a flat, floppy changing bag. Yes, the heat and the moisture from your hands/arms is responsible for raising the humidity level inside the bag. Film does get stuck under these conditions, and the difficulty of inserting film into the last DDS is also due to the heat/humidity buildup. I use a self-supporting changing tent, and even if the air here in Southern California is very dry, I still run into the same problem occasionally. For this reason, I limit my loading to a maximum of six DDS per session. Then I allow the changing tent to air out before I begin the next loads. Any more than six and the heat/humidity buildup over the period of loading film makes things much more difficult. It might be inconvenient, but maybe if you alternated between loading a DDs and airing the changing bag? Much better than film being stuck together.

 

[downfader]

Thanks chaps! I think its the change bag, its just too small, and as you've said - floppy. Yet another thing I think I need to invest in, lol!

I shall take the camera out tommorow for a spin. I hope the films alright and I can get some images back. Unloading the sheets I have found is easier, much easier, than the initial loading.

I have seen change tents that have a supposed "stay cool" foil surface. My god they were pricey, though! £150+ ...thats a weeks wages for me.

 

[John Bartley]

I understand the idea behind "portability" for the use of a change tent, but ... in your home, would it not be easier to seal a small room such as the bathroom light tight, put a chunk of plywood over the bathtub and work in unrestricted comfort? Maybe save the tent for roadwork? It might make the loading job easier.

cheers

 

[Bob F.]

Before shooting, it might be an idea to put the holders back in the bag and check that you have not loaded the film into the dark slide slots - this is a favorite error everyone makes from time to time and may explain the difficulty loading the film.

Live is a lot easier if you can blackout a room and load on a flat surface! The bathroom is usually the easiest candidate.

Good luck, Bob.

 

[John Bartley]

check that you have not loaded the film into the dark slide slots - this is a favorite error everyone makes

Hey !! "I" would never make that mistake ..... wait a minute - yup, one of the first of many that I made

 

[Charles Webb]

Originally Posted by Bob F.
check that you have not loaded the film into the dark slide slots - this is a favorite error everyone makes .

.........................................................................................

Wow, I though I had heard of every possible blunder, but this one is spanking new to me. I guarantee that it is not a "favorite error everyone makes". Since I have not done it. Of course I have only been loading holders for a bit over fifty years, so I guess I couldn't/shouldn't expect to have heard everything. BTW I have yet to get a sheet loaded emulsion side in, so I guess I have a way to go yet.

Charlie..............................

 

[downfader]

I understand the idea behind "portability" for the use of a change tent, but ... in your home, would it not be easier to seal a small room such as the bathroom light tight, put a chunk of plywood over the bathtub and work in unrestricted comfort? Maybe save the tent for roadwork? It might make the loading job easier.

cheers

I havent got the space to block off an area to do that, so change bags (and maybe tents) seem to be the way forward for me. The trouble is that I live with my parents (oh the joys of minimum wage and high house prices/high rent ).

 

[John Bartley]

I havent got the space to block off an area to do that, so change bags (and maybe tents) seem to be the way forward for me. The trouble is that I live with my parents (oh the joys of minimum wage and high house prices/high rent ).

I understand (from years ago).

I don't have a permanent darkroom either, but rather a removeable panel that blocks the bathroom window and a couple of towels to block off light from the bottom of the door. I haven't lived with my parents for three decades, but I still have to check with my sweetheart to see if she needs the bathroom before I occupy it for a couple of hours .

Anyway, tent or not, at least you'll still have fun

cheers

 

[downfader]

Yeah, if I had space for a darkroom I'd never emerge

 

[leeturner]

Had the same problem trying to load Paterson reels in a changing bag. It was too small and my hands started to get a bit sweaty and greasy. No problem since I utilised a room as a darkroom. It's a top floor room with two roof windows. I just cut cardboard to shape and covered it with thick plastic. Just push these into the window recesses and it's dark enough to load film and expose prints. It's not lightproof enough to work in it during the day but at night I've sat in there for 15 minutes and still can't see anything, although I might have had my eyes shut. I still close my eyes in the dark when loading a reel

 

[dphphoto]

Hi: I wouldn't put the film back in the 'fridge after opening the package, but that's me. I like John's idea, to load in a "dark" room without the changing bag. If you really need a bag, the Harrison ones are great but pricey. The ones Calumet sells are ok, but a lot cheaper.
Only 2 weeks into LF and you're making mistakes? Don't feel bad. I've been at this for over 30 years, and I still occasionally screw up. Dean

 

[downfader]

Hi Lee! I have to say I've been a dab hand at loading 35mm onto reels so far Just lucky I guess - although I do have a secret weapon in my arsenal: a Jessops film retreiver. I retrieve the film, snip off the end in day light and load the tip of the film into the reel. Its always worked a treat as long as you are a) carefull not to go too far with the film and lose images and b) are careful when putting the reel and film in the bag. I keep the film in the cassette and snip it off with scissors in the bag when the reel is done.

Hi Dean! LOL! Yeah two weeks, so far only that one mistake/problem.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I use a dark box (noritsu made I believe) and it's much more comfortable than a bag.
At home I use a bathroom that is mostly light tight. Foam weatherstripping around the doorway and a towel underneath and it's pretty dark. No windows in this bathroom so I guess I got lucky.

Try it without the bag.. You'll probably throw the bag out once you learn to hate it.