Bulk Loading Film - Page 2

GeneW · 02-22-2005

I was in downtown Toronto today and in anticipation of my Lloyd's loader arriving, bought 100' of APX100, a film I've come to really like!

Gene

back alley · 02-22-2005

i'll have to give that a try gene. that's agfa? don't think i've tried any b&w agfa.

how many film cassettes are you going with. i just realized i need to pick some up soon.
i think i've seen them locally but have never priced them out.

joe

doubs43 · 02-22-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneW

I was in downtown Toronto today and in anticipation of my Lloyd's loader arriving, bought 100' of APX100, a film I've come to really like! Gene

Gene, Agfa APX-100 is excellent film in my experience and you've obviously found it to be also. I use Rodinal 1:50 which gives an excellent negative. What developer do you prefer?

Walker

GeneW · 02-22-2005

Joe, yes, that's Agfapan APX100. In addition to being really nice, it's one of the least expensive films I've come across. (I also bought ten rolls of 120 for the Hassy). The Lloyds bulk loader I won will be coming with 10 cassettes. If they're in good condition, that's all I'll need. Actually 5 or 6 would probably do me.

Walker, I've shot two rolls and have really taken to it. I souped them in D-76 1:1 because I couldn't find a Rodinal 1:50 recipe at the time, but I now have one and will be switching over to Rodinal.

Gene

doubs43 · 02-22-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneW

Walker, I've shot two rolls and have really taken to it. I souped them in D-76 1:1 because I couldn't find a Rodinal 1:50 recipe at the time, but I now have one and will be switching over to Rodinal. Gene

Gene, I use Rodinal 1:50 for 15 1/2 minutes at 68 F. I agitate for 1 minute and then for 5 seconds each minute thereafter. Your times, of course, may vary depending upon a number of things but I'd think that 15 minutes would be a good starting point.

Walker

GeneW · 02-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by doubs43

Gene, I use Rodinal 1:50 for 15 1/2 minutes at 68 F. I agitate for 1 minute and then for 5 seconds each minute thereafter. Your times, of course, may vary depending upon a number of things but I'd think that 15 minutes would be a good starting point.

Walker

Thanks Walker. I've made a note of that. A buddy of mine develops for 18 mins at 68F which may be a bit long. I'll start at 15 or 16 and see how it scans.

Gene

GeneW · 03-08-2005

Won another bulk loader today on the auction site. A Watson model 100. Now I have two -- a Lloyds for APX100 and a Watson for Tri-X. It's a psychological thing. When I bulk load film, I shoot more and don't feel that nagging worry about the cost. Not that film is all that expensive -- but it gets me past that slight hesitation to take certain shots.

Gene

Skinny McGee · 03-08-2005

So can you do this with a changing bag and then just load your cassettes? Do all of them take the Leica cassettess? I am interested in it but have not monkeyed with it yet....

GeneW · 03-08-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skinny McGee

So can you do this with a changing bag and then just load your cassettes? Do all of them take the Leica cassettess? I am interested in it but have not monkeyed with it yet....

Yes, you can load the bulk roll inside a changing bag and once the top is sealed back on, it's light tight. You expose a little of the film as leader on both ends of each roll that you load. Once you've attached the film to the spindle in your canister and closed the canister, you then close the trap door and crank in the film.

I don't know what Leica cassettes look like, but if they're standard size I would think they'd fit, but I'll let someone else tackle that question.

Gene

kiev4a · 03-08-2005

Metal cassettes with pop off caps work well although they eventually will wear out or possible scratch film so you have to keep an eye on their condition. I have used some black plastic cassettes with a twist off cap but I've had trouble with them "untwisting" during the loading or unloading process. I use a small piece of tape to lock them to the cassette body.

I use the blue masking tape for painting to secure the film. It's a little heavy but I never load more than about 20 frames in cassettes so it hasn't interfered. I've had problems with scotch tape tearing loose, especially in hot weather. I'm not sure how it would hold up to power winders, either.

Kin Lau · 03-08-2005

I've been using both the metal & the plastic cassettes. Since they have different colours, one set is for 100 and one set for 400 iso. I don't usually have problems with the plastic ones popping off, but I do make sure that the top is screwed on tightly.

I have about 1inch of tape on each side of the film around the spool, so I have had too much trouble with it tearing loose, but I don't have power winder either.

As for getting more frames in a cassette, I rolled some new APX100 for my Leica on the weekend, and when I was developing, I was wondering why I couldn't get it all on one spool. Ended up having to cut it, and use 2 spools. I counted the number of frames, and found that I had over _50_, and that's including the extra long Leica leader.

RayPA · 03-09-2005

I've always used metal cannisters, and the only problem I've ever had (years ago) was with the light seal material. Once it was so wore out that a little piece came loose and lodged itself on the film plane and ended up on every frame of a roll of film. Take care and be certain to check and clean away any frayed material, or just throw away the outer cannister if it is suspect, or if it gets too wore out. I like the idea of color coded cannisters.

