Do you keep the bulk loader in the fridge too?

[stratcat]

I'm a complete rookie when it comes to bulk film loading and handling. I bought a bulk film loader yesterday and a roll of Kodak Tri-X 400 film. I've already loaded a couple of 135 cassettes succesfully, but I don't have as many as necessary (~20) to completely empty the loader.

The place where I live tends to be warm during the day, temperatures reaching 30°C during the day at this time of the year.

Should I put the loaded bulk loader into a plastic bag and into the fridge? I'm concerned that everytime I need to load cartridges I'll need to bring the loader out in advance and let it warm to room temperature before opening the bag and loading the cartridges; then put it back into the fridge afterwards. That would mean the film would go many times through the cool down/warm up cycle.

What it the recommended way to handle this? Thanks in advance for your comments and advice.

 

[sdotkling]

Hi there:
To me, this sounds like excessive caution...assuming you will use your 20 rolls within a reasonable time, a month or two. I'd worry about condensation inside the bulk film loader (and on the film itself) as it goes from cold to warm to cold. I've never refrigerated my loader, and I cannot attribute any defects in my film (of which there are many) to short-term room-temperature storage. Maybe someone more persnickety than me will disagree.

 

[Pete B]

I've often wondered this too but decided against it for the reason above. I now just load all my cassettes and put them in the fridge.
Pete

 

[ChipMcD]

I think keeping the bulk loader in the fridge is asking for condensation trouble. I never refrigerated mine when I was bulk loading black and white, and it took me a lot longer than 2 months to shoot up 100ft. I think you'll be fine out to a year at least. Look at the expiration date on the side of the box the 100ft spool came in. If you are bulk loading color film, either negative or slide, the time factor may be more important. For black and white, I wouldn't give it a second thought.

 

[colyn]

I load my cassettes from the new roll then place them in the freezer. Never the bulk loader..

 

[JOE1951]

Yeah, I do keep the bulkloader in the fridge. I presently have TECH-PAN loaded in it. I've never really thought about "condensation problems". What exactly are condensation problems, as I freeze most everything and have never noticed a issue.

I have been bulking the tech-pan in 4 Leica cassettes while the film is still cold. The film comes to room temp in the cassette. Never noticed any problems.

Your freaking me out now!!! I'll never see a roll of tech-pan again and that I might be damaging scares me!

 

[marduk]

I keep bulk loader (AP) in the bridge as it takes me long nowadays to shoot up 100ft. Never had a problem with condensation.

 

[useless generation]

I also keep my AP loader in the fridge and have never noticed any problems!

 

[Mackinaw]

I have three bulk film loaders in my fridge right now. One with Efke 25, one with APX 100, and one with Tri-X. Been doing this for years with no ill effects to the film, loader or the fridge.

Jim B.

 

[DNG]

No, I go through 100' every 2-3 months....and they get developed after I shoot....
No reason to slow down the aging process at all. with B&W and most Color films.

If it is not Color Pro Film that is "Aged" for best results at the maker, then cooled down for sale, and then it needs to be kept cool for best results...then NO Need IMO.

MOST Color films, don't require this... and NO B&W film does AFAIK.

 

[johannielscom]

No, film will catch condensation when spooling if you do. Resulting in film binding on the spool.

I used to leave the bulk roll out of the fridge for a day before putting it into the bulk loader. Nowadays my film comes from the cellar, which is approx. 12º Celcius. Cool enough to store for years, I've shot 1971-expired Agfapan and it came out fine so I do not worry about longterm storage too much...

 

[stratcat]

Thanks everyone for their comments. I see that, as with most things, there are those who put the loader in the fridge and those who do not 🙂.

I'll go for the hybrid approach and spool as much as I can into cassettes right now (I have 10), then store the loader in the fridge until I have another batch of cassettes to spool. I'll take care to put the loader out of the fridge for a day before spoolling the 2nd batch.

Thanks again!

 

[Fotohuis]

I have one bulk loader in the (film-) freezer (-10C) filled with Agfa Optima 400 CN film. At 2007 available for Eur. 8,00 for 30,5m/100ft, exp. end 2007. But it's packed in a plastic zipper bag. I do not shoot so many iso 400 CN films. But let's say 5 films a year. So maybe one year to go 🙂

 

[bob338]

I have a giant 200ft loader and 5 100ft loaders in the fridge.
I've never had a problem with condensation but I roll out film as needed and put the loader back right away. I then let the film cassette sit in room temperature for about an hour before using the film.