bulk loading film

[kenny]

So, I've just bulk lodaded 40some odd rolls of tri-x and plus-x.

My question is, what do you guys do with the leader?

I usually rip them out by hand so that it loads into the catch of the M6,
i just cant be bother to cut them all at once.... has
anyone had issues with this?

This is also my first post... so hi.

k

 

[kaiyen]

I assume you mean cutting the shape of the leader? I just rip it off for my various cameras that require it. No problem here.

allan

 

[payasam]

If a tear (a "rip") goes through a sprocket hole, a little piece of film may get broken off and may lodge in a place where it can cause trouble. How long does it take you to load a cassette? How much additional time will you need to take a pair of scissors to each leader? Not over 5, I suspect, when expressed as a percentage. Call it insurance, call it finishing the job neatly.

 

[xcapekey]

i cut the leads with scissors....i cut some leads a little longer and thinner for my iiia....not a big deal i don't think....nor does it take very long....

 

[James Burton]

I just cut it at an angle, and I don't even trim it for the next roll I make. Too darn stingy to lose even 1 potential masterpiece 🙂

'Spose that don't work on Leicies though :-(

James

 

[Doug]

I finish it neatly with a scissors cut to make it look like a commercial leader. After rewinding the exposed film back into the cassette, leaving the leader exposed, I do tear off about half the leader as a signal it's an exposed roll.

 

[payasam]

Doug, any reason not to wind the whole exposed roll back in the cassette? I use a marker on the tops of film cans to tell between exposed and unexposed.

 

[Doug]

Hi -- I just find it easier to feed the film onto the developing reels without popping the cassette open. I know the cassette could be opened, the leader retrieved, and the cassette closed again, but this is easy and works well for me. And tearing off part of the film leader is a very simple signal that can be felt in the pocket or bag when reaching for a fresh roll. The downside is that I generate a piece of waste cluttering a pocket.

 

[Poptart]

I cut off the leader and trim the edges at 45 degrees before winding onto the developing reel.

 

[taffer]

My own recipe of this is a mix of Doug's and Poptart's, I cut the leader with scissors and leave it as on commercial rolls (or aprox.), if I can I try to leave the leader out when rewinding, and I also like 'rounding' the edges before feeding the developing reel.

I always carry one of those tiny swiss army knifes and their scissors come in handy for this if you ever get a roll you didn't remember to trim before.

 

[eli griggs]

When I first got serious about photography in the mid/late 1970's, I went through a fairly long period where I was shooting a 100+ feet a week. I was shooting several different makes of cameras and I found that cutting correct leaders was certainly worthwhile. It only takes one bad experience with a roll at the wrong time/place to make an impression and my opinion is that when you roll your own, you really want to eliminate all chances for film related foul-ups. Otherwise what's the point of doing it yourself?

Cheers

 

[bobofish]

I second the need to cut your leaders. (or third, or whatever)

It's a pretty simple process to cut them, the simplest way is one cut into the length of the leader, and one cut across. I usually make the cut across at an angle, so the leader has a bit more strength.

I also trim the little edges, so that they're rounded off...just a snip snip. Makes me feel like a Moyle sometimes.

It's definitely worth it for a couple of reasons...firstly as the dudes have said, you can get little flakes of film into the gears of your camera, or stuck in the film. It will jam/scratch to no end.
Also, I have first hand experience with paper cuts from film...not particularly pleasant, and an unwelcome surprise when you're out on the street shooting, and you start bleeding like a swine.

Just takes a couple seconds, and I often just do it with a leatherman when I'm going out the door, if I didn't do it right away after loading.

 

[payasam]

I get cheesed off enough, Doug, when I rewind a partly exposed roll, camera held to ear, and someone asks what music is playing. Am tempted to stick faithful Swiss Army Knife into said vermin.

 

[Doug]

I get cheesed off enough, Doug, when I rewind a partly exposed roll, camera held to ear, and someone asks what music is playing. Am tempted to stick faithful Swiss Army Knife into said vermin.

Yeah, why not turn up the volume so you can hear better? 😀


FWIW, as Poptart mentioned, when I'm set to run the exposed film onto the developing reel, out come the scissors again to cut the remaining leader straight off and bevel the corners a little.

 

[peter_n]

I too cut the leader with scissors so that it looks (sort of) like a regular roll. Wouldn't have thought of doing anything else, but then I'm not too imaginative.

 

[Doug]

I too cut the leader with scissors so that it looks (sort of) like a regular roll. Wouldn't have thought of doing anything else, but then I'm not too imaginative.

I trust that if there were a better shape for a film leader, it would have been implemented by some film manufacturer at some point in the past 75 years... 🙂

 

[bobofish]

Speak for yourselves...my film leaders are better than any fancy schmancy Kodak or Ilford leaders.

I kept the real secrets to myself, muhaahaha.

Actually, I just taper the tounge, so that the tip is a fair bit narrower than the base of the toungue...it makes loading easier, and I don't get any weird rollups like I sometimes do with regular leaders.

But then again, hey, I'm a bit of a time-waster.

 

[payasam]

There's *three* knobs on the top of my IIIc, Doug, but none is marked "VOL". The little one nearest the middle has numbers on it, though. Must plug it into the mains and see if the old potentiometer still works. I assume the speaker fits in the circular hole with the bright ring around it.