Rolling your own film

jimgalli · Feb 14, 2005

I buy film for the 8X10 Deardorff in 10" X 100 ft rolls if that makes you feel any better. Larger version of a great idea.

Dave Parker · Feb 14, 2005

jimgalli said:
I buy film for the 8X10 Deardorff in 10" X 100 ft rolls if that makes you feel any better. Larger version of a great idea.

Great Jim,

I am laughing and rolling on the floor, I would love to see THAT bulk film loader......

Classic... LMAO

Dave

bobfowler · Feb 14, 2005

Monophoto said:
<snip> So I bulk load in 35 exposure lengths. OK - I have to frame number my strips because I can no longer use the factor numbering - but that's not a big deal. All it takes is a rapidograph pen and some india ink, and it provides a setting for an initial scan of the negatives. I can also load short rolls for special applications.

I get around that by using an MF-18 databack on my F3. This back can imprint the frame number between the frames, so the factory frame numbers aren't an issue.

David Brown · Feb 14, 2005

Max Power said:
Does anyone here have problems with scratches due to loading 36 frames plus 3 or 4 for waste?

I used to bulk load, but haven't for years. Two reasons:, don't do that much 35mm, and I did have scratch problems - regardless of the length of film.

For what it's worth, I never owned a bulk loader. I did it in the dark!

There was also one period in my life, where my job included maintaining 35mm surveillence cameras at banks. They used 100ft rolls, and we loaded them with Tri-X. The film cartridges had to be loaded by hand, in the dark. Alas, as this part of my career was winding down, most of this work was going to videotape.

Cheers y'all

David

eric · Feb 14, 2005

David Brown said:
For what it's worth, I never owned a bulk loader. I did it in the dark!

I heard of a guy do this. He had a nail on the wall and a marker for 6' I think on the bottom. He just rolled from the bottom up...in the dark of course.

This is why I love analog. People can improvise. If I have a problem with my computer, either I have to compile programs, download patches, or whatever. Not like I can write my own program to do something I want it to do (possible but not the same).

Canuck · Feb 14, 2005

jimgalli said:
I buy film for the 8X10 Deardorff in 10" X 100 ft rolls if that makes you feel any better. Larger version of a great idea.

Hmm, starts me thinking about the bulk 9.5" that occassionally shows up on EBAY. Not 35mm bulk but has anyone tried this bulk film?

mfobrien · Feb 14, 2005

I have been bulk-loading for about 5 years -- I have one loader with HP5+, one with Agfapan 100, one with techPan, another with Pan-F and another with Kodalith. That pretty much covers it all for B&W. I never tried bulk for transparencies -- many labs won't take bulk-rolled cassettes. Now, if I shoot color, it will probably be digital unles its MF. B&W is my main thing, though.

jimgalli · Feb 14, 2005

Canuck said:
Hmm, starts me thinking about the bulk 9.5" that occassionally shows up on EBAY. Not 35mm bulk but has anyone tried this bulk film?

I have a bunch of 9.5" in the freezer also but it requires 2 cuts for 8X10 sheet while 10" simply gets cut at 8".

I always loaded my 35mm in the dark with no bulk loader. I kept the crank and threw the loader away. A "span" ie. as far as I can reach from hand to hand is about 5' 6" so I never bothered with any other measurements. Tape the end on the spool, put the cassete together, and crank it in. Never any scratches that way. Burned through a lot of Velvia this way back in my color days.

Didn't need multiple loaders, just one crank.

colrehogan · Feb 14, 2005

jimgalli said:
I buy film for the 8X10 Deardorff in 10" X 100 ft rolls if that makes you feel any better. Larger version of a great idea.

If I could afford to, I'd buy some EIR like that. I'd love to shoot that stuff in a larger size than 6x7.

Craig · Feb 14, 2005

jimgalli said:
I buy film for the 8X10 Deardorff in 10" X 100 ft rolls if that makes you feel any better. Larger version of a great idea.

I picked up an 8" X 250' roll of Ilford MG on E bay for next to nothing and I like it for printing full frame 35mm, I can make 8x12" prints easily. Handy for teststrips as well, I don't have to sacrifice a full sheet.

Nige · Feb 14, 2005

Seen this discussion has expanded a bit...

I use 30exp rolls as I cut the film into 6exp strips for storage. This means most of the time I have 5 strips. Occasionly I'll have 31 or 32 frames and six strips (depending on loading the film in a camera), which can still be proofed on a 8x10 piece of paper. Aiming for 36exp has the chance of needing a 7th strip... which won't fit on an 8x10. Some people use bigger paper, but I file my proof sheets in A4 looseleaf protectors in folders (with negs in printfiles) which hold the 8x10.

dschneller · Feb 14, 2005

Max Power said:
Does anyone here have problems with scratches due to loading 36 frames plus 3 or 4 for waste?

