Whats the best way to test 4x5 film holders?

[get_me_a_gun]

I just bought (9) 4x5 film holders, and I still have to test them to see if they are light-tight. Its probably a stupid question but how should I do it? One of my professors said he puts film in them and puts them in a window for a day.

Thanks guys
Lisa

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

You could do that, or you could load some paper in them, if you don't want to waste film. Orient them so that light will fall on the darkslide end, where you're most likely to have problems.

 

[MattKing]

One roll of 35mm film cut into strips would also go a long way, assuming you don't mind tray development.

 

[removed account4]

if your hinges are bad ( the bottom flap )
get some bookbinders tape from
gaylord brothers or someone else that carries
something similar. you won't have to retape them again
for a long long time.

gaffer tape works okay too, but it is much more expensive than the other stuff ...

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

Shoot some film! Best. Shawn

 

[jstraw]

I indexed my holders. After that, any problems and I know which side(s) od which holder needs attention or quarrantine.

 

[Christopher D. Keth]

Stick some paper in them and take the lot out into the sun. Pick up each one and roll it around in the sun every which way. That will surely show you any that leak, plus you can write the holder number right on each piece of paper for easy IDs.

 

[George Collier]

No matter how you test, make some "friskets" for them. Type set some very small numbers (as small as you can read) and have them output to film. On an 8x10 sheet, you can get a lifetime supply. Cut them out into small pieces (you'll figure out how big). Then tape them with Scotch tape from the back side of the holding (hinged) part of the holder so that they stick out into the exposed area by about a 16th of an inch. The holders I have actually have an outcroping of exposure that goes beyond the frame, on each side of the short open end of the holder. This is where the number is. It marks every exposure with a number (I also label the outside of the holders with stickers with the same numbers). If you have a bad holder, you'll know which one soon.
An old Army trick.

 

[Jim Galvin]

I take them into a darkened room, let my eyes dark adapt, take out the dark slides, and try to shine a pocket flashlight through the darkslide slot. It works for me to shine the light from the inside out. Leaks are usually at the corner. Work the light around different angles to explore the corner. If your thumb is across the the holder you can shield your eye from direct light from the flashlight, keeping the darkslide slot in the dark. I found that about half of Ebay used holders leaked this way. The tape at the hinge end can have holes, the tape is not the light seal.

 

[Larry L]

I've had good luck cutting up Glossy RC paper and taking them out into the sun for 10 minutes. Can load the carriers under safe light. As others indicated earlier roll around so all corners get direct sun light and then develop in a 5X7 tray with paper developer. Cost a lot less than film and is quicker. A black fog line or streak on the white base is very obvious.

 

[Buster6X6]

Hi Lisa
What I normaly use is an LED light it is great for the bellows and holders. But I think it is important to check it in working conditions because when you pull out the dark slide it can leak through the front trap, even though it did not leak just putting holder into the sun shine.
Hope this helps.

Greg

 

[resummerfield]

I take them into a darkened room, let my eyes dark adapt, take out the dark slides, and try to shine a pocket flashlight through the darkslide slot. It works for me to shine the light from the inside out. Leaks are usually at the corner. Work the light around different angles to explore the corner. If your thumb is across the the holder you can shield your eye from direct light from the flashlight, keeping the darkslide slot in the dark. I found that about half of Ebay used holders leaked this way. The tape at the hinge end can have holes, the tape is not the light seal.

This is what I do, and I've even had new holders fail this test. I think it is a very critical test--holders that fail this test with minor leaks are usually OK in real shooting. I shade the holders, keeping them in a light-proof bag, then shaded by the dark cloth when in the camera, and when pulling and inserting the slide.

 

[Jim Galvin]

I've had new holders fail my test also. And I've used holders that tested bad and not had fogged film. But only one Toyo out of about 30 have failed the test. So I use Toyo's and test them once in a while. I agree that my test is severe, but would you take holders that you can see the leak on a trip?