How many feet of film fit in a Paterson Autoload reel?

[Austin_Jessup]

I have a project in mind that involves shooting regular 8mm film, and have found some instructions online to modify a typical Paterson autoload reel to fit 16mm film size. What I want to know is how many total feet of film fits on each reel? I plan to cut up the total 33ft of film on a reel and develop all the pieces at once in a large Paterson tank with multiple modified reels, then splice them back together at the cuts for projection. It's just for fun, so I'm not worried about dissecting frames or anything like that. Although if there are reasons why this won't work, I'm eager to hear them. I haven't really spliced movie film before.

I would rather go this route than use the Lomo tank because I'll also use the large tank for 35mm.

Any insights towards my project goal or reasons for why it won't work are greatly appreciated!

 

[Malcolm Stewart]

It will be a little over the length of a 36 exposure 35mm film - it's a long time since I developed a non-standard film, but I recall there being a few inches space when the film was fully loaded. 64.5 inches is quoted here:
http://www.rogerandfrances.com/photoschool/ps how load bulk.html.

 

[Austin_Jessup]

Thanks Malcolm! In my mind I thought the reels could hold more than a regular 36 exp length of 35mm film, but I realize from this article it's probably negligble even if they can. Thanks again

 

[BradS]

About 5 ft is the practical maximum. Even getting that last few inches of a full 36exposures is difficult if your reels aren’t perfectly clean and dry.

 

[Kino]

Here, try this instead of the Patterson tank; http://www.chrisgavin.com/2013/07/diy-spiral-proccessing-tank-for-cine.html

and here is a cool German site: http://www.filmkorn.org/tag/diy/

 

[Austin_Jessup]

Thanks BradS and Kino! I may just have to try that homemade tank.

 

[darkroommike]

Late to this thread but a Paterson reel will hold a roll of 220 film, 220 film is just about 65 inches long.

 

[gorbas]

Processing "long rolls" of cine film can be messy affair. Do yourself favour and find proper Lomo tank. I know they become ridiculously expensive but work beautifully. You can even process 35mm film in it. I did it some 30+ years ago. Lomo reel will fit 15m of film and I used 17m still camera bulk loads. What happened with that extra 2m of film totally faded in my memory