Okay, I'm stuck. Loading Film...

jjstafford · Jul 16, 2005

Thanks to APUG's Mr. Luke, I have a Fuji QuickLoad, but I can hardly afford to shoot QuckLoads for my personal projects, and besides I have a lot of sheet film in the freezer.

A couple of months ago I was in an accident that mutilated fingers, thumb of my left hand, leaving the remains numb and immobile (fused and pinned). I have tried and tried and just have had no luck at all in loading 4x5 film holders. Now I'm trying to noodle out some kind of appliance to help load them one-handed, and frankly I'm feeling very stupid about it.

Any hints, ideas? In the meantime, I continue to practice in a changing bag... without luck, but still trying.

Thank you,
John J

jd callow · Jul 16, 2005

Send me the film and the film holders and I'll load them for you.

I also have an extra 10 film holders (thank you Matt Carey) and will load those up for you as well. It could get a little costly in shipping. I can take the 5 mins daily if needed. It sure as h3ll wouldn't be any skin off my teeth.

There might also be some APUGers in your area who could help. Lower shipping and faster turnaround.

Short of that teach a friend or neighbor. Frankly, I'd like to meet the person(?) who wouldn't take 5 - 10min out every day or couple days to do this.

Ian Grant · Jul 16, 2005

A clamp or vice or something simple to hold the film holder, leaving you free to use your right hand to load the film.

Have easier ideas which would take too long to write down

Ian

User Removed · Jul 16, 2005

I use one hand only, to load 4x5 and 8x10 film holders. I place the film holder on a counter with the slide part pushed against a wall, I can then take my one hand and slide the film in and then close the film holder. Its also easy to do it on your lap too.

jd callow · Jul 16, 2005

Ian Grant said:
Have easier ideas which would take too long to write down

hehehe

wish granted.

jjstafford · Jul 16, 2005

Ian Grant said:
[...]Have easier ideas which would take too long to write down

Ian

Someone already sent me an email saying something about "where the sun don't shine."

But thanks to all, John Callow, McPhotoX, and yourself. I have an idea now. I'll make a wooden platform to position the film-holder with the slide open just right and a lever to hold the flap open.

Really, this has been a humbling experience. Thanks very much.

John Bartley · Jul 16, 2005

jjstafford said:
Someone already sent me an email saying something about "where the sun don't shine."

But thanks to all, John Callow, McPhotoX, and yourself. I have an idea now. I'll make a wooden platform to position the film-holder with the slide open just right and a lever to hold the flap open.

Really, this has been a humbling experience. Thanks very much.

Hi John,

The folks who send private messages only to flame because they're afraid of what others might think of them aren't worth the time of day - ignore them (why am I telling you what you already know )

If you'd like some sort of holder holder built (I have a couple of ideas on how) let me know. My basement and shop are pretty well equipped for project construction and all it takes is a bit of time and a bit of material and they're both yours for the asking.

cheers from Canada eh?

jjstafford · Jul 16, 2005

John Bartley said:
Hi John,

The folks who send private messages only to flame because they're afraid of what others might think of them aren't worth the time of day - ignore them (why am I telling you what you already know )

If you'd like some sort of holder holder built (I have a couple of ideas on how) let me know. My basement and shop are pretty well equipped for project construction and all it takes is a bit of time and a bit of material and they're both yours for the asking.

cheers from Canada eh?

That's very nice of you. I do have a shop and can still work with it if I move very carefully. The irony of this is that I mauled the left hand on the table saw as I was making a right-hand grip for a person with a partially disabled left hand. Silly me.

Yes, and thanks for the Canadian cheers, eh.
--
jj in MinneSnowta

User Removed · Jul 16, 2005

You could make a flat table to lay the film holder on, and then have a ridge at one side of it to butt the top of the film holder against when you slide the film in. The ridge would only be a few centimeters high so you could slide the darkslide out over top of it.

Ryan

Charles Webb · Jul 16, 2005

Wow, like Yogi sayes "Deja Vou all over again"! Approx two months ago while making a front Packard shutter mount I managed to do the same thing
with a table saw. Now with my wallet some $8,000.00 plus flatter I am trying to resume the things I have been doing for more than 50 years but find I can't do it. I still have my left thumb, but it is useless for anything but hitch hiking. I normally held the holder in my left hand and with my thumb and forefinger guided the film in with my right. Now with a stump with no sensitivity I have had a heck of a time loading film. I will be constructing something similar to what you guys have suggested. Thanks for the input!

