Plastic film canisters

[Brian Atherton]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/mar/26/photography

 

[Arbitrarium]

Likewise, I use them to store screws etc. when working on cameras or other stuff. And my wife also paints and uses them to store mixes in.

But these uses only require one or two tubs. I still have loads spare. If I was still at art college I'd probably make a daft sculpture out of them or something...

 

[Steve M.]

Keep in mind that nothing is ever wasted in the universe. Sooner or later, probably much, much later, they will decompose and return back to their basic elements. If you don't want to wait eons, there must be a million uses for them. You could probably build a house if you had a real long time, or fill them up w/ concrete/plaster/clay and use the plugs for something dandy. As mentioned, they make classic stash containers.

I look forward to reading people's ideas, and thanks for a great question. They're just so small, it's gonna be time consuming to make anything big, but if someone has the time, tons of things you could do. I'm curious where creenus is too because I sold my place the other day and am off to live in the Land of Enchantment myself. New Mexico skies are incredible.

 

[MrFujicaman]

Here in St. Louis, some camera stores accept them for recycling. One thing I have done with them is to cut the bottom off one, then force it into the top of a second one to maker a container for exposed 120 roll film. If you use the black canisters, it keeps the light off them to prevent fogging the edges.

If you want 120 film containers, buy the mini M & M's on sale for Easter. I bought some last year and they are just right for 120.

 

[MrFujicaman]

There is always this:
https://youtu.be/s0PzrJM_IO0😀

A bit more seriously, if you either are a camper or know any, film canisters work very well for spices. I seem to recall seeing "tupperware" lids for film canisters that were close-able shaker tops.

Maybe offer your excess to a local school science teacher/program?

Rob

Campmor has those lids-I have a set!

 

[rbiemer]

Campmor has those lids-I have a set!

Sad to say, Campmor doesn't carry them any more. The company that made them for Campmor--Coglan's--does still make camping gear but they don't have the shaker lids listed on their own site.
I found a single listing at ebay, none at amazon.
Two retailers I found on line might have some: westsidestores.ca in Canada and osabrands.com in, I think, Australia.

Rob

 

[Robert Lai]

The cans are airtight and watertight. They are too good to just throw away.

Besides storing small parts, and my kid's lost teeth, I use them to store my viewfinders.

Most viewfinders except the rather gigantic Zeiss ones will fit into a film can. The old Canon and Nikon ones fit, as well as most of the Voigtlander ones.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Years ago, when everyone shot film, a company made tops for them that turned them into salt and pepper shakers. And we used to always use them to store pot when I was in college.

 

[seany65]

Lot's of good suggestions here.

However, I think it's utterly ridiculous that film companies actually waste time, money, resources and cause pollution to make so many of them when they could get a ginormous number of them back and re-use them.

 

[bhop73]

I build scale models. The bigger ones require more paint, and if I have to custom mix a color, that's when they come in handy for me.

 

[sepiareverb]

I guess I shoot too much film, I could never have enough stuff to store in them, and I've given them away by the shopping bag full over the years.

 

[creenus]

Creenus, where in New Mexico? I grew up there and travel back as often as life will let me.

Phil Forrest

Waterflow, NM - near Shiprock

Not too rugged where I live but I like to be prepared when I travel around the state or north to Colorado.

 

[farlymac]

I especially like the Ilford ones since they are black, and are good for storing exposed film until I can get it to the lab.

I did buy a dozen of the ones that came with some specialty 120 film a few years back (Rollei I think), and keep them with the medium format cameras.

I still have way too many to use again for other purposes. The latest one was I needed a cover for the pins on a used battery pack that came without the factory molded cover, so I slit the side out of one, popped it on the battery pack with the lid on, and use a rubber band to hold it secure.

Two AA cells will fit in the Kodak and Ilford cans, and up to six AAA cells, but not the Fuji since the cap intrudes into the storage space.

PF

 

[newfilm]

in the 80s whenever we're on family trip and dad would give me the spent film canister and I'll make them into an airhorn, blo**dy loud one I might add 😀

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8J60I_IF1g

aaaaaand, surprise there are youtube videos how to make one today!

 

[Dogman]

In the 60's when the cans were metal they saw a lot of use for storing "contraband".

I'm old now. I tend to use them for the various pills I must take each day.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Many years ago I read of a photographer who used them as loft insulation. That was so long ago that it may have been the alloy variety, though.

Cheers,

R.

 

[ronnies]

Lens and body caps. 🙂

Contaflex lens cap by F4ronnie, on Flickr

Jupiter 12 rear cap Kiev by F4ronnie, on Flickr

Kiev caps by F4ronnie, on Flickr

Jupiter 11 rear cap Kiev by F4ronnie, on Flickr

Ronnie

 

[John Lawrence]

I think I might have mentioned this a while back, but years ago in war zones, third world countries etc. we used to use them as containers for stool samples (the lid was surprisingly useful......).

Bit of a nightmare if you got it mixed up with your unexposed film though 😱 !!

 

[Dralowid]

In the 60's when the cans were metal they saw a lot of use for storing "contraband".

I'm old now. I tend to use them for the various pills I must take each day.

Or alternatively regular urine samples....

 

[MrFujicaman]

Since we're on this topic...does anyone remember when Kodak switched from metal cans to plastic?