Reusable plastic cassettes.

Mike Kennedy · Mar 17, 2007

I just picked up a 6-pk. of AP cassettes and was wondering how much millage I should expect to get out of these before the felt goes.
They will be cleaned after using and kept in plastic cans.

Thank You

Akki14 · Mar 17, 2007

I've not had a problem with the felt going on any of my reusable cassettes but I'm not a heavy user in terms of bulk loading. Just for personal preference I find the plastic ones unscrew far too easily compared to the metal ones which are reassuringly a pain in the butt to get closed and open.

Mackinaw · Mar 17, 2007

I bought a dozen or so plastic cassettes last year and have re-used some four or five times since then. No problem with light leaks, scratches, etc., at least so far.

Jim B.

Snapshot · Mar 17, 2007

I've been using plastic cassettes and have restarted bulking loading my film. When I was bulk loading years ago I would get 10 to 12 uses out of a single canister. I've only had one light leak and it was my fault as I over tightened the screw.

Mackinaw · Mar 17, 2007

Not to hijack this thread, but has anybody ever tried to carry plastic cassettes, loaded with fast film stuck in their pockets, through an airport walk-through scanner? I would think since the cassettes are plastic, and not metal, you wouldn't set off the alarm. If so, this could be a good way of transporting fast film without worrying about the cumulative effects of xrays.

Jim Bielecki

robert e · Mar 17, 2007

I've used generic plastic cassettes and reused Ilford cassettes (which are sturdier than other disposables, and have nifty tapeless spools). Doing no maintenance other than blowing or brushing off dust, I expect three uses from a good sample of either, but four is pushing it.

A couple of the plastic cassettes eventually leaked light around the screw-on cap, probably from bad seating or poor fit. Keep an eye on the sprocket area of your developed negatives for streaks or fog. A cassette good enough for a week in a dark bag or inside a camera may not be up to sitting on a shelf or windowsill for a day. Grit or tape adhesive on the felt is another common issue. And either type can fly open if dropped on a hard surface or thrown around in a busy bag.

I used black tape to secure the caps and prevent leaks. I recommend keeping them in light-tight cannisters before and after use.

And remember that if you use a daylight loader with lights on, there's a bit of exposed leader (trailer?) at the end of the roll!

3Dfan · Mar 17, 2007

There is a little on this matter at http://rogerandfrances.com/photoschool/ps howdoi.html under "choose 35mm cassettes for reloading?" and "load 35mm film from bulk (and why)?" that may interest you.

Snapshot · Mar 17, 2007

Mackinaw said:
Not to hijack this thread, but has anybody ever tried to carry plastic cassettes, loaded with fast film stuck in their pockets, through an airport walk-through scanner? I would think since the cassettes are plastic, and not metal, you wouldn't set off the alarm. If so, this could be a good way of transporting fast film without worrying about the cumulative effects of xrays.

Jim Bielecki

I never tried carrying them on me but in theory it would work. Years ago, I carried bulk loaded films with plastic cassettes all the time to the UK. No one indicated it was an issue one way or another. As for getting in trouble if found with the cassettes on you, I can't really see anything would happen unless the inspectors felt you were up to no good.

rore · Mar 17, 2007

ever since im bulk loading, i´ve noticed that the three or four shots of every roll have a light leak-like stain... is it the cannisters? i mean, why the fisrt shots only?

oh, i´ve been reusing the cannisters endlessly.
rore.

Saganich · Mar 17, 2007

They will last for two or three rolls before they start scratching film. I only use them for testing film and wouldn't recommend them in general. What I do recommend is getting used cassetts from a local one hour lab and taping new film onto the end and rolling them up. I've been doing this for three years now and have never had a problem, and its free.
Chris

Nick Zentena · Mar 17, 2007

Shh don't tell anybody but I've got old Ilford cans from the days when you could just pop off the commerical loads and reload.

fschifano · Mar 18, 2007

I'll never tell if you don't say anything about the old Kodak cassettes that I've been using for years.

Reusable plastic cassettes.

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