Keeping film containers and spools

fschifano · Apr 22, 2010

alanrockwood said:
...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.

Guilty as charged!

bobwysiwyg · Apr 22, 2010

jmcd said:
I am also saving the interleaving "note" sheets that used to be found between every sheet of Ilford film, the black interleaving sheets that were found between sheets of Forte (good for lining a light-tight something or other), the square Ilford boxes and tins from 100 foot rolls of film. So much care, precision, and possibility. If it all collapses will someone ever find me?

So, how many of those light tight something or others have you build so far?

erikg · Apr 22, 2010

I put all of it into the recycling, although I do have a few of the old Ilford cans around that have the color coded tops. I miss those. I have a few metal film cans around, those are pretty handy for small parts.

wblynch · Apr 22, 2010

I also have a stack of empty film canisters on my table. I went back to film-only photography late last year and I already have 21 empty 35mm cups.

I think that's more film in the last 6 months than I used in the previous 15 years!

---just doing my share to help keep film alive !!

wotalegend · Apr 22, 2010

Like several others here, I use the 35mm plastic canisters to store $1 and $2 coins. Like Canada (and NZ), Australia scrapped its $1 and $2 notes several years ago and I have worn holes in the pockets of several trousers carrying around all the silly gold-coloured coins. At least we also scrapped the copper/bronze coins, so all cash transactions are now rounded up or down to the nearer 5c.

Back in the days when I was a Scout Leader, we used to use 35mm canisters on overnight hikes to carry food items only needed in small quantities, like salt, butter, vegemite, etc.

Note for non-Australians: Vegemite is a salty yeast extract (said to be a by-product of beer production) which Australians love to spread on toast for breakfast. What I think non-Australians don't get about it is that is meant to be spread very very thinly, not like peanut butter or jam.

lxdude · Apr 22, 2010

Ahhh, Vegemite! I was introduced to it about 30 years ago by a couple of Australians I worked with in an auto repair shop. After I got past the initial "How do I know this isn't just axle grease?" reaction, I tried it and quickly acquired the taste. It helped that I experienced it properly. Their method was to spread thinly on well buttered toast. Truly a taste one will never forget. Yum!

Raphael · Apr 23, 2010

But seriously...

Hi all,

Very funny thread, indeed

Me too, I am stacking bunches of 135mm canisters, 120 spools and 4x5 boxes, until I get short of space, and then, the excess goes to the recycling plastics or cardboard containers.

I am surprised, since films makers may have hard times, and raw materials prices increasing, that no one offers collecting canisters or spools for reuse ! Of course I don't know if this economically viable, maybe it's less expensives to roll films around new spools than collecting/sorting/reusing olds.

I know I am a kinda recycling freak, I try to sort all the family wastes toward the rights recycling channels, papers, cardboxes, etc.
So in my case, I am almost ready to pay for shipping a cardboard box full of 120 spools or canisters back to Moberley, or anywhere in Europe !

If it can helps to keep film makers in business and save energy and raw materials, why not ?

Regards,

Raphael

bobwysiwyg · Apr 23, 2010

Raphael said:
I know I am a kinda recycling freak, I try to sort all the family wastes toward the rights recycling channels, papers, cardboxes, etc.
Raphael

Guilty of this myself. Our town has been recycling for 40 years using what is termed multi-stream, as you describe. Paper here, corrugated cardboard here, non-corrugated can go in with the paper, some plastics not allowed, blah, blah, etc. , etc. All in separate bins.

We just got word we are moving to single stream this summer. One cart takes everything recyclable. Yeah!

AshenLight · Apr 23, 2010

Me too...

Ash

Philippe-Georges · Apr 23, 2010

mikebarger said:
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

Backing paper? Ideal for stopping little light-leaks in the darkroom, around the door for instance

Philippe

karthik · Apr 23, 2010

I can never have enough of the Ilford 35mm canisters - the grey/black opaque ones. The types you get from the labs around my place are all the white translucent ones. They seem to be just a millimeter or so smaller, and my bulk-loaded rolls fit too tightly in them, making the felt light-trap warp a bit.

Terrence Brennan · Apr 23, 2010

Pack rat or squirrel?

mhcfires said:
Jeeez, we are all packrats.

There is nothing wrong with that. All of my Precious Stuff in my workshop (known to my sainted, long suffering wife as "that pile of junk in the basement") is sorted and stored in bins and containers, a lot of which are 4-litre windshield washer containers with tops cut off. As a result, when I need material to fix something, including stuff in my darkroom, I have what I need at hand. I also save screws and washers, nuts and bolts, and they too are sorted.

leicam5 said:
Backing paper? Ideal for stopping little light-leaks in the darkroom, around the door for instance…

Philippe

When I was constructing my darkroom, I blocked light leaks with a double thickness of the black plastic bags which Ilford paper came wrapped in, when purchased in the old style 1000-sheet boxes...another pack rat special.

But your comment has inspired me to use the paper for something else: last weekend I was making 5x7 prints on an easel in which one of the blades couldn't be moved far enough in. I used a piece of fogged and developed paper to get a clean edge, but I'll bet that a piece of the 120 backing paper would have worked better, as it is thinner. I will definitely try that the next time around.