GeneW · 03-10-2005

I appreciate these tips and insights. I'll be checking the condition of my metal canisters and maybe picking up a few plastic ones in a different colour.

Gene

ddunn · 03-10-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skinny McGee

So can you do this with a changing bag and then just load your cassettes? Do all of them take the Leica cassettess? I am interested in it but have not monkeyed with it yet....

It's been a long time since I bulk loaded Leica cassettes, but as I remember neither the Watson nor Lloyd bulk loaders can open and close them. If you have a darkroom or changing bag, take the spool out of the cassette, wind the film onto the spool, then (in the dark or in the bag) put the spool into the Leica cassette.

BTW, you haven't experienced SMOOTH until you've advanced film from a Leica cassette in your Leica.

doubs43 · 03-10-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddunn

~ as I remember neither the Watson nor Lloyd bulk loaders can open and close them. If you have a darkroom or changing bag, take the spool out of the cassette, wind the film onto the spool, then (in the dark or in the bag) put the spool into the Leica cassette.

The Watson will load Leica cassettes but only one type in my experience. The Leica cassettes with the flat spring & pin will work but the ones with the bent spring won't. I haven't loaded a Leica cassette in a while so make sure you dry-run one before you actually try to load it.

Walker

taffer · 03-14-2005

So, Gene, Joe, how is the bulk loading adventure going ?

Damn, today I started looking at a couple Watsons on the bay, and I don't mean Sherlock's colleague!

You're a bad influence, you know ?

GeneW · 03-14-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by taffer

So, Gene, Joe, how is the bulk loading adventure going ?

Damn, today I started looking at a couple Watsons on the bay, and I don't mean Sherlock's colleague!

You're a bad influence, you know ?

Oscar, I'm still waiting for the second loader to arrive and in the meantime I'm using up my packaged film. I have around 6 rolls of Acros and Tri-X to shoot before I hit the bulk stuff.

You NEED a Watson, Sherlock!

Gene

back alley · 03-14-2005

oscar, it's going very slowly.
i bought about 10 cassettes and 100feet of tri-x and traded for about 50 feet of pan-f film.(in the mail)

i've been playing with the scanner and now the 35/2 lens.

but in truth, i'm having a hard time understanding the damn instructions for the bulk loader.
i got the watson 100 and the instruction sheet is a cheap photocopy. it's small font and hard to read. the pics on it are are too dark and have no detail.

i'm fearful of ruining my film with my first tryout, so i keep going back to that damn sheet to see if i can understand a bit more.
i may do a net search to see if i can find something easier to read & understand.

but thanks for asking!

joe

taffer · 03-15-2005

Hey, OT but how is the 35/2 ??? You know they are already half legend and I think you have more chances to spot an unicorn than a cheap Canon 35/2.

So hereiam on topic again, look at this Joe, it may be helpful

http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/genie/bulk.html

and

http://www.themassif.com/bulk_loading.php (check also the links in this one)

GeneW · 03-16-2005

I think I've switched from collecting cameras to collecting bulk film loaders. Won another Watson 100 today. Total of three now. Once the snow melts I'm gonna go on a tear!

Gene

back alley · 03-16-2005

oscar, many thanks for the sites. i missed this post yesterday somehow.

the 35/2 looks great and feels nice too. unfortunatly the temp is dropping and the snow has returned as winter refuses to let her grip go.
i may have to put up with her for one more cold walkabout.

and gene, your starting a whole new trend here.
i look forward to the day when i can bulk load with confidence and then scan my perfect negs for posting to the rff.

joe

GeneW · 03-16-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by backalley photo

oscar, many thanks for the sites. i missed this post yesterday somehow.

the 35/2 looks great and feels nice too. unfortunatly the temp is dropping and the snow has returned as winter refuses to let her grip go.
i may have to put up with her for one more cold walkabout.

and gene, your starting a whole new trend here.
i look forward to the day when i can bulk load with confidence and then scan my perfect negs for posting to the rff.

joe

Whoa! I missed your post as well. Thanks Oscar!

Joe, the latest Watson 100 I won evidently comes with an instruction manual. My last one didn't. If the instructions are in good shape, I'll scan a copy for you to use with your Watson.

Gene

back alley · 03-16-2005

a manual? that would be nice. mine came with a poorly photo copied page only.

joe

agfa100 · 03-16-2005

It's funny how these things work, I just pulled my old watson bulk loader out and ordered 100 ft of apx 400 & apx 100 can't beat the price these days. Will see how long it takes me to get used to using it again. I have wanted to get back into b&w
since I picked up a Noblex 135 u. I have been using mostly b&w slides both scala and the dr5 stuff but it just costs toooooo much, so I need to get back to doing it myself.
bill

Andrew McPhee · 04-15-2005

I recall one time I used half-inch wide masking tape to attach the film to the reel. I got a surprise in the darkroom later when loading the film into the developing tank - when ripping the film off the reel the masking tape gave off a tiny flash of light! Never big enough to fog the film but after that I changed to scotch tape just to be safe. Has anyone else experienced this?