Do you bulk load your own film?

fixbones · 01-12-2010

ItsReallyDarren · 01-12-2010

I used to bulk load a lot of Arista EDU 100 when I could buy it post dated very cheap. I stopped after getting too many deep scratches in the film. At first I though it was my bulk loader but I realized it was the batch of film.

If a long roll of film I'm interested in turns up I'll load it.

BillBingham2 · 01-12-2010

Wish you had a few other options like

Did but don't any more.

Will do it in the future.

Once I relocate I might get back into B&W, build a dark room again. Bulk and B&W rock for reducing the cost.

B2 (;->

bgb · 01-12-2010

no ... to much chance of me messing the whole thing up

just buying cheap film now from online auctions or in the shop

Chris101 · 01-12-2010

I just voted no. But I don't necessarily agree with the "I can't be bothered" part. I mean, I develop B&W film, and that is a lot more work than bulk loading! I have done this in the past, and it is really no big deal. The reason that I don't now, is that I do not have a rolling machine, nor do I usually have the free funds to buy a long roll.

I spend about $15 on film a week. I buy 2 or 3 rolls of trix, and a couple roll of delta 3200 once in a while. Occasionally, as a treat, I will get a couple rollsl of sfx or aura. These are my only films, except for the stash (there is another thread about that) I have in the fridge.

A confession: There is a 100' (30.5m) roll of pan-f in the fridge. But I hate that film - I'd need to shoot at noon or under ~1500 watts of hot lights to get the illumination I like. - I need to learn how to use slow film, as they are running out of fast alternatives!! (My former faves have been Polaroid type 57 and HIE pushed to EI 800 (14/5 min in HC110b, 24°C.) But then I love grain. Maybe that is why I don't like slow film. But then I don't like color, chromogenic B&W or digital either ...

marke · 01-12-2010

I never have rolled my own, but have often considered trying. The thing is, when you can get Arista Premium 400/Tri-X for about $2.19 for a 36 exp. roll, is it worth it to roll your own? Can anyone tellme how many 36 exp. rolls you will get out of a 100ft. bulk roll?

Then there's color, which I often get for anything from $.50 to $2.50 a roll. To me, it just doesn't seem to be worth the time and effort to make sure you're not scratching the stuff.

ItsReallyDarren · 01-12-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by marke

I never have rolled my own, but have often considered trying. The thing is, when you can get Arista Premium 400/Tri-X for about $2.19 for a 36 exp. roll, is it worth it to roll your own? Can anyone tellme how many 36 exp. rolls you will get out of a 100ft. bulk roll?

Then there's color, which I often get for anything from $.50 to $2.50 a roll. To me, it just doesn't seem to be worth the time and effort to make sure you're not scratching the stuff.

I use a Watson bulk loader, the tear drop shaped one. On average I get 18 rolls of 36exp with a little left over at the end that enough to make a 12 exp.

To get 36 frames I usually count 44 clicks when I load the film. Through trial and error I felt that the clicks did not fully represent a full 8 sprocket frame. I also loaded a little bit extra to make up for the fogged portions in the beginning and the end.

nikon_sam · 01-12-2010

Yes, I can and I do but not every roll of B&W I shoot is rolled at home...

vkomu · 01-12-2010

HP5+, easy to find bulk stuff, except many others

kxl · 01-12-2010

I used to but not anymore.

I never really did it to save money, since any cost savings was not really enough to justify the bother of doing it. To me, the primary advantage of bulk loading is in testing/experimenting with various films, developers, exposures, etc... Bulk loading allows you to only load enough film for 6-10 exposures -- enough for a small and very specific test or experiment.

Shac · 01-12-2010

Almost always have and still do. Use on old Watson loader (given to me 40 years ago!) with a home-made crank - no idea where the original went. No more hassle than developing the film. But each to their own

Mablo · 01-12-2010

I still have a couple of cans left but as marke said above it doesn't really make any economical sense anymore as it used to do. But I'm eyeing the Kodak Double-XX option with interest. Maybe I'll find a good source for short ends in my neck of the woods.

MPerson · 01-13-2010

I am bulk loading from 400ft cans of Double-X into 100ft lengths for the bulk loader.

Pickett Wilson · 01-13-2010

Used to use mostly bulk film when I shot B&W a lot. Easy to do with the Watson loader. Much more economical back then, especially shooting many rolls a week. But I don't shoot nearly as much B&W film anymore and, as others have pointed out, there are deals to be made on factory film on eBay, etc, so I just don't bother anymore.

ChrisN · 01-13-2010

It's about four years since I last bought a pre-loaded roll of 35mm film. Loading is quick and simple, freehand or using the Leica AFLOO in a dark room.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...chmentid=55487

Edit: Curses! IMG code not allowed in this thread. Follow the url for a pic of the AFLOO.

Pickett Wilson · 01-13-2010

Wow, Chris, that brings back memories. Definitely old school

Vince Lupo · 01-13-2010

I have a really nice Alden 200 bulk loader that I've had since I was 15 years old (29 years), and currently there's Tri-X loaded in there.
So yes, I do bulk load my black + white film.

Keith · 01-13-2010

I wouldn't not do it ... Legacy Pro 400 bulk loaded for 24 images into used cassettes from the local Kodak One Hour costs me around $1.15 per roll.

I've never had scratching from bulk loading and it takes me less than ten minutes to load half a dozen rolls.

Arjay · 01-13-2010

I'd love to bulk load film if only I could get hold of Tri-X 400 here in Germany. Bulk loaders are easy to get on eBay, but bulk Tri-X 400 seems to be hard to get. I recently only found one source who quoted new, increased prices to me that were more expensive than buying rebranded Tri-X 400 in cartridges (see aphog.de and search for 'APHOGs erster').

Still, I'd be interested to find a good source for Tri-X 400 in bulk rolls ...

Keith · 01-13-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arjay

I'd love to bulk load film if only I could get hold of Tri-X 400 here in Germany. Bulk loaders are easy to get on eBay, but bulk Tri-X 400 seems to be hard to get. I recently only found one source who quoted new, increased prices to me that were more expensive than buying rebranded Tri-X 400 in cartridges (see aphog.de and search for 'APHOGs erster').

Still, I'd be interested to find a good source for Tri-X 400 in bulk rolls ...

Freestyle seem to be about the cheapest I've seen for 100ft Tri-X.

Arjay · 01-13-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith

Freestyle seem to be about the cheapest I've seen for 100ft Tri-X.

Thank you Keith for the info.

Wow - that would be about half the price of my German source. I'll have to find out whether Freestyle also ships to Germany ...

je2a3 · 01-13-2010

APX100, Plus-X and Tri-X

Mablo · 01-13-2010

Hmmm.. those Freestyle price for 100ft cans are lucrative indeed. Unfortunately postage charges and VAT will appr. double the price sent to this side of the pond.

Keith · 01-13-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mablo

Hmmm.. those Freestyle price for 100ft cans are lucrative indeed. Unfortunately postage charges and VAT will appr. double the price sent to this side of the pond.

If you buy the Arista Premium 400 which is Tri-X but marketed not as such ... you'll save a lot of money.

With Freestyle it pays to order decent quantities to counteract shipping charges etc.

peter_n · 01-13-2010

I have a couple of Alden 74 loaders mainly for use with APX100 and NP1600. I also have Tri-X and XP2 in bulk. Keith is right, the Arista Premium 400 is about 70% of the price of Freestyle's bulk Tri-X but as Mark points out above the Arista Premium 400 cassettes are so cheap you only save about 10 cents/cassette with bulk on that film.