Problem with marks (or scratchs) in my negatives.

[Henry Alive]

Hello everybody:
I have a problem with my negatives, since I am having some marks (scratchs?) in differents negatives of a same film.
I work with Trix400, Rodinal, Kodak Max-Stop, Agefix and water. This problem not always appears.
I make my own rolls from a Trix400 100 feet long film can. So, I think it could be possible to have using bad chassis that, once in a while, allow some threads of feld to be detached and dragged by the film. So, they finally appears in the negative.
Could you tell me your expirience? Do you have other opinions? Finally, could you suggest what kind of chassis (metalic, plastic,...), which brand and where I could buy them?
Thanks,
Henry.

 

[Neal]

Hi Henry,

When you suspect problems with a cassette, throw it out. I have had good luck using compressed gas to clean them before loading. My favorites are the metal ones marketed in the USA under the name "Kalt" (Brandess-Kalt-Aetna), but the plastic ones also work well. When I load the cassettes, I work entirely in a changing bag so that I never have to close the door of the loader against the film. Before that I would occasionally forget to open the door before cranking. Of course, make sure your camera is clean.

Neal Wydra

 

[Henry Alive]

Dear Neal:
Thank you for your comments. This time you have been the only one who has given me some advice.
I think the problem is in my plastic chassis, so I am going to work with new metallic ones. Aditionally, I will make a prewash of the films.
Thank you again,
Henry.

 

[Mahler_one]

Loading film from rolls....

Henry: Please don't take my questions, or comments, as being critical or sarcastic. I am curious as to the reason(s) photographers take the time and effort to load their own cassettes when the "risks" ( scratches, fogging, etc. )might not exceed the benefits ( convenience, no need to load in the field, no risk of scraches, etc. ). I know that there are some on the APUG who continue to enjoy loading their own cassettes from long rolls of film, and I often wonder if the effort is worth the bother and "risks"? Are the incremental cost saving(s) very significant?

Thanks.

Edwin

 

[Snapshot]

Henry: Please don't take my questions, or comments, as being critical or sarcastic. I am curious as to the reason(s) photographers take the time and effort to load their own cassettes when the "risks" ( scratches, fogging, etc. )might not exceed the benefits ( convenience, no need to load in the field, no risk of scraches, etc. ). I know that there are some on the APUG who continue to enjoy loading their own cassettes from long rolls of film, and I often wonder if the effort is worth the bother and "risks"? Are the incremental cost saving(s) very significant?

Thanks.

Edwin

As a person that "rolls their own" there is substantial cost savings when doing so, especially in the long run. However, you can run the risk of scratching your negatives, which can offset any benefits of cost savings. Another reason I use bulk loading is that I can store a significant quantity of rolls in the freezer. I have over 15 bulk rolls of APX 100 alone and I can imagine how much room they would take up as individual cassettes in their boxes.

I must admit, I like the idea of creating rolls of film, just like I like the process of mixing my own chemistry and using an enlarger to make prints. To each their own.

 

[Akki14]

I also "roll my own" at significant savings and I've never had a scratched film due to bulk loading. I have had the metal cassettes pop open and lose a film that way, that's the only major thing I've had happen and it's only happened maybe 4 times the course of 7 or so years. It's nice to roll a very short roll if you need to get some pictures done in a day and don't want to use 24 or 36 shots and those shorter lengths are also nice for experiments (developing or whatever).

To the original poster, maybe you're not opening the film gate on your bulkloader and that's what is causing your scratches? I have a rather foolproof bulkloader that automatically opens the film gate when I have the lid closed and the handle crank pushed in.

 

[Snapshot]

To the original poster, maybe you're not opening the film gate on your bulkloader and that's what is causing your scratches? I have a rather foolproof bulkloader that automatically opens the film gate when I have the lid closed and the handle crank pushed in.

After a couple of ruined rolls, I made sure I have the gate open when I bulk load. Notwithstanding a couple of rolls being scratched and a few rolls with some light leasks, bulk loading has been a successful process for me.