Bulk Loading Film

[GeneW]

Light can be turned on. Whenever I need to load a cassette, I take the spool, take some tape and stick the film on the spool. I then put the spool in the cassette, close everything, and close the loader with the cassette.
I'm then ready to to fill the cassette by turning and counting.

Laurent, thanks for the description. The one I won is also Lloyds so I hope it turns out to be easy (been too many years since I last did this and I don't remember it well).

You raised a good point. What kind of tape should be used?? Any recommendations on tape?? Not Scotch tape I presume.

Gene

 

[Kin Lau]

What kind of tape should be used?? Any recommendations on tape?? Not Scotch tape I presume.

Scotch tape is exactly what I use. I comes off real easily in the changing bag. I usually use about 2.5 inchs or so, equal lengths on each side of the film around the spool, and is strong enough to stop you when you wind to the end of the roll.

 

[back alley]

We ARE bad 😀

Let me know when you need a scanner cheap. I've got a Canoscan 2710 sitting downstairs doing nothing. It requires a SCSI interface but a non-bootable SCSI card can be found pretty inexpensively these days...

Gene

thanks gene.
i have one coming from spain, a nikon L30, but it's on a very slow boat.
actually it was given to me by a friend of oscar's but he got married and started working again (he was retired) and one thing to another and it's taking longer than expected.
but the price was right so what's to complain about?!

joe

 

[doubs43]

I use 3/4 inch masking tape cut to a length that gives one wrap around the spool with about a one inch tongue that attaches to the film. Works well and can be re-used several times if you're careful.

Re the Lloyd's loader. They're good loaders and will work just fine. Not as fancy as the Watson or Alden and you'll have to count turns of the crank but they do the same job and do it well.

Walker

 

[RayPA]

I started using black electrical tape, out of necessity, and only because I have so much of it. Otherwise, I'd use the 3/4" masking tape, as well. But since I've been using it, I actually like it. It stretches, is more forgiving if you have to peel it off, and cleaning the film spool for the next use is very easy.

 

[GeneW]

I was in downtown Toronto today and in anticipation of my Lloyd's loader arriving, bought 100' of APX100, a film I've come to really like!

Gene

 

[back alley]

i'll have to give that a try gene. that's agfa? don't think i've tried any b&w agfa.

how many film cassettes are you going with. i just realized i need to pick some up soon.
i think i've seen them locally but have never priced them out.

joe

 

[doubs43]

I was in downtown Toronto today and in anticipation of my Lloyd's loader arriving, bought 100' of APX100, a film I've come to really like! Gene

Gene, Agfa APX-100 is excellent film in my experience and you've obviously found it to be also. I use Rodinal 1:50 which gives an excellent negative. What developer do you prefer?

Walker

 

[GeneW]

Joe, yes, that's Agfapan APX100. In addition to being really nice, it's one of the least expensive films I've come across. (I also bought ten rolls of 120 for the Hassy). The Lloyds bulk loader I won will be coming with 10 cassettes. If they're in good condition, that's all I'll need. Actually 5 or 6 would probably do me.

Walker, I've shot two rolls and have really taken to it. I souped them in D-76 1:1 because I couldn't find a Rodinal 1:50 recipe at the time, but I now have one and will be switching over to Rodinal.

Gene

 

[doubs43]

Walker, I've shot two rolls and have really taken to it. I souped them in D-76 1:1 because I couldn't find a Rodinal 1:50 recipe at the time, but I now have one and will be switching over to Rodinal. Gene

Gene, I use Rodinal 1:50 for 15 1/2 minutes at 68 F. I agitate for 1 minute and then for 5 seconds each minute thereafter. Your times, of course, may vary depending upon a number of things but I'd think that 15 minutes would be a good starting point.

Walker

 

[GeneW]

Gene, I use Rodinal 1:50 for 15 1/2 minutes at 68 F. I agitate for 1 minute and then for 5 seconds each minute thereafter. Your times, of course, may vary depending upon a number of things but I'd think that 15 minutes would be a good starting point.