Which begs the NEW question: what do photogs do with the plastic bags and boxes paper comes packaged in?

FWIW, my wife refers to me as a squirrel, not a pack rat. I don't think we have pack rats this far north, but I can tell you that we have plenty of squirrels, including yours truly.

fschifano · Apr 23, 2010

Terrence Brennan said:
...Which begs the NEW question: what do photogs do with the plastic bags and boxes paper comes packaged in?

I work in a pretty cramped space for a darkroom, and I use them to keep a few sheets of the paper at the ready, without leaving the whole box out. But I have more than I need, yet I can't bring myself to throw them out. Geez Louise, have you seen what these things sell for? See here and here. Granted it's not a fortune, but they're not giving them away either.

Darkroom317 · Apr 23, 2010

I put coins in the black Ilford canisters. Still trying to figure out what to do with 120 spools.

flatulent1 · Apr 23, 2010

I've been saving the 135 black plastic Ilford canisters for storing bulk loaded film; I have plenty, but that doesn't appear to be stopping me. I also have quite a few 120 spools scattered about, just in case I pick up a 120 folder or Mamiya back that's missing its take-up spool; can't imagine any other use for these. I have never saved backing paper; just yesterday afternoon I loaded a roll of 120, and tossed the spool (!) with the backing paper in the trash. I now have an irresistible urge to get it out, dust it off, and put it away somewhere... I used to save Tmax bulk load film cans, but I haven't a clue where they are now.

It's been said that one way to success in life is to emulate the habits of successful people, so until recently I'd been saving my nail clippings in a mason jar. Didn't work, I am not a millionaire.

Philippe-Georges · Apr 23, 2010

Terrence Brennan said:
Which begs the NEW question: what do photogs do with the plastic bags and boxes paper comes packaged in?

FWIW, my wife refers to me as a squirrel, not a pack rat. I don't think we have pack rats this far north, but I can tell you that we have plenty of squirrels, including yours truly.

The black plastic bags? Ideal for darkening white translucent bottles with developer in, use them like a teapot warm-holder (what is the correct English name for that thing?), upside down, just simple
Like we say over here, and I freely translate : nothing is as smart as a human, one can catch apes whit it

Philippe

Philippe-Georges · Apr 23, 2010

Darkroom317 said:
I put coins in the black Ilford canisters. Still trying to figure out what to do with 120 spools.

120 spools? Ideal as little stands for tabletop shooting I even cut them in short pieces as long/short as I need them!

I once used a piece to repair one high heel of my daughters shoe the evening she was about to go out dancing at the students ball
The thing holded for the whole night, thank you AGFA!

Philippe

photomem · Apr 23, 2010

I use the black bags for transporting finished prints back and forth to school. I am also going to use them as a light proof carry container for exposed rolls while on vacation here soon. I also use them to wrap around the dog's head when she starts barking in the middle of the night.

Thats a joke.. though I can't say I have not thought about it.

flatulent1 · Apr 23, 2010

leicam5 said:
The black plastic bags? Ideal for darkening white translucent bottles with developer in, use them like a teapot warm-holder (what is the correct English name for that thing?), upside down, just simple
Like we say over here, and I freely translate : nothing is as smart as a human, one can catch apes whit it

Philippe

You're thinking of a 'tea cozy'.

st23 · Apr 23, 2010

I also save all my 35 mm canisters and 120 spools. I also have all the boxes for 4x5 film I have used. My justification is that I will reuse or recycle all of this someday. I have used the 4x5 boxes for various projects and my kids like to play with the plastic containers for 35mm. They snatch them off my work table and I find them laying around the house with toys in them. My three year old likes to see how high he can stack 120 spools.

I did some research on recycling film containers a while back. I bulk load to try to minimize waste. Kodak has a recycling program for 35mm cartridges and one use cameras. It sounds like they reuse or recycle most of it. Not much of the 120 stuff though if i remember correctly. Google search will turn up details, though it took me a while to find.
I think the program is only for photo-finishers, you can't just mail in your empties as a consumer from what I found.

st23 · Apr 23, 2010

Just found this:

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/faqs/faq5022.shtml

wblynch · Apr 23, 2010

Kodak: ".... products may be returned to Kodak for film-base recovery and silver recovery. The lower limit for such a return is 40,000 pounds"

It's gonna take me a while to get to 40,000 pounds !!!

st23 · Apr 23, 2010

Has anyone tried taking used 35mm cartridges to a photo-finisher for recycling?

Stephen

kevs · Apr 23, 2010

My 35mm canisters and 120 spools go into the recycling bin, save the few i keep spotting ink and fountain pen ink in. Life's too short to keep old junk; there's enough of that here already.

cmacd123 · Apr 23, 2010

lxdude said:
I always thought there was something Loonie-Twoonie about Canadians--now I know why!

But this week a loonie is hovering about par with that paper Geo Washington. and you gotta admit that the bird in the hand is better than the dead guy on a worn bit of paper.

The Loonie name comes from the coin featuring a portrait of a common loon. Naturaly when it was joined by the two dollar version, what else to call it but a Toonie.

Keeping film containers and spools

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