I ask this because when I started to bulk load, my reference was the famous 'Bulk Loading FAQ' which is found on PN. I think that I read something about not loading a full 36 frames because it would scratch, even if one's cassettes were clean.

Does anyone here have any anecdotal evidence either for or against a limit on the number of frames?

Thanks,
Kent

I use a Llyod's bulk loader and have loaded up to 40 frames using the older re-usable Ilford cassettes without scratches. The Llyod's doesn't count out the frames but estimates the number based on the turns of the winder, 31 turns equals 36 exposures. I prefer to load 25 frames as it's not wound as tightly on the cassette and will fill a film sleeve nicely.

Dave

Jarvman · Oct 4, 2007

Bulk Film

I've been thinking about getting into bulk film loading. What are the best film loaders and cartridges out there? Also, I shoot mainly Ilford Delta 400. This is availiable in bulk yes? How much cheaper does it actually work out. I'm thinking it's probably woth it. Any advice would be appeciated. Cheers.

Nick Zentena · Oct 4, 2007

I'm not sure it's much cheaper.

I like Alden loaders or older Watsons.

Jarvman · Oct 4, 2007

Yeah I just had a looksie then and it doesn't seem to work out much cheaper which is surprising to me. I thought it would.

AgX · Oct 4, 2007

When I started photography I did bulk loading from my 5th film on; not even knowing that there was something as a bulkloader then...
Actually all you need is sticky tape and a pair of scissors. A plate or something like that could be usefull by stopping the roll from going its own way.

Keep in mind that the brand name of the same loader can be different.

The bargain in price depends very much on the very film and your dealer. It can go up to 65% reduction in price in my case. Well, the cartridges won't last forever.

Monophoto · Oct 4, 2007

It's been a long time since I've done the numbers, but my recollection is that when I did the analysis, I concluded that bulk loading was significantly less expensive than buying commercially loaded cassettes.

On the other hand, commercially loaded cassettes eliminate the nagging concern that reusing cassettes could lead to scratched film if they aren't cleaned thoroughly between use. Also, reloadable cassettes have a nasty habit of popping open if you drop them on a hard surface (floor, concrete pavement, etc). So if peace of mind has value, then the economics might work out differently for you.

And another factor is that the frame numbers generally don't work out correctly when bulk loading. Yes, the film has frame numbers burned in at the factory, but it's difficult to assure that each roll starts in the right place so that frame 1 is the first one to be exposed.

But all in all, it still makes sense for me.

dagabel · Oct 4, 2007

I use leftover cartridges from Walgreen's - they snip off the film, leaving enough to attach your bulk film. Free, but one-use only. I also use Arista EDU Ultra film from Freestyle - works out to about $1 per 35-40 exposures if I roll carefully.

Duane

Nick Zentena · Oct 4, 2007

I bought a roll of colour film last month. I did the numbers and it is cheaper. But I own a loader and have done it enough to not find it a hassle. But if I had to pay for a loader it would likely cost more.

Still the reasons for bulk loading are more then just price. Load what you need. It's easier having a 100feet roll in the fridge then 20 preloads. Plus whatever else I've forgotten.

Jadedoto · Oct 4, 2007

AgX said:
Well, the cartridges won't last forever.

I recycle them from the local minilab. Some people are paranoid about it, but it's a risk I take and it's served me well so far.

Paul Howell · Oct 4, 2007

One of the reasons I still keep a roll of bulk film on hand is that I can load the number of frames I need for a shoot. If I am primarly shooting color I may load a cassett with 10 or 12 frames of B&W, or if Im in a Zone mood I may load 6 to 8 so I adjustment the development times.

dxphoto · Oct 4, 2007

I use lloyd daylight loader now. I get the container from Ritz Camera. go there on sunday night or monday, when they have a full jar of them. They give them out for free. Use mask tape to tape the lead on the film and roll like 30 times for 36 exp. The containers are one time use only.

Before I used to load the film in the closet. this way I wouldn't waste the last frame, in case it happen to be a good shot and reduce the risk of the loader scratching the film. But you need to practice a lot to be able to cut the film evenly and tape them on the lead evenly.

1 100' film can give you about 18 rolls of 36-exp film. if you shoot a lot, this is the way to go.

GeoffHill · Oct 4, 2007

30m of HP5 costs £35, and 18 rolls of 36 exp HP5costs £37.80.

Bulk loading film seems a lot of hassle for not very much saving. I think I'll stick with preloaded film

jleeper · Oct 4, 2007

In the US, at least from Freestyle, 100 feet of HP5 goes for $40 and 18 rolls of $68. And I think I get more like 19-20 rolls. If I bought from Calumet, the difference would be more like $20.

I wounder why the difference i pricing between the two markets?

dxphoto · Oct 4, 2007

maybe the labor in US to load them is higher than in UK. j/k

I think the 36exp you see might be older stock so the price is lower.

Rolling your own film

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