Walker

Thanks Walker. I've made a note of that. A buddy of mine develops for 18 mins at 68F which may be a bit long. I'll start at 15 or 16 and see how it scans.

Gene

 

[GeneW]

Won another bulk loader today on the auction site. A Watson model 100. Now I have two -- a Lloyds for APX100 and a Watson for Tri-X. It's a psychological thing. When I bulk load film, I shoot more and don't feel that nagging worry about the cost. Not that film is all that expensive -- but it gets me past that slight hesitation to take certain shots.

Gene

 

[Skinny McGee]

So can you do this with a changing bag and then just load your cassettes? Do all of them take the Leica cassettess? I am interested in it but have not monkeyed with it yet....

 

[GeneW]

So can you do this with a changing bag and then just load your cassettes? Do all of them take the Leica cassettess? I am interested in it but have not monkeyed with it yet....

Yes, you can load the bulk roll inside a changing bag and once the top is sealed back on, it's light tight. You expose a little of the film as leader on both ends of each roll that you load. Once you've attached the film to the spindle in your canister and closed the canister, you then close the trap door and crank in the film.

I don't know what Leica cassettes look like, but if they're standard size I would think they'd fit, but I'll let someone else tackle that question.

Gene

 

[kiev4a]

Metal cassettes with pop off caps work well although they eventually will wear out or possible scratch film so you have to keep an eye on their condition. I have used some black plastic cassettes with a twist off cap but I've had trouble with them "untwisting" during the loading or unloading process. I use a small piece of tape to lock them to the cassette body.

I use the blue masking tape for painting to secure the film. It's a little heavy but I never load more than about 20 frames in cassettes so it hasn't interfered. I've had problems with scotch tape tearing loose, especially in hot weather. I'm not sure how it would hold up to power winders, either.

 

[Kin Lau]

I've been using both the metal & the plastic cassettes. Since they have different colours, one set is for 100 and one set for 400 iso. I don't usually have problems with the plastic ones popping off, but I do make sure that the top is screwed on tightly.

I have about 1inch of tape on each side of the film around the spool, so I have had too much trouble with it tearing loose, but I don't have power winder either.

As for getting more frames in a cassette, I rolled some new APX100 for my Leica on the weekend, and when I was developing, I was wondering why I couldn't get it all on one spool. Ended up having to cut it, and use 2 spools. I counted the number of frames, and found that I had over _50_, and that's including the extra long Leica leader.

 

[RayPA]

I've always used metal cannisters, and the only problem I've ever had (years ago) was with the light seal material. Once it was so wore out that a little piece came loose and lodged itself on the film plane and ended up on every frame of a roll of film. Take care and be certain to check and clean away any frayed material, or just throw away the outer cannister if it is suspect, or if it gets too wore out. I like the idea of color coded cannisters.

 

[GeneW]

I appreciate these tips and insights. I'll be checking the condition of my metal canisters and maybe picking up a few plastic ones in a different colour.

Gene

 

[ddunn]

So can you do this with a changing bag and then just load your cassettes? Do all of them take the Leica cassettess? I am interested in it but have not monkeyed with it yet....

It's been a long time since I bulk loaded Leica cassettes, but as I remember neither the Watson nor Lloyd bulk loaders can open and close them. If you have a darkroom or changing bag, take the spool out of the cassette, wind the film onto the spool, then (in the dark or in the bag) put the spool into the Leica cassette.

BTW, you haven't experienced SMOOTH until you've advanced film from a Leica cassette in your Leica. 😛

 

[doubs43]

~ as I remember neither the Watson nor Lloyd bulk loaders can open and close them. If you have a darkroom or changing bag, take the spool out of the cassette, wind the film onto the spool, then (in the dark or in the bag) put the spool into the Leica cassette.

The Watson will load Leica cassettes but only one type in my experience. The Leica cassettes with the flat spring & pin will work but the ones with the bent spring won't. I haven't loaded a Leica cassette in a while so make sure you dry-run one before you actually try to load it.

Walker