Kodak splicing tape

Radost · Jun 6, 2023

So I have been having issues with using regular office tape for bulk loading cassettes. At the end of the rolls “more often than not” the film would just rip out of the tape.
A friend who works with cine film told me to get Kodak splicing tape.
I purchased some and I am really happy with how tin it is and how strong it holds the film. Highly recommended.

koraks · Jun 6, 2023

I've always used painter's tape. It never tears loose if you wrap it around the spindle once and tape both the back and front sides of the film.

No doubt the splicing tape is also nice of course, but I never experienced the need to source a particular kind of tape for this.

Don_ih · Jun 6, 2023

I'm the same as koraks - I only use masking/painters tape and run it about 1 cm onto the film each side. The only issue I've had with it is the adhesive is sometimes a bit furred at the edge and it gets on the emulsion of the final frame. But I find that only happens if the tape is old.
But undoubtedly that splicing tape won't let go of the film.

cmacd123 · Jun 8, 2023

I have used Masking tape for years, although I have started using "3M Automotive Refinish Tape" which is basically Masking tape of Very high quality.

the Splicing tape is used to join Polyester film, and generaly used in a splicer that also Punches new perforations. the Old splicing method of using Film Cement does not work for splicing Polyester. I imagine it will work for Bulk loading.

mshchem · Jun 8, 2023

I wish Kodak would go back to the green paper tape used for decades to secure 35mm film to the spool. What's used today is plastic tape that doesn't tear, I need to cut it with scissors, in the dark!

For bulk loading I use whatever suits me at the time. Probably a nice 1/2" wide 3M automotive grade of masking would be ideal?

Radost · Jun 9, 2023

I also want to find a way to cut the end of the film without waisting frame at the end.

darkroommike · Jun 9, 2023

I am a big fan or masking tape to join bulk film to the spool and also use the "good stuff". The automotive masking tape works really well.

The splicing tape is good for the folks that attach their new bulk load to the stub film sticking out of a cassette (not my practice, I use reloadable cassettes, including Kodak Snap Caps). These folks are usually making do so that they can use the DX feature on their camera. I keep a roll of mini-lab splicing tape around for this and other uses.

As far as cutting off the film evenly at the end of the roll when loading a processing reel, I let my scissor blade "ride" the hubs on the spool from the cartridge, cuts off clean every time. You can use that trick at both the beginning and at the spool end of the film.

MattKing · Jun 9, 2023

darkroommike said:
As far as cutting off the film evenly at the end of the roll when loading a processing reel, I let my scissor blade "ride" the hubs on the spool from the cartridge, cuts off clean every time. You can use that trick at both the beginning and at the spool end of the film.

Use children's scissors for this - they are small, and have rounded points, so they are less likely to poke a hole in your changing bag - if you suffer through using one of those.

armadsen · Jun 9, 2023

Radost said:
I also want to find a way to cut the end of the film without waiting frame at the end.

Reflx Lab sells a trimmer made for exactly this: https://reflxlab.com/products/film-spool-end-trimmer-free-shipping
(Incidentally they also sell some tape specifically for bulk loading.)

Don_ih · Jun 9, 2023

MattKing said:
children's scissors

I remember, when I was a kid, "school scissors" were drop-forged, heavy, solid steel things you could cut guy wire with. And "children's scissors" were .... absolutely useless. You couldn't even cut newspaper with them.

MattKing · Jun 9, 2023

Don Heisz said:
I remember, when I was a kid, "school scissors" were drop-forged, heavy, solid steel things you could cut guy wire with. And "children's scissors" were .... absolutely useless. You couldn't even cut newspaper with them.

Ironically, they work well with film - at least with roll film on cellulose triacetate substrate.
It occurs to me that I've never tried them with PET based films - because I've avoided using PET based roll films.

Don_ih · Jun 9, 2023

MattKing said:
Ironically, they work well with film - at least with roll film on cellulose triacetate substrate.
It occurs to me that I've never tried them with PET based films - because I've avoided using PET based roll films.

I think they're better, now. The only scissors available to kids when I was a kid either couldn't cut your skin or could cut off your hand....

Cholentpot · Jun 9, 2023

I've heard tales of the tape used to close motion picture cans and how the crews would fight over that tape. Anyone know what kind of tape was used?

koraks · Jun 9, 2023

Don't know about the "old days" but currently Kodak uses a woven textile kind of tape for their cine film cans that very closely resembles bookbinder's tape.

Don_ih · Jun 9, 2023

Cholentpot said:
I've heard tales of the tape used to close motion picture cans and how the crews would fight over that tape. Anyone know what kind of tape was used?

According to Wikipedia, that'd be gaffer tape. I was thinking it would be bookbinder's tape - which makes sense, since bookbinder's tape appears to be gaffer tape.

Radost · Jun 9, 2023

armadsen said:
Reflx Lab sells a trimmer made for exactly this: https://reflxlab.com/products/film-spool-end-trimmer-free-shipping
(Incidentally they also sell some tape specifically for bulk loading.)

Got one, thank you great find

Cholentpot · Jun 9, 2023

Don Heisz said:
According to Wikipedia, that'd be gaffer tape. I was thinking it would be bookbinder's tape - which makes sense, since bookbinder's tape appears to be gaffer tape.

I know what gaffer tape is. Kodak is using a specific tape. It's not the same, I've gotten Kodak 400 foot cine cans before and it's not stuff that I buy in the photography store.

koraks said:
Don't know about the "old days" but currently Kodak uses a woven textile kind of tape for their cine film cans that very closely resembles bookbinder's tape.

Do they have a specific brand they use? It's isn't 'Suretape' or any of the gaffer that I use.

btaylor · Jun 9, 2023

On set its called "camera tape." Which is 1" gaffers tape. Used to seal camera magazines and film cans. It is not the same as bookbinder's tape.
filmtools.com look up "camera tape" for the gaffers tape, Amazon has bookbinder's tape.

koraks · Jun 9, 2023

Cholentpot said:
Do they have a specific brand they use? It's isn't 'Suretape' or any of the gaffer that I use.

I dunno, I just went by what I peeled off one of those cans the other day.

Radost · Jun 9, 2023

btaylor said:
On set its called "camera tape." Which is 1" gaffers tape. Used to seal camera magazines and film cans. It is not the same as bookbinder's tape.
filmtools.com look up "camera tape" for the gaffers tape, Amazon has bookbinder's tape.

Gaf tape is way too tick.

btaylor · Jun 9, 2023

I have no idea what exact tape comes off a Kodak cine film can, it does resemble bookbinders tape, and it isn’t gaffers tape.

koraks · Jun 9, 2023

btaylor said:
It is not the same as bookbinder's tape.

Indeed; the tape used on the Kodak cans is more flexible for one thing.

Btw, I think it's way still on the thick side for use as a core attachment tape in 35mm cassettes.

Cholentpot · Jun 9, 2023

btaylor said:
I have no idea what exact tape comes off a Kodak cine film can, it does resemble bookbinders tape, and it isn’t gaffers tape.

We need answers!

Gaffer tape it too thick for loading film into cassettes. Paint tape works in a pinch and scotch seems to work pretty well for me.

Patrick Robert James · Jun 9, 2023

I used gaffers tape a long time ago. It is thick but it will work. I use 3m Scotch tape these days. Wrap it all the way around. Never had a fail.

Radost · Jun 9, 2023

Patrick Robert James said:
I used gaffers tape a long time ago. It is thick but it will work. I use 3m Scotch tape these days. Wrap it all the way around. Never had a fail.

I use AP cassettes and don’t like when the thick tape pushes the felt…

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