Jodad Posted November 23, 2017 Share #1 Posted November 23, 2017 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I haven't bulk rolled before but its a fair bit cheaper for me at the moment. I guess there is a cost of time element but i don't mind that so much. My issue is that when i read about it it seems that it is quite common to scratch the film when doing it! How do you guys do it and what loaders and cans do you use to not get scratches? Edited November 23, 2017 by Jodad Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 23, 2017 Posted November 23, 2017 Hi Jodad, Take a look here How (or with what) to bulk roll and not get scratches?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Ko.Fe. Posted November 23, 2017 Share #2 Posted November 23, 2017 I'm using scratch removing if it is for color scans. I'm using enlarger, which doesn't focus on scratches. I superglued the velt from single use film cassette to the edges on bulk loaders which are touching film during loading. And I went to see Viktor Kolář's photos on large prints from negatives taken by Kolář with his father LTM Leica in Canada. Some of them with horizontal scratches visible, but his photos are still better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted November 23, 2017 Share #3 Posted November 23, 2017 (edited) I haven't bulk rolled before but its a fair bit cheaper for me at the moment. I guess there is a cost of time element but i don't mind that so much. My issue is that when i read about it it seems that it is quite common to scratch the film when doing it! How do you guys do it and what loaders and cans do you use to not get scratches? Never had a problem with scratches from bulk loading. I used good plastic cassettes, a Watson 66B loader and passed a piece of masking tape lightly through the trap before loading to remove particles. I still have two of the loaders and both are still good. (For motor-winds I used brass cassettes which opened in the loader, then closed when done so the film did not pass through the felt. They also opened in the camera for the same reason. Unfortunately not all M models today accept the cassettes.) Edited November 23, 2017 by pico Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted November 23, 2017 Share #4 Posted November 23, 2017 Just carefully inspect the felt on your cassettes each and every time, and handle everything with care. I also suggest you practice a few times with a sacrifice roll until you confidently have the process down pat. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug A Posted November 24, 2017 Share #5 Posted November 24, 2017 I bulk load HP5+ in Leica FILCA cassettes using a Watson 100 loader and have no scratches or other issues. (The FILCA only works in screw mount Leicas.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted November 24, 2017 Share #6 Posted November 24, 2017 Most scratches come about in processing the film. Never use a film squeegee! Give bulk loading a try with confidence and come back if there are problems. Welcome to our world. It is good here! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Clark Posted November 25, 2017 Share #7 Posted November 25, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have a couple of Lloyds bulk loaders. Haven’t noticed scratches but I do develop my film. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted November 27, 2017 Share #8 Posted November 27, 2017 I use simple reusable plastic cassettes with a felt "mouth" and an Alden loader (the big one that can take a 200 foot roll). I don't think I've ever had scratches on the films as a result of the bulk loading. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted November 27, 2017 Share #9 Posted November 27, 2017 Bulk-loaded HP5+ and FP4+ films into Kalt plastic cartridges and never had a scratch issue from loading. I suspect scratches potentially could come from an older and formerly used bulk loader where the liner is worn or where particles came into the loader. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jodad Posted December 2, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted December 2, 2017 Fair enough! I really shouldn't pay much attention to stuff online unless it's on this forum I guess! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jodad Posted December 2, 2017 Author Share #11 Posted December 2, 2017 By the way, where can I get some of these 200-400ft rolls of film? Guessing that would be even more economical than 100s? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted December 2, 2017 Share #12 Posted December 2, 2017 (edited) By the way, where can I get some of these 200-400ft rolls of film? Guessing that would be even more economical than 100s? Yes there are 200' daylight loaders. They are expensive. Greater lengths are usually motion picture film reels that must be manually shortened to fit smaller loaders in perfect darkness. Some are open-reel types, again for total darkness, intended for loading 250 exposure cassettes. Not helpful. Edited December 2, 2017 by pico 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jodad Posted December 11, 2017 Author Share #13 Posted December 11, 2017 Well, ive gone ahead and ordered a loader (watson/wilson style) and 20 something empty cassettes. Just got to find a decent deal on some bulk and ill give it a go and report back Thanks for the reassurance guys! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted December 18, 2017 Share #14 Posted December 18, 2017 You can buy straight from Kodak. https://www.kodak.com/BE/nl/motion/Products/Product_Information/index.htm By the way, where can I get some of these 200-400ft rolls of film? Guessing that would be even more economical than 100s? Well if one searches one can find them for rather cheap. I bought my Alden 200 for less than 30 GBP on eBay. Yes there are 200' daylight loaders. They are expensive. Greater lengths are usually motion picture film reels that must be manually shortened to fit smaller loaders in perfect darkness. Some are open-reel types, again for total darkness, intended for loading 250 exposure cassettes. Not helpful. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted January 6, 2018 Share #15 Posted January 6, 2018 clean the cassette felt lips and keep them clean at all times, film cans or plastic bags. Buy some Leica cassette and a bench winder. Nothing ever touches the film. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
david strachan Posted January 6, 2018 Share #16 Posted January 6, 2018 (edited) I used plastic cassettes...worked well. Also used spent cassetes from film labs...given for free...just ask. Tape your leader, and wind on.. Then tape over the bar code so you can set your own, and write which film is loaded. I used so much FP4 this way, and very cheap. Never a scratch...even used a bit of wiper blade to wipe my negs after Photoflo...or finger squeegee. Never,ever the slightest scratch. One needs to just leap into the unknown..and do it. Edited January 6, 2018 by david strachan 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted January 6, 2018 Share #17 Posted January 6, 2018 Buy some Leica cassette and a bench winder. Nothing ever touches the film. The Watson 66B opens the cassette to wind on, then closes it before allowing the lightproof door to be opened. Works with Nikon cassettes, too. Very nice design. Unfortunately, late model M bodies do not take the Leica cassettes. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
willwright Posted January 8, 2018 Share #18 Posted January 8, 2018 I've bulk loaded for years..any commercial bulk loader like a Watson essentially doesn't touch the film surface at any point when "open" and loading. The culprit is the actual cassette and previous posts discuss that well. The felt light trap on the cassette must be very clean. Before I had bulk loaders I light proofed a closet and would pull off an arms length of film (which was just about 36 exposures and wind it on to the cassette spool and then insert it in the outer shell. A fairlly athletic way of doing it, but again nothing touched the film till it went into the cassette. Larger rolls can be handled this way. I'd recommend a "practice roll". pull off 2 feet or so and really practice loading the cassettes. I always have trouble getting the cap on the end. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted January 8, 2018 Share #19 Posted January 8, 2018 If you are lucky enough to find them, FOOVA + IXMOO are the way to go for Leica. There are photos of this exactly halfway on this page: http://www.lusznat.de/cms1/index.php/kamera/news/313-film-meterware-fuer-die-leica Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted January 8, 2018 Share #20 Posted January 8, 2018 (edited) . Edited January 8, 2018 by M9reno Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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