I really thought I was the only person in the world that could stick his hand into a construction grade power saw. I could have bought several of Jim Galli's lenses and had some left over for some film with what I donated to a couple of "pill rollers".

Nick Zentena · Jul 16, 2005

Maybe some sort of channel. Then mount a screw on the side. Same sort of screw used in a C clamp. Place the holder in the channel. Tighten the screw to hold the holder in place. Should be easy enough to make up a row like that so you can load the holders one after the other.

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=1&p=45161&cat=3,41306,41320

That's not deep enough. Put really you could make the channel out of wood easy enough. Like a letter holder or napkin holder I guess.

This is why I like my tools named Bedrock. They can still bite but it's less damage.

John Bartley · Jul 16, 2005

John & Charles,

A couple of questions :

1) do you just need to hold the film holder steady while you work, or do you also need a mechanical way to keep the flap open as well? I've just tried this with dead film and a Fidelity holder in 4x5 keeping my eyes closed and NOT using anything on my left hand, only my forearm and palm to hold the holder steady. I have an idea brewing - the "better idea" light bulb is ON!

2) John , you've said that you can do some work....can you manage to drive two screwnails into a wood base given that a film holder clamp with predrilled pilot holes is supplied without the baseboard?

jjstafford · Jul 16, 2005

John Bartley said:
John & Charles,
[...]
2) John , you've said that you can do some work....can you manage to drive two screwnails into a wood base given that a film holder clamp with predrilled pilot holes is supplied without the baseboard?

Yes, I can, John. And by gosh, I do have 4x5 back parts to work with. You all have been very helpful. I'm getting a better and better picture of the solution. What I have in mind at the moment is using a sliding clamp from a univeral back to lock the holder down, then a simple smooth knob which I'll slip the flap under.

Charles, did I make that clear enough? Chances are that I'll go to the shop tomorrow and start mucking about!

Nick Zentena · Jul 16, 2005

Why not use a small spring clamp to keep the flap open? Or even a laundry peg? Wouldn't that keep both flaps open?

John Bartley · Jul 17, 2005

Hi again guys,

Have a look at this quicky holder holder I threw together from some scrap stuff I had in the basement. Think it'd work for y'all?

http://www3.sympatico.ca/oldrad/Photo/Tech/holderclamp/

cheers eh?

John Bartley · Jul 17, 2005

deep sigh.......

I know, I know....the example film is in upside down - try to pretend ok?

jjstafford · Jul 17, 2005

John Bartley said:
Hi again guys,

Have a look at this quicky holder holder I threw together from some scrap stuff I had in the basement. Think it'd work for y'all?

http://www3.sympatico.ca/oldrad/Photo/Tech/holderclamp/

cheers eh?

No fair, show-off. You used steel! I'm so envious. Are you a machinist? I have this big project...

I can load film in the darkroom by using my left forearm to hug the holder. It's the changing bag (Calumet tent) that's so daunting. Still practicing (it is HOT here today. You know how that is in a bag.)

Okay, down to the woodworking shop. I can make one like yours pretty quick. Thanks for the nudge.

John Bartley · Jul 17, 2005

jjstafford said:
No fair, show-off. You used steel! I'm so envious. Are you a machinist? I have this big project....

Nope - just a farm boy .

If either of you lads wants this it's yours for the asking - I don't need it. If both of you want one - I'll make another - doesn't take long - just let me know.

cheers for now.

Peter Schrager · Jul 17, 2005

What a team!

You guys are the best. The people here on APUG are the best. And good luck to
Jim with his new "tool"
Best, Peter

jjstafford · Jul 17, 2005

Thanks for the offer, John B, but I will do better by hacking away at another version. It ain't vanity, it's just tenacity. Besides, I need to get back to the saw, get over the bad experience.

Ole · Jul 17, 2005

Have you ever tried one of the old Linhof Universal holders? When you pull the darkslide out, the bottom flap flips up - spring loaded. To unload the film you pull a lever which pushes it out so you get an easy grip.

I have a few of these in "metric" sizes - 9x12 and 13x18. I know they were made in 4x5" as well, but they seem to be rare. I'll trade you a few 9x12's if you'd like, so you can try them out.

John Bartley · Jul 17, 2005

jjstafford said:
Thanks for the offer, John B, but I will do better by hacking away at another version. It ain't vanity, it's just tenacity. Besides, I need to get back to the saw, get over the bad experience.

Hehehe - roger that! I know exactly how you feel !

cheers eh?

Okay, I'm stuck. Loading Film...

jjstafford

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Okay, I'm stuck. Loading Film...

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