Quick method to extract 35mm film leader

Hamster · Apr 23, 2009

Not exactly darkroom equipment...

but I need to extract the film leader out of a film can and a retreiver is not really available. I have asked to a local lab for help but here everything is digital and the person behind the counter seems to want to "protect" me from my silly idea.

Do anyone know of a way to make a simple file leader retreiver, I only need to do one film..

Nicholas Lindan · Apr 23, 2009

http://people.rit.edu/andpph/text-retriever.html

Christopher Walrath · Apr 23, 2009

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

The quickest way would be to 1. Stop winding manually when you feel it come loose from the take p and 2. Consult manual for auto cameras, most have a setting to leave the leader out on rewind.

Anscojohn · Apr 23, 2009

In ye oldene dayz we would use the same approach as with a leader retriever; but we would take a fresh roll of film, wet the the leader on both sides by sticking it in the mouth, then push it in. Turning the problem film tight in the cartridge to make contact with the wet leader, waiting a coupla seconds, then pulling out. You would be amazed how often it would work, with most films, and with most sources of spit.

Hamster · Apr 23, 2009

The licking approach worked! Thanks! You learn something new everyday.

BobNewYork · Apr 23, 2009

Anscojohn said:
In ye oldene dayz we would use the same approach as with a leader retriever; but we would take a fresh roll of film, wet the the leader on both sides by sticking it in the mouth, then push it in. Turning the problem film tight in the cartridge to make contact with the wet leader, waiting a coupla seconds, then pulling out. You would be amazed how often it would work, with most films, and with most sources of spit.

Careful John: In this day and age you'll be getting a visit from the DEC, EPA, FDA - and probably the Anti-Terrorist Squad!!! (Do you know how to assume the position?)

Bob H

Anscojohn · Apr 23, 2009

BobNewYork said:
Careful John: In this day and age you'll be getting a visit from the DEC, EPA, FDA - and probably the Anti-Terrorist Squad!!! (Do you know how to assume the position?)

Bob H

*******
Schulz, Feldwebel, Nr. eins, zwei, drei, vier. I know NOTHINKKK!!

Anscojohn · Apr 23, 2009

Hamster said:
The licking approach worked! Thanks! You learn something new everyday.

Hi Hamster,
Sometimes pays to have a dinosaur around, eh what!?

Hamster · Apr 23, 2009

Jawohl!

Brian G · Dec 31, 2010

Anscojohn said:
In ye oldene dayz we would use the same approach as with a leader retriever; but we would take a fresh roll of film, wet the the leader on both sides by sticking it in the mouth, then push it in. Turning the problem film tight in the cartridge to make contact with the wet leader, waiting a coupla seconds, then pulling out. You would be amazed how often it would work, with most films, and with most sources of spit.

AnscoJohn and Hamster
Thank you so much as well - I managed it with some APS neg strip onto the 35mm spool leader and it worked after three goes - so very pleased but will buy a propriety one for the future,

Well now - New years eve 2010 you have given me something to do on new years day which is test two inherited cameras - my wife's father left me a 35mm Yashica ELECTRO GSN with both Tele and wide lens and in competition will be my dad's Konica AUTO S3 - I take it the former is aperture priority and the latter is shutter priority but both have fairly well regarded lense units - so as a reward for the most useful tip and brilliant question that got me sorted - I shall post the link on here next week on a side by side comparison (but a novice to boot)

Brian G
Living in Bosnia and Herzegovina
since Jan 2008

Rick A · Dec 31, 2010

I've always used the "filmlich" manuever ala Anscojohn, always works for me. The only thing I dont like is the taste of the film,

guitstik · Dec 31, 2010

Did you get the view finder with the GSN tele and wide lenses? By the way, I don't wind the leader all the way when I rewind. as soon as the tension is gone I stop rewinding.

jon falth · Dec 31, 2010

I always used a piece of scotch tape wrapped over the end of a piece of card stock with the sticky side facing out, or for that matter, double-sided tape.

I cut the card stock to be just a few mm less than the film can opening and about 4-5 inches long.

Holding onto the scotch tape, and pushing the card stock into the cannister and pulling the card stock gently out of the cannister always with the film leader attached.

Markster · Dec 31, 2010

A stiff piece of tape is all you need. Feed the tape in and roll the film backwards with it a bit. You have to kind of rewind until you feel it "pop" around the exit ramp, then put the tape in. I even had a specific tape dispenser with a metal tongue to help feed into the canister when I used to work a 1-hour photo machine at a Walgreens.

I've had to do it at home or on the fly more than once. Tape will work there as well, assuming you can feed it past the opening (maybe fold it over itself for a couple of milimeters?). It takes a little practice and finesse, but it's the safest way ... meaning you don't get nasty chemicals on your tongue!

IloveTLRs · Dec 31, 2010

I got one of those leader retrievers from a camera shop a long time ago, but I could never get it to work

Markster · Dec 31, 2010

It was a fine skill to learn. I had to learn it. You have to rewind the canister and pull more tape in sometimes (cover more surface area, create more friction) and sometimes you just had to rip the bas.... er... the "sucker" right out if the leader was catching on the inside of the ramp. It might take a few minutes of solid concentration to get it done, but you could do it.

heespharm · Dec 31, 2010

I have a simple leader retriever with two metal tongues... Add some double sided tape in the inside and presto!!!

pon721 · Jan 25, 2014

I just used an unexposed strip of photo print paper cut to fit into canister applied plenty of spit,then rolled canister cog clockwise a bit until paper fed into canister the pulled out the leader.It took a couple attempts but finally worked,be patient.It save me a 36 exp. roll.YIPPEEE!!!!!!

Vilk · Jan 25, 2014

Anscojohn said:
In ye oldene dayz we would use the same approach as with a leader retriever; but we would take a fresh roll of film, wet the the leader on both sides by sticking it in the mouth, then push it in. Turning the problem film tight in the cartridge to make contact with the wet leader, waiting a coupla seconds, then pulling out. You would be amazed how often it would work, with most films, and with most sources of spit.

john, hats off! a baby dinousaur myself, yet i never heard of this one. will save me precious ounces of luggage on my frequent travels

ps. hmmm... an idea for a thread? things you never ever needed yet wasted miletons (distance x weight) dragging with you everywhere...

Huss · Apr 11, 2020

Anscojohn said:
In ye oldene dayz we would use the same approach as with a leader retriever; but we would take a fresh roll of film, wet the the leader on both sides by sticking it in the mouth, then push it in. Turning the problem film tight in the cartridge to make contact with the wet leader, waiting a coupla seconds, then pulling out. You would be amazed how often it would work, with most films, and with most sources of spit.

This totally works! I just had to do it as I am getting back in to film developing, and forgot to NOT wind my film all the way in. Force of habit.
Took just a few seconds to do.

Quick method to extract 35mm film leader

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