What's Best Way To Cut Negatives?

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wgerrard

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For those who cut their negatives into strips, what do you use to do the cutting?

I know that sounds a little inane, but I guess I have bad scissoring skills. I'd like a little gizmo to help ensure a straight cut between the frames.
 
I use a pair of short-blade scissors I bought in an electronics supply store. The blades are only around 1.5 inches long. They also taper to a fine point. The smallness of the scissors helps me to get a precise cut. I suppose another options would be to use a single edge razor blade and a metal staightedge. You could do this on a lightbox, with a piece of disposable/replaceable plastic protecting the lightbox surface. Finally, there are cutting fixtures made for this purpose. You might check eBay for fixtures made by Wess Plastics. Wess doesn't make them anymore, but they are out there.
 
I bought this little thing off eBay last year that does the job perfectly. It has a small light and indicators for full-frame, half-frame and 24x24. It uses a small rotary blade to cut the negatives. It works great.

When I get home, I can send you the name of it. I think I might have paid $5 for it.

Also, Polaroid made a small guillotine-style cutter for a slide-mounting kit that it used to sell. That works OK.

I've also uses a good pair of shears and on occasion have cut the negatives a bit too close.

The Zeiss Ikon Contax negatives are tough, because the frames are very tightly spaced.
 
In my former life as a 35mm movie projectionist I would use a film splicer to make cuts in that film... it's the same size and sprocket holes as 35mm photo film so it should work... as long as the frameline is right in between sprockets.

Maybe you can find one used/on eBay?
 
FA, that doesn't look that expensive to me, considering I've cut the edges off frames more than once.

A light went off reading Rob's response. I've got two nice cutting boards in the kitchen. They're kept very, very clean. A metal straight- edge and an Exacto knife might due the trick.
 
I usually just put a piece of white paper on the desk and use scissors to cut the negs over that.

In a local secondhand (read: crappy old junk) shop I spent 1,5 euros for an iluminated slide-mount thing from Hama. In fact, it provided no advantage over the scissors with negatives, though the built in illumination does help with slides. It is probably similar to the devices a couple of other posters have referred to and worth keeping an eye open for, if scissors aren't ideal for you.
 
Cheap kitchen scissors over the top of something white for me ... I think the long bladed type definitely make the job easier. One decisive 'snip!' 😛
 
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Bill,

Try using one of these (see attached) gizmos that polaroid used to make. They're regualrly avaiable on the auction site for $5 or less. I've never made a mistake with mine.
 

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These days I'm using a "Made in China", two pair on a card from the 99 cent store. I don't want to risk scratching the negatives with a paper cutter type set up.
 
I use a pair of regular scissors. The key to straight cuts is to flatten the negative on the bottom blade once you've "gripped" onto the starting point with the scissors.
 
Here it is: Kaiser Diacut 1.

As I mentioned, I paid $5 or $6 for it on eBay ("that auction site").

I've used the Polaroid cutter, but I like this one better, because it's lit and because it has indicators for the various negative sizes.
 
This is why RFF is great - I use some medical scissors that are just fine, very sharp precise cut, but here I discover there are things designed for this specific task..!
 
I have a Stereo Realist film cutter that works fine for cutting my negs. I just set it on my light box and align the space between the frames and cut..
 
I have the cheaper version of what ZeissFan recommended. Kaiser Fototechnik, Dia-Schneidergerat (film & slid cutter) #2119, I paid AUD$15.95, in 1985, I only know `cause I kept the packaging. Stick on a light table,hold it up against a window,it`s very light weight, film wind on, fully enclosed blade, so no chance of cutting yourself,works a treat.
 
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