My Nikon FM2 is scratching my film!

[Echoes]

Hello,

I'm seeking some help.
The thing is that lately I've been getting scratches pretty much all along my film. First I thought it could be developing so I processed a roll at home and a roll at my trusty lab, both have the same kind of scratches on almost every frame.

So I guess it's the camera, this has only happened recently, I've put around a hundred rolls throught it before without any problem, I' ve checked the pressure plate but it seems very clean.
What can I do?

BTW scratches are on the base, not the emulsion.

Thanks!

 

[js98367]

1. Use a Q-Tip cotton swab and lightly wipe it along the film path. It will snag and leave cotton fibers on the particle that is scratching your film.

2. If you reload your own 35mm film cassettes you could have grit in the felt trap of one of your cassettes or in the actual bulk film loader felt trap.

3. If you reload your own 35mm film and just put a new 100 foot roll of film in your bulk film loader, the new roll could have scratches on it.

4. If you are using factory film, you could have received pre-scratched film from the factory or their film cassettes could be faulty.

5. If you process your own film you could have scratched the film while loading it in the developing tank reel or if you squeege or wipe your film before you hang it up to dry you could have scratched it there too.

Good luck on your detective job.

 

[Kirks518]

I'll just add one thing to js98367's list

6. If you bulk load, there could be debris or an imperfection in your bulk loader. Long shot, but hey.

 

[shutterfinger]

There is an Anti Curl roller just past the pressure plate. That roller should turn freely with the weight of a small down feather applied to it. Look carefully at the roller from various angles, any flat of burnished areas the length of the roller are wear.
A piece of nylon cloth pulled across the back in the film path will snag on any rough place. Snag areas are potential culprits.
Put a piece of the scratched film in the film path as it would have been when exposing the film and compare the scratches to the camera back along the film path to get an idea of where it is dragging.

 

[Kawaiithulhu]

Put a piece of the scratched film in the film path

Brilliant

 

[David Lyga]

A good magnifying glass and a strong light will help you inspect the entire film transport area. Think like an ant and come down to its size. - David Lyga

 

[horacekenneth]

I recently had the same thing occur with my F2. Repeated inspections turned up nothing. I wiped down all the insides with a microfiber cloth - so far so good.
I didn't think of matching up the scratched negative to the camera to determine where the offense was -that's a great idea.

 

[shutterfinger]

I didn't think of matching up the scratched negative to the camera to determine where the offense was -that's a great idea.

Remember, emulsion side toward lens, top of image at the bottom of the film path is the correct orientation.

 

[Echoes]

Thanks for all your responses! Gave it a good clean and it seems to be okay now.

Thanks a lot!