jaredangle
Photojournalist
I recently got a 200ft length of cinema film that I plan to reload, but my understanding is that bulk rolls for still photography (and the daylight reloading cranks) are typically 100ft. What’s the best practice for getting extra-long rolls into daylight reloading cranks?
maddoc
... likes film again.
I just ordered a 400ft to 100ft re-spool set from a company in Kyoto that commercially prints 3D files. I saw the design on reddit and I hope it will work in my dark bag. I used to re-spool 400ft to 100ft in the past using a template in the diameter (approx.) of the 100ft spool to get about the correct diameter for loading into a daylight loader. It worked OK but not very convenient.
Alpsman
Well-known
IF you have or have access to a 3D-printer than you can print a respooler like this
www.thingiverse.com
There are several models on the net
The cheapest way ist to put the film spool into a darkbag and wind it onto a second core by hand with feeling and patience.
Lay the spools flat on the table, put on cotton gloves and wind the film on to the other core.
When both spools seem to have the same diameter then cut it.
To be on the safe side make three spools out of one so that the new spools will safely fit into the bulk film loader.
400ft to 100ft Bulk Film Respooler by broken_perfectionist
I designed a bulk film respooler to help convert 400ft rolls of film to the more commonly available 100ft spools. This was designed to be as small as possible so it can fit in your dark bag. UPDATE:Experimental Version 2.1 - 400ft-100ft BASE ONLYVersion 2.0 without sidewallsVersion 1.0 with...
www.thingiverse.com
There are several models on the net
The cheapest way ist to put the film spool into a darkbag and wind it onto a second core by hand with feeling and patience.
Lay the spools flat on the table, put on cotton gloves and wind the film on to the other core.
When both spools seem to have the same diameter then cut it.
To be on the safe side make three spools out of one so that the new spools will safely fit into the bulk film loader.
jaredangle
Photojournalist
Thanks both of you, this is very helpful!
Alpsman
Well-known
@ jaredangle: ya can also find different cores for daylight loaders for 3D-printig on yggi. Yeggi is a search engine for 3D-prints. You just need the right searchwords. Or you have a friend with a lathe who can machine a core out of delrin or a similar plastic or out of aluminum or sort'a stuff.
maddoc
... likes film again.
That's the re-spooling device I ordered after downloading the four files and sending them to the printing company.IF you have or have access to a 3D-printer than you can print a respooler like this
400ft to 100ft Bulk Film Respooler by broken_perfectionist
I designed a bulk film respooler to help convert 400ft rolls of film to the more commonly available 100ft spools. This was designed to be as small as possible so it can fit in your dark bag. UPDATE:Experimental Version 2.1 - 400ft-100ft BASE ONLYVersion 2.0 without sidewallsVersion 1.0 with...
There are several models on the net
The cheapest way ist to put the film spool into a darkbag and wind it onto a second core by hand with feeling and patience.
Lay the spools flat on the table, put on cotton gloves and wind the film on to the other core.
When both spools seem to have the same diameter then cut it.
To be on the safe side make three spools out of one so that the new spools will safely fit into the bulk film loader.
Alpsman
Well-known
I will be interested to hear from you how that device works.
maddoc
... likes film again.
I will report back when I have received the parts and tried it in a dark bag.
maddoc
... likes film again.
I finally received the 3D printed spooling device from the company and it seems to work well. Will test in the dark bag with actual film to be used later.
Freakscene
Obscure member
I wish I'd had that thing in 1995. Apart from the hassle it would have saved me, I could have made a fortune selling hand-rolled 135-36 rolls of Kodak 5231, 5222, Agfa 250 and Fuji cine film when short ends were actually still cheap.
maddoc
... likes film again.
Kodak was selling 400ft rolls to students for a discounted price here in Japan, that was really cheap. I have one 400 ft roll left and going to use it.
Freakscene
Obscure member
Yes, I used to get a student discount from Kodak in Australia too. I shot a lot of 5222 in the 1990s.
yossi
Well-known
It seems that B&H is no longer selling 35mm double-x bulk rolls anymore. 😔. Did Kodak discontinue it already?
maddoc
... likes film again.
A week or two weeks ago they had for sale, $386 per 400ft for 5222
yossi
Well-known
Not anymore.
jaredangle
Photojournalist
Correct, BH is selling out of their existing stock of DoubleX and Vision3, and future bulk rolls are restricted to filmmakers who can provide that they're working on a motion picture project.
jaredangle
Photojournalist
This looks fantastic - would love to see a video or photo walkthrough of the loading process.
jszokoli
Well-known
Here's one I built. No need to get anything printed.
The slot in the PVC pipe creates just a nice press in the cores. Two chunks of wood dowels form the axles.
Joe
The slot in the PVC pipe creates just a nice press in the cores. Two chunks of wood dowels form the axles.
Joe
maddoc
... likes film again.
Well, the photo I have posted above in this thread gives you an idea how it’s done. Put the donor roll on left side, the core to accept the film on the right side, and then wind by either using the crank or your hands until the diameter of the acceptor roll is approximately 3-5 mm smaller in diameter than the underlying disk. Cut and put the roll into the loader, the donor roll back into the canister. The size of the printed spooling system allows easy handling in the dark bag. I did this before using a makeshift spindle for the take up spool and the 400ft roll freely rotating inside the dark bag but it was more difficult to smoothly spool the film.