Anyone still loading their own?

[Pirate]

A friend found two 35mm loading machines in her fathers basement. One still has film in it but I can't find out what it is. Cut off a piece and fixed it but there's no markings on the edges.

I'm gonna pick up a roll of Pan F+ next week and try loading my own with these things to see if they work. I've been wanting to do this for a while so I guess I have the perfect opportunity now.

Anyone have tips to share on this?

 

[jb17kx]

Cut off a piece and fixed it but there's no markings on the edges.

Fixing removes all undeveloped silver from the emulsion... and since you didn't develop the clip, there was no developed silver to leave behind. To get edge coding you need to develop and fix and the film as if you're processing exposed film.

I still load the majority of my films myself. It gets pretty easy with practice.

A good tip off the top of my head now in the limited time I have is to be careful of how much film to expose while taping it to the spool. Ideally you should only take half a frame (four perforations) out of the loader for this purpose - otherwise you risk fogging the last actual picture frame on the roll which is of course the frame on which you will take all of your best shots.

 

[magicianhisoka]

The best tip is get someone who knows how to do it to supervise. Helps to get the jitters off.

Other than that, practice will help you get better!

 

[ibcrewin]

I bulk load.. I'd say to change your cassettes after about 5-10 uses.. Or clean the felt with some tape.

Also the first time you reload it in a changing bag it's scary. You feel like you're going to botch a whole 100'. Lol

last.. to reiterate what JB said.. You have to develop it before fixing it. You can get away with just developing it but when you hold it up to the light it will start to "burn" out and you won't see anything. That's the half-assed way 😉

 

[timor]

I'm gonna pick up a roll of Pan F+ next week and try loading my own with these things to see if they work. I've been wanting to do this for a while so I guess I have the perfect opportunity now.

Anyone have tips to share on this?

No sweat dude, it is simple and efficient... after you gain some experience. Bulk loader that one thing, but you will need also cassettes. There are two types: metal and plastic, both are somewhat tricky. No matter which you have, first master opening and closing. Since you have film you don't care much already in bulk loader, start your learning curve on that. Fasten the film to the spool with masking tape (2" should be OK, with the time you will learn to use the minimal amount) and be really careful while sliding the film between felt in plastic cassettes, it is very tight (but there is a trick). Treat your cassettes right and they will last for many, many uses.
Reloading the bulk loader in the bag, that maybe real bad idea.
After first load shoot the film and process quickly. Check for long scratches, bulk loader may cause it. If so, you've got to unload and check for problem, usually sand paper for metal (600-800) and felt tool on Dremel can easily fix it. After that you have a bulk loader for life.

 

[emiguevara]

why not shoot a bit?

why not shoot a bit?

Since you have some film in it, why not roll a bit and go out shooting. It'll most probably be 100/200/400, but it might have lost sensibility due to the age. I would shoot it at 100, stand-develop with Rodinal for 1 hour and see what happens.
I do my own rolls too, a bit scary the first times, but I'm very confident after a year. Good luck!

 

[Pirate]

Hmmm... The edges of the film never get hit with light, so I would not expect there to be anything there to develop.

However, I did run one strip through developer and fixer and got the same result of nothing on the edges, same as the first strip I just put in the fixer.

I played with the two loaders to see how it all worked, then loaded up two rolls. I'll do some test shots at different speeds and cut that strip out to see what it likes best.

Thanks for the tips guys.

 

[timor]

Hmmm... The edges of the film never get hit with light, so I would not expect there to be anything there to develop.

However, I did run one strip through developer and fixer and got the same result of nothing on the edges.

On the edges usually are frame numbers and name of the film. But there are films without it like Arista Edu 100 (which is Fomapan 100). So you maybe have some No Name film.

 

[wblynch]

Chances are you have some nice obsolete film in there that could be great fun to use.

How cool would it be if it's Verichrome Pan !

 

[Pirate]

Well, the pieces i tried had a standard black and white style backing, so that much should be almost a guarantee. I'll post back when i do the developing but it won't be for another week and a half.

 

[Pirate]

The film came today. Of the two loaders I have here, I put the new roll in the empty loader and spooled up a roll of the new Pan F+. It was much easier to use than the loader that had a partial roll of unknown film in it.

The loader on the left is an Alden 74, and on the right is a Premier Loadette. I should have this first roll shot this weekend and developed early next week. I have more reloadable canisters on the way. The crank handles are on the back sides.

 

[back alley]

i still roll my own...does that count?

 

[Pirate]

Only if it doesn't mess up the emulsion 😀

 

[Jobin]

I roll my own and am a newbie. It is easier than I thought it would be.

 

[maddoc]

I use a Watson 66B that has the "key" to close Nikon and Leica cassettes, very handy. I bought that one of from eBay for 9 bucks and it also had some feet left-over film in it. The only marking on the side was "Kodak safety film" but nothing else. I simply "guessed" ISO to be 50 and exposed some frames. One example:

("Kodak Safety Film" / Rodinal / Leica IIIf / 28/3.5 Avenon)

 

[Pirate]

maddoc, that's an awesome image! I was going to guess and expose for 100 ISO and bracket some shots between 100 - 400 and see how some came out. Might still do that.

 

[colyn]

Most of my B&W is bulk loaded.

Since this film is most likely old use it to practice with till you get the feel. Most camera shops will have user loadable cassettes cheap.

 

[maddoc]

maddoc, that's an awesome image! I was going to guess and expose for 100 ISO and bracket some shots between 100 - 400 and see how some came out. Might still do that.

Thank you ! I still wonder what kind of film I had found in the loader ...

 

[Pirate]

I've seen a lot of Kodak Safety Film but none of it has ever had a marking to indicate the ASA/ISO that I know of. Oh well.

Yes, I'll be using it to practice with. The loader with the unknown film actually had a hick-up to it, but the Alden 74 that I put the new Pan F+ in was smooth as glass. I like that one.

 

[carpark]

I have the Alden 74 loader like yours. I have never loaded rolls myself but I have 100ft rolls of ORWO N74 and UN54 to try out. Gonna try and load some metal and plastic rolls next week.