• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

What scissors do you use to cut negs? How do you cut more precisely?

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
201,902
Messages
2,831,888
Members
101,014
Latest member
photomaximo
Recent bookmarks
0

AgX

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,972
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
With enough pressure, you could cut negatives by hand as well - at least Thats how I removed them from the canister at times(pre-developing)

Will work with triacetate-base, not with PET one
 

Newt_on_Swings

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Mar 30, 2011
Messages
2,147
Location
NYC
Format
Multi Format
A pair of friskars scissors. If I don't have them any pair that's sharp enough will do. A neat trick is to fold up 2 or 4 layers of aluminum foil and cut that a few times. It really sharpens the scissors up quickly.
 

grahamp

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Mar 2, 2004
Messages
1,771
Location
Vallejo (SF Bay Area)
Format
Multi Format
The ones I use are probably about 60 years old. They have a WD stamp on them, for the older Brits amongst us :cool: Longish blades for their size, and pointed. I don't use them for cutting paper. That is guaranteed to dull the edge. I am mostly cutting 120. The hardest ones are from the Zero image in 6x9 mode, where the frames actually touch.
 

gone

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jun 14, 2009
Messages
5,504
Location
gone
Format
Medium Format
I just tear them with my teeth. Works pretty well. Highly recommend it!
 
OP
OP

GarageBoy

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Nov 5, 2012
Messages
994
Format
35mm
What do you guys do with the left over frames? I have multiple pages of Print Files of the "left over" frame
 

AgX

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,972
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
What are left over frames?

I got all frames, even from handrolled cassettes far extending 36 exposures, into my paper files.
 

Sirius Glass

Subscriber
Joined
Jan 18, 2007
Messages
50,835
Location
Southern California
Format
Multi Format
Left over frames are left empty. I keep each roll separately.
 

Poisson Du Jour

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jul 1, 2008
Messages
5,462
Location
.
Format
Digital
FISKARS shears. Very, very sharp and accurate and cut right to the point. These have been my go-to tool for many years now. I also have a commercial multi-format negative cutter for when I want to get really crafty...

2014-07-17 08.01.20.jpg
 

Helinophoto

Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2011
Messages
1,091
Location
Norway
Format
Multi Format
I use a pair of small scissors which came with my Phillips hair-trimmer machine, they cut very nicely.

The trick to avoid cutting off your favorite negative, is to carefully place your scissors between the negative frames -and then aim/look at the place on the opposite side of the strip that you want your cut to come out and then make the cut.

Before, I was looking at the point the scissors were cutting, which created slanted and uneven cuts, when I actually started focusing on the end point, my cuts were much better instantly.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Allowing Ads
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
55,241
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format

NDKodak

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Mar 8, 2013
Messages
86
Format
35mm
Small pair of Fiskars with micro tip around $15 found in craft store with papercutting/scrabooking or sewing supplies. Its easy to mis cut and take a too much off a favorite negative, the smaller Fiskars help out alot with this.
 

chip j

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Oct 26, 2012
Messages
2,193
Location
NE Ohio
Format
35mm
I just got, from here or ebay, a Spiratone illuminated film cutter. Doesn't need a lightbox.
 

Nige

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Sep 8, 2002
Messages
2,329
Format
Multi Format
not sure how this will work but a post in an older thread... ohh you need to click the link

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)
 

damonff

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jan 17, 2005
Messages
128
Location
Washington,
Format
35mm
Luckily my F6 records data between the frames so I just cut there with scissors from Target.
 

Chris Douglas

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Apr 25, 2010
Messages
87
Format
35mm
With me, it's not the scissors, it's the eyes! I get good results with just about any scissors if I use a magnifier.
 
OP
OP

GarageBoy

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Nov 5, 2012
Messages
994
Format
35mm
Hey, if we can be picky about clothes pins, we can be picky about scissors
 

Truzi

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2012
Messages
2,685
Format
Multi Format
If you adjust your preferences it's only 2 pages :smile:
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Allowing Ads
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
55,241
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
Actually, this was a good question.
In my case, I don't have sufficient dexterity in one hand to permit holding 120 negs with one hand and operating scissors with the other. So the solutions mentioned in the thread that do not require scissors are very handy for anyone who might deal with a similar situation.
Before I found the solution I posted about I used a small (six inch square) guillotine paper cutter.
 

Truzi

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2012
Messages
2,685
Format
Multi Format
Matt, I've a similar cutter and find it is very useful. It makes it much easier to cut where I think I'm cutting, and not mess up the frames.
 

Poisson Du Jour

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jul 1, 2008
Messages
5,462
Location
.
Format
Digital
5 pages for a pair of scissor, glad you didn't ask which brand are best..


OK then, nearly forgot, didn't we? Now that we know the best type of scissors to use, let's start on which brand is best ... :smile:
 

pdeeh

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Jun 8, 2012
Messages
4,770
Location
UK
Format
Multi Format
Well, obviously, if you are not using Kasho ceramic shears to cut your films, you're simply a hopeless dilettante, and no better than some bearded hipster ...
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom