How to get started with bulk loading?

[atlcruiser]

Hi all,
I guess it is time to up my game and save some $$$$. How do I best get started with bulk loading?

thanks
david

 

[Mcary]

David.

To get started just go to Freestyle, Adorama, B&H ext. and order the following items
1. Bulk Loader
2. Reloadable Cassettes 20 or so should be a good number to start with
3. Changing Bag
4. Bulk roll of your favorite film

Then when everything arrives just follow the instructions that come with the bulk loader.
BTW the changing bag is only needed for the initial step of loading the roll of bulk film into the loader. Once that's done the actual process of loading the film into the cassette is done in daylight.
Simple as that you'll be bulk loading 🙂

 

[dyao]

about how many feet is a roll of 36 exposures? for, let's say tri-x, about how much money do you save per roll? Thanks 🙂

 

[semilog]

^--- I get about 18 rolls of 36 exp. But I load 30 exp. rolls to reduce the probability of scratches, and because with 36 I always seem to end up with a couple more frames than fit into a storage sleeve.

The savings you see depend on the film.

If you shoot Legacy Pro (rebranded Neopan 400 and Neopan ACROS) from Freestyle, I'm not sure that the savings are worth it. Legacy Pro is already under US $2 a roll, while bulk-loading Legacy Pro is about $1 a roll, plus the cost of cassettes (reusable maybe 10 times, +/- a few), plus the cost (amortized over hundreds or thousands of rolls, of course) of the bulk loader.

Not all films are available re-branded from Freestyle, though.

For TMAX400, for example, bulk loading cuts my cost roughly in half, from $5/36 exposures to ~$2.70. That is *definitely* worthwhile. Savings on the Ilford emulsions are similar to those on TMAX. In the U.S., I'd pay $5-6 a roll for 36 exp., and a 100 ft. spool is $50-60.

 

[Mcary]

about how many feet is a roll of 36 exposures? for, let's say tri-x, about how much money do you save per roll? Thanks 🙂

I think 18 rolls per 100 feet is about average.
Note: starting out you might only get 16-17

Tri-x goes for $54 on Freestyle so about $3 a roll
Now if you buy Arista Premium 400 at $35 the cost per roll drops to $1.95, which thinking of it isn't that good of a deal as they sell it in 36 exposure rolls for $2.19 a roll 🙂

 

[zerobuttons]

Hi all,
I guess it is time to up my game and save some $$$$. How do I best get started with bulk loading?

Don´t do it just to save money. In that case you will only be considering it a hassle and not save much after all, as others have pointed out.

I started recently myself and enjoy doing it. I had the changing bag already, since I have been developing for some time. I acquired the following:
# An AP Bobinquick film loader
# 10 reloadable plastic film cassettes
# 10 reloadable metal film cassettes
# TX401 - a 15 meter roll of Tri-X 400

My first attempt was very promising. I used only the plastic cassettes because the metal cassettes seem a little flimsy to me. If only you practice the loading of the roll into the loader before actually doing it in the changing bag, it´s easy-peasy.

I´ll soon be buying a couple of different film types in 30 meter rolls so that I can have them ready in the freezer.

 

[atlcruiser]

thanks....

Looks like i can use Tri x for jsut a little more per roll than boxed arista premimun.

 

[gliderbee]

and because with 36 I always seem to end up with a couple more frames than fit into a storage sleeve.

I use storage sleeves that can take 7 strips of 6 pictures and so I usually get 38 or 39 pictures out of a normal 36-roll.

Stefan.

 

[Finder]

Check the bulk loader. For example, this is CLEARLY what you don't want.

 

[semilog]

Don´t do it just to save money. In that case you will only be considering it a hassle and not save much after all, as others have pointed out.

If you shoot TMAX or any of the Ilford emulsions, you can save well over $2/roll. Depending on how much you shoot, that can add up PDQ.

 

[semilog]

Check the bulk loader. For example, this is CLEARLY what you don't want.

I'm looking for brilliant highlights. That looks like just the ticket. 😉

 

[Keith]

One thing that is worth doing if you're trying to trim every cent is used cassettes. I scrounge them from the local kodak one hour and reload them.

They come with a piece of film still sticking out which allows you to tape the new film to this piece when you load them ... ordinary cheap sticky tape works fine.

I've been using these since I started bulk loading a couple of years ago and have had zero problems.

 

[Finder]

I'm looking for brilliant highlights. That looks like just the ticket. 😉

You will be surprised at how long your fixer lasts too. 🙂