Keeping film containers and spools

tkamiya · Apr 20, 2010

I wonder if anyone else do this or just me....

For some reasons, I cannot throw away empty 35mm film containers (plastic ones with lid) or an empty 120 film spools. They go into my box and there they sit... forever...

Not that I have any use for them, really. Does anyone do the same?

Mats_A · Apr 20, 2010

I confess. I do the same.

r

Mats

photomem · Apr 20, 2010

I keep telling Donna I am going to start making those trendy bone and hemp necklaces the idiot kids at the University wear out of 120 spools and some jute rope from the hardware store.

Domin · Apr 20, 2010

I do the same. I have two cardboard boxes of that stuff. I've recently moved so I threw away loads of useless stuff but the spools and canisters miraculously survived.

I even have some crazy ideas what to do with it but always find there are better things to do. I already thought of making necklaces and stop motion short movie.

mikebarger · Apr 20, 2010

I don't have the 35mm collection anymore as I don't shoot more than about 6 rolls a year. On the 120, I even save the backing paper....for what who knows?

Mike

tkamiya · Apr 20, 2010

Is there a support group for this "problem?"

Domin · Apr 20, 2010

tkamiya said:
Is there a support group for this "problem?"

There is no group, but this is a support thread.

Jerry Basierbe · Apr 20, 2010

I get rid of the 35mm containers, but I do have a box full of 120 spools also.

tkamiya · Apr 20, 2010

I'm holding on by a thin thread here....

Oren Grad · Apr 20, 2010

Don't ask how many I have...

greybeard · Apr 20, 2010

I thought that the idea was to hang all of the 120 spools from threads and make a '60s style bead curtain. If you still haven't learned to make a decent picture by that time, at least you will have something to hide behind!

(I figure that it will take about 1100 spools, so I will get there in about 27 years from next Thursday.)

Grinsha · Apr 20, 2010

I have a drawer full of 120 spools with the backing paper on them. If i counted them i would know how many medium format shots i have taken. Then i could look at the keepers and find out how many didn't suck. That would be too depressing so i think i will leave them in the drawer.

wblynch · Apr 20, 2010

Backing paper is valuable if you have to recreate spools of smaller sized film that is no longer available.

127 and 828 comes to mind

munz6869 · Apr 20, 2010

Ha ha - this is awesome. I put the 120 backing paper in the recycling bin, but I long for the day when someone comes up with a genuine "use" for 120 spools.

As for sheet film nested boxes....

Marc

Poisson Du Jour · Apr 20, 2010

35mm canisters have always had a use. Great for salt and pepper shakers (Coglans the camping gear makers packages twin caps especially for 35mm containers), scalpel blade storage... endless "recycling" uses.
I have an annoying collection of 120 spools from my pinhole. The lab continues to send them back to me... Foraging for some backing paper there I found it can be rolled back onto a spare spool and used as notepaper when bushwalking!

photomem · Apr 20, 2010

Thats Brilliant Garyh! A spool of notepaper!

Tim Gray · Apr 20, 2010

wblynch said:
Backing paper is valuable if you have to recreate spools of smaller sized film that is no longer available.

Would you like to buy some of mine?

I do have a stash of containers, spools, and empty 35mm rolls. The last I keep for bulk rolling. Which I don't do that much.

canuhead · Apr 20, 2010

Used to use the gray Kodak container lids for drying Spotone for spotting. Ended up with a bunch scattered around the darkroom at work and at home.

wotalegend · Apr 20, 2010

wblynch said:
Backing paper is valuable if you have to recreate spools of smaller sized film that is no longer available.

127 and 828 comes to mind

127 is still available, and you are not too far from one of the main sellers - Freestyle in Hollywood.

lxdude · Apr 20, 2010

I give mine to the local thrift shop. They always manage to sell them. I used to have a bunch of the old grey w/black top and black w/grey top, which meant I had grey w/grey top and black w/black top as well. I sent them all to recycling. Now I wish I'd saved some of them. I like having an opaque container for my film when I'm out in the bright sun and the grey w/grey top were perfect for that- the grey color absorbed heat slower and the grey top took notes with marker. Oh, well.

alanrockwood · Apr 20, 2010

lxdude said:
I give mine to the local thrift shop. They always manage to sell them...

Now I know where to go to find some more.

Funny thing... just last week I took a few rolls of 35mm in to get processed, and the person behind the counter offered to take the film cans for recycling. I declined and took the empties home with me to go along with all the others I keep in a big plastic bucket.

Speaking of big plastic buckets, have any of you ever stopped by the side of the road and picked up a discarded bucket and brought it home with you? Who, me you say? I deny everything. Besides, nobody saw me do it, and it's my word against theirs anyway.

Back to 35mm film cans, I just wish I still had some of the old aluminum ones.

Anscojohn · Apr 20, 2010

The cannisters come in handy: save thousands and you can make your own river raft with them as flotation.

Craig Swensson · Apr 20, 2010

35mm containers make great ice cubes, er, make that ice logs.
spools??? have not found a use yet, but i`m gonna keep em, just in case.
regards
CW

Alex Bishop-Thorpe · Apr 20, 2010

It's gotten to the stage my girlfriend saves her 120 spools and gives them to me...

mts · Apr 20, 2010

The 120 spools make good spacers between clothespins on a line to dry film and RC prints. But how much drying line does one need? Mine probably could stretch all the way to Mexico.

Keeping film containers and spools

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