Bulk Loading Film

[taffer]

So, Gene, Joe, how is the bulk loading adventure going ?

Damn, today I started looking at a couple Watsons on the bay, and I don't mean Sherlock's colleague! :bang:

You're a bad influence, you know ? 😀

 

[GeneW]

So, Gene, Joe, how is the bulk loading adventure going ?

Damn, today I started looking at a couple Watsons on the bay, and I don't mean Sherlock's colleague! :bang:

You're a bad influence, you know ? 😀

Oscar, I'm still waiting for the second loader to arrive and in the meantime I'm using up my packaged film. I have around 6 rolls of Acros and Tri-X to shoot before I hit the bulk stuff.

You NEED a Watson, Sherlock! 😀

Gene

 

[back alley]

oscar, it's going very slowly.
i bought about 10 cassettes and 100feet of tri-x and traded for about 50 feet of pan-f film.(in the mail)

i've been playing with the scanner and now the 35/2 lens.

but in truth, i'm having a hard time understanding the damn instructions for the bulk loader.
i got the watson 100 and the instruction sheet is a cheap photocopy. it's small font and hard to read. the pics on it are are too dark and have no detail.

i'm fearful of ruining my film with my first tryout, so i keep going back to that damn sheet to see if i can understand a bit more.
i may do a net search to see if i can find something easier to read & understand.

but thanks for asking!

joe

 

[taffer]

Hey, OT but how is the 35/2 ??? You know they are already half legend and I think you have more chances to spot an unicorn than a cheap Canon 35/2.

So hereiam on topic again, look at this Joe, it may be helpful

http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/genie/bulk.html

and

http://www.themassif.com/bulk_loading.php (check also the links in this one)

 

[GeneW]

I think I've switched from collecting cameras to collecting bulk film loaders. Won another Watson 100 today. Total of three now. Once the snow melts I'm gonna go on a tear! 😀

Gene

 

[back alley]

oscar, many thanks for the sites. i missed this post yesterday somehow.

the 35/2 looks great and feels nice too. unfortunatly the temp is dropping and the snow has returned as winter refuses to let her grip go.
i may have to put up with her for one more cold walkabout.

and gene, your starting a whole new trend here.
i look forward to the day when i can bulk load with confidence and then scan my perfect negs for posting to the rff.

joe

 

[GeneW]

oscar, many thanks for the sites. i missed this post yesterday somehow.

the 35/2 looks great and feels nice too. unfortunatly the temp is dropping and the snow has returned as winter refuses to let her grip go.
i may have to put up with her for one more cold walkabout.

and gene, your starting a whole new trend here.
i look forward to the day when i can bulk load with confidence and then scan my perfect negs for posting to the rff.

joe

Whoa! I missed your post as well. Thanks Oscar!

Joe, the latest Watson 100 I won evidently comes with an instruction manual. My last one didn't. If the instructions are in good shape, I'll scan a copy for you to use with your Watson.

Gene

 

[back alley]

a manual? that would be nice. mine came with a poorly photo copied page only.

joe

 

[agfa100]

bulk loading

bulk loading

It's funny how these things work, I just pulled my old watson bulk loader out and ordered 100 ft of apx 400 & apx 100 can't beat the price these days. Will see how long it takes me to get used to using it again. I have wanted to get back into b&w
since I picked up a Noblex 135 u. I have been using mostly b&w slides both scala and the dr5 stuff but it just costs toooooo much, so I need to get back to doing it myself.
bill

 

[Andrew McPhee]

I recall one time I used half-inch wide masking tape to attach the film to the reel. I got a surprise in the darkroom later when loading the film into the developing tank - when ripping the film off the reel the masking tape gave off a tiny flash of light! Never big enough to fog the film but after that I changed to scotch tape just to be safe. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[RayPA]

... when ripping the film off the reel the masking tape gave off a tiny flash of light! Never big enough to fog the film but after that I changed to scotch tape just to be safe. Has anyone else experienced this?

I have seen that. Also. instead of scotch tape try electrician's tape. I use black. It works great.

 

[Doug]

Yes, Andrew, I see that too. Not only with masking tape on bulk-loaded 35mm, but also when detaching the tape that holds the paper backing on 120/220 film. I now just peel it off very very slowly!

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Since I am such a cheap skate I go to our local one hour lab and have them give me a hand full of 35mm cassettes from the film they have just processed. There is normally about a 1/4" tongue of film sticking out of the cassette and I tape my bulk film leader to this with painters tape and wind on the number of frames i think I may want to shoot, be it 8 or 12 or 20. I don't like trying to load 36 exposure film onto a reel. I just discard the cassettes after one use so I don't have to worry about the felt traps getting dirty and or snap caps coming off and exposing the whole roll.

Wayne

 

[back alley]

ok, i have a really novice type question regarding bulk loading.
on the film box it says to open in total darkness.

do they mean the actual box?
i'm guessing that the film is in a green plastic wrapper like enlarging paper in the box.
is that the case?

joe

 

[bmattock]

Joe,

I don't remember! I did bulk loading in high school. But that was 1979! Man, where did the years go? Through with the vodka. We have whiskey here. Screw work tomorrow.

Joy,

Bill

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Joe,

Kodak film comes inside a metal can that is taped shut which is inside your box. The box itself can be opened in day light, but not the can. I'm not sure about other manufactured film.

Wayne

 

[back alley]

thanks.
i have some tri-x and some some pan f.
joe

 

[doubs43]

ok, i have a really novice type question regarding bulk loading.
on the film box it says to open in total darkness.

do they mean the actual box?
i'm guessing that the film is in a green plastic wrapper like enlarging paper in the box.
is that the case?

joe

Depends upon the maker, mostly. I just put a 100' roll of Arista 400 Pro film in a bulk loader and the film is wraped in a thick black plastic bag and then placed inside of the box. I was in total darkness when I opened the box and then the plastic bag.

Arista 400 Pro is made by Ilford and the packaging is the same.

Each manufacturer does things slightly differently but it's essentially the same.

Walker

 

[taffer]

Yuk yuk.

Last friday I spotted an auction with 5 hours to go. It was a Jessops (same as Arista and AP) bulk loader with 30m of Ilford B&W film inside and came with another unopened can of Konica color film.

It had a BIN of $30 or so but I decided to place a low bid and ended getting it for a mere $9. Having it already loaded with black & white film is great 🙂 And for that price I won't say no to a bit of plain fun.

 

[rover]

I like the fun part. I really don't see any other reason to do it other than fun. Of course, I still need to order some film and cans.