Recovering film from 35mm cartridge?

[dmr]

First of all, greetings from the 26th floor of the fabulous Sahara hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. (Yeah. it ain't the Bellagio, but my company would never go for that.)

Anyway, I f(ouled) up and wound the leader of a brand new roll back into the cartridge. I seem to remember something about a trick for getting it out, but I can't seem to find it on the web. Anybody know the trick I'm talking about?

Thanks in advance, gang. 🙂

 

[rover]

I don't know of a trick, but there is a film leader retreiver tool that you can use to accomplish the task.

So, what are you doing in Las Vegas....oh...sorry.....I forgot, what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas.

Work trip? Enjoy it dispite that.

 

[Meakin]

Here is one that works for me:

Get hold of another film with the leader still out, wet the leader(lick it) and gently push it into the slot of the other film cannister as far as you can get it. then gently try pulling it out. It may take a few tries but it will come out. As it really only touches the first few cm of the other film - mainly the leader, I´ve not had any problems with it messing with the negatives. It´s worked for me so many times I´ve lost count.

Hope it helps.

Cheers,

Meakin

 

[dmr]

I don't know of a trick, but there is a film leader retreiver tool that you can use to accomplish the task.

I know the mini labs use something like this, I just remember from some time back that there was some kind of a simple trick.

So, what are you doing in Las Vegas....oh...sorry.....I forgot, what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas.

Attending a conference. Almost didn't make it due to a minor injury to my right leg last week. (Don't ask, it was actually my fault.) 🙁 But I am at least mobile now except for doing steps.

It didn't stop me from giving the Canonet a good work out on the Strip on Sunday night. That's when this happened. I'm in the habit of putting tension on the rewind crank to be sure it's loaded and really advancing. I turned it a bit too much. 🙁 It's the cheap Walgreens/Agfa film, so really NBD if I can't figure it out.

Oh well. ...

 

[dmr]

Get hold of another film with the leader still out, wet the leader(lick it) and gently push it into the slot of the other film cannister as far as you can get it. then gently try pulling it out. It may take a few tries but it will come out. As it really only touches the first few cm of the other film - mainly the leader, I´ve not had any problems with it messing with the negatives. It´s worked for me so many times I´ve lost count.

That doesn't seem to be the one I remember but I tried it several times with no luck. 🙁 I may have made it worse by trying to coax the leader out by rotating it until it clicks and then rotating it backwards. Oh well, thanks for the help.

 

[denishr]

If all else fails, find the nearest 1-hour lab - they should be able to do it for you, using the "film leader retriever" gadget 🙂

Denis

 

[unsharp]

open it with a bottle opener

open it with a bottle opener

I regularly have this problem since I like to shift rolls midways and accidently roll them in all the way.

Go into a closet where it is totaly dark. Open the cartridge top with a bottle opener or any tool. Pull out the leader and put back the top of the cartridge. For safety load the film into the camera while you are still there in the dark.

After you have finished shooting the roll, if you think you damaged the cartridge enough to not seal when you reassembled it, then unload the camera in darkness and bring the cartridge to the lab in your pocket or other dark place.

Tell the lab the situation. They might change the cartidge for a small fee before developing, or they more likely just put it in the lab machine as is. The machines are sealed.

I have done this at least 10 times and never have had to change cartridge or had any light damage to the film.

Good luck, Anders

 

[Rob]

Any one hour lab has a machine that will get the leader out in seconds. I would not go thru
the pop the end cap off in a darkroom thing, way to may opps to scratch or expose film accidentally on your end or the processing end. You can also buy a tool for this.

 

[ray_g]

I use a 1.5 inch strip of "Dymo" adhesive-back labeler. The one we all used before the electronic labelmaker. I have an old roll lying around at home, but it should be available at places like Office Depot or Hallmark. I don't know if it's worth looking for it in your case. The one-hr photolab options seems the easiest.

 

[2maneekameras]

You can use another piece of 35mm film or leader to make a film retrieval tool. Dont lick it, rather cut two small slits on the edge of the leader near the edge. Make the width of the slit slightly smaller than the width of the sprocket holes. Bend the piece of film between the slits you made toward the center of the long axis of the film. Then unfold the tab you just formed enough to to slide past the light seals of the cassette you wish to liberate the reclusive film from. The position of the end of the film hiding in the cassette is critical to successful retrieval. The end must be close to, but not past the exit slot in the cassette. you can position it by rotating the spool and listening to the movement of the film inside the cassette. When the film is properly positioned, insert your home made tool in the slot. The goal is to engage the little tab into a sprocket hole in the film inside the cassette. It may take a few tries to get the film engaged. This technique does work. I have done successfully many times. The tool made from film is very similar the the metal one available.

 

[unsharp]

It works

It works

There is no way to scratch the film by doing what I recommended.

OK, if the cartridge is really damaged, just put some electrical tape around the top, and you will be safe.

Actually, I would say that minilabs more often scratch negatives/postives regardless of how you hand them the film, than anyone would do when developing their own film.

But then again, you're at a hotel room, you have a bottle opener for your cold beer, there is no tape and what's the cost of a new roll... 😀

Anders

 

[dmr]

If all else fails, find the nearest 1-hour lab - they should be able to do it for you, using the "film leader retriever" gadget 🙂

Thank you! That was simple and obvious and I didn't even think of it. I just stopped into Walgreens and it took her all of 3 seconds! 🙂