Watson Bulk Loaders Scratching Film. Thoughts?

[kdemas]

Gang,

I have had some very consistent horizontal scratches appearing periodically on rolls I have bulk loaded with a couple Watson bulk loaders. Yes, the film gate was open when I spooled the film 😉

Has anyone else run across this issue, anything I should watch out for or do differently. I just transferred a spool from the Watson to a new Lloyd as I don't want to ruin the rest of a pricey 100' TMAX roll.

Any help or tips are appreciated, as always.

 

[yossarian123]

I'm having the same problem actually (using IXMOO cassettes). It seems like the first few frames have the problem then it mostly goes away. I'm not sure if it's the cassettes or my technique.

And yes, TMAX is now insanely expensive for a bulk roll.

 

[DNG]

It may be the felt light trap on the re loadable film cartridge that is the offender.

 

[zuiko85]

I had enough of film bulk loading scratches and just pay the extra money for factory loads and shoot real carefully. I still have a Watson and a Alden loader and occasionally will put in a bulk 100 ft. of some cheapish Arista edu. film but even that is getting as pricy as Kodak was just 5 years ago.

Of course as I get into my old fart years I'm always complaining about what stuff cost now days compared to my faded memory. But really, film is going up at a rate much higher than the general inflation rate.

 

[kdemas]

It may be the felt light trap on the re loadable film cartridge that is the offender.

Ordinarily I'd agree but these were new cartridges and look to be very clean. Very frustrating!

 

[Mackinaw]

I had the same problem with an old Watson film loader that was given to me. No matter what I did I was getting scratches (intermittent and unpredictable). I finally gave up and bought a Arista bulk loader from Freestyle. Bingo, problem solved. No more scratches.

Jim B.