Can you load bare 35mm spools from a bulk loader in the dark, and how do you label the cassettes?

Can you load bare 35mm spools from a bulk loader in the dark, and then put them in the cassettes, and how do you label the cassettes?

I load 35 mm bulk into cassettes with bare hands in total darkness. I need to get out after every third load or so.

 

I don't have a bulk loader.

 

I don't have life either, apparently :D

You can, but that would be a royal PiA.

You are already opening the cassette, to take out the spool, so do it right.

 

As for labeling, nothing fancy.

A Sharpie or pen on masking tape will get the job done.

If you want to get fancy, get colored labels and use a different color for each type of film.

Example yellow for ISO 100 film, and green for ISO 400 film.

When I used long rolls of film I loaded them into old school reusable cassettes inside my changing bag. No bulk loader involved. Who needs it? If you have a real(!) darkroom you could find ways to precisely measure desired film lengths by hand.

IDK how much labeling you might need? Do your cameras depend on DX coded cassettes? I think bulk rolls of APX 25 came with tiny printed labels "APX 25" if you like such and feel challenged to decipher your scribbling: There are paper stickers for sale that you could use with your type writer. For my needs color coding, as established by Ilford, would be enough. I'd stick a snippet of green tape on my 400, blue on 100 and red (lacking an orange option) on slower.

 

How many different films are you going to buy and handle? - I recommend sticking to one brand for a speed. It doesn't matter much what you'll pick the important part is getting used to it and that takes quite a while.

You can, but that would be a royal PiA.

You are already opening the cassette, to take out the spool, so do it right.

 

As for labeling, nothing fancy.

A Sharpie or pen on masking tape will get the job done.

If you want to get fancy, get colored labels and use a different color for each type of film.

Example yellow for ISO 100 film, and green for ISO 400 film.

 

And DX stickers :D

I think I tried the bare spool in a bulk loader in a changing bag.

 

For one, it avoids scratching if the cassette seal isn't so good.

 

It is slightly tricky, in that you have to keep your hand on the spool handle so it doesn't unspool while you are taking it out.

 

In early years, my favorite was to put the camera in the changing bag, shoot off the appropriate number of shots, tape to the spool, and rewind.

 

But bulk loaders aren't hard to find for low prices used, so I now do it that way.

 

In an actual darkroom, I put two pieces of tape on the door the right distance apart, taped one end to the top, cut at the bottom tape, taped to the spool, and rolled up.

I think I tried the bare spool in a bulk loader in a changing bag.

 

For one, it avoids scratching if the cassette seal isn't so good.

 

It is slightly tricky, in that you have to keep your hand on the spool handle so it doesn't unspool while you are taking it out.

 

In early years, my favorite was to put the camera in the changing bag, shoot off the appropriate number of shots, tape to the spool, and rewind.

 

But bulk loaders aren't hard to find for low prices used, so I now do it that way.

 

In an actual darkroom, I put two pieces of tape on the door the right distance apart, taped one end to the top, cut at the bottom tape, taped to the spool, and rolled up.

Using the camera, actually sounds really clever.

Using the camera, actually sounds really clever.

 

And if you are not REAL CAREFUL, you will put your finger through the shutter curtain, and wreck the camera.

When I used long rolls of film I loaded them into old school reusable cassettes inside my changing bag. No bulk loader involved. Who needs it? If you have a real(!) darkroom you could find ways to precisely measure desired film lengths by hand.

IDK how much labeling you might need? Do your cameras depend on DX coded cassettes? I think bulk rolls of APX 25 came with tiny printed labels "APX 25" if you like such and feel challenged to decipher your scribbling: There are paper stickers for sale that you could use with your type writer. For my needs color coding, as established by Ilford, would be enough. I'd stick a snippet of green tape on my 400, blue on 100 and red (lacking an orange option) on slower.

 

How many different films are you going to buy and handle? - I recommend sticking to one brand for a speed. It doesn't matter much what you'll pick the important part is getting used to it and that takes quite a while.

Just text information, as the only DX cameras I have are point and shoots.

. . .

For one, it avoids scratching if the cassette seal isn't so good.

. . .

 

 

If the seal is not good, the cassette should be trashed and replaced with one with a good/clean seal.

Using the camera will pull the film out, then rewinding will pull it back in.

Two passes through the light seal.

A company called 'Shirley-Wellard' made reloadable cassettes that had no felt trap. Instead the cassette had a rotating light trap that could be operated with the rewind knob of the camera, or by the winding handle of a bulk-loader.

 

See this thread.

 

Such cassettes were also made by Leitz, Nikon and Contax, but only worked in their respective cameras.

 

I used Nikon reloadable cassettes with an F2. They worked extremely well and were practically foolproof. The Shirley-Wellard cassette would work in almost any camera with a manual rewind knob/crank, but you had to develop the knack of using it, and remember to close the light trap before opening the camera.

 

I haven't seen an S-W cassette on sale for years, but maybe something similar is still out there?

Edited April 25, 2018 by rodeo_joe|1

I use Leica and Contax cassettes. Bulk loader is handy because much bulk film now sold does not come in cans. With bulk loader not necessary to load complete roll and can also avoid mishaps. I have a Leitz winder but not as handy as a bulk loader in changing bag.

I stopped using film about ten years ago, but I routinely reloaded 35mm film cassettes for almost 40 years. Not a big deal in any way. I used a daylight bulk loader - far more convenient that trying to do it while fumbling in the dark. (Incidentally, I also shot a lot of 4x5 - reloading holders in the dark is really fumbly!).

 

I only used one emulsion, so labeling wasn't a serious issue for me. That said, I did wrap a short length of colored tape over the cap on the plastic cassette container to indicate that the film was unexposed; when I completed the roll in the field, I reapplied that tape but wrapped it around the outside of the container rather than over the cap to show that it was exposed. And I was equipped with multiple colors of tape so that I had the ability to color code different emulsions if that had been an issue.

 

Some people (not me) have cameras that rely on DX coding on the cassette to tell the camera the film speed. It was (may still be - I no longer need to know) possible to buy labels to stick on the cassette that were preprinted with DX coding.

 

I chose to bulk-load film for economic reasons, but there was a secondary consideration - I store negatives in plastic sleeves, and each sleeve holds exactly 35 frames - not the standard 36 on factory-loaded rolls. So I was able to tailor my bulk loads to match the storage sleeves I used.

And if you are not REAL CAREFUL, you will put your finger through the shutter curtain, and wreck the camera.

Unless you use a camera that doesn't use a curtain shutter.

In re: the OP, why would you want to do that? Bulk loaders are cheap. A rewinder crank, cotton gloves would likely cost more. If you must do it, bolt a stationary clamp to a table at one end and a brass upholstery nail at the other, scissors and have at it. As previously mentioned, Leica, Nikon and probably others made specialized cartridges - I tried them a few times (didn't gain anything) then went back to the bulk reloader. Whatever turns your crank - pun intended.

"...specialized cartridges - I tried them a few times (didn't gain anything) then went back to the bulk reloader."

 

Most of the bulk loaders I've come across have a little 'cam' for want of a better word; designed to catch the pin(s) on those cassettes to enable opening and closing them.

 

Those labyrinth light-trap cassettes were meant to be used in conjunction with a bulk loader, not instead of one.

 

I remember that 'Watson' and 'Fulfix' bulk loaders certainly both had the mechanism to operate a labyrinth cassette. Although the Fulfix itself used a thick felt light-trap, which kind of defeated the object.

Edited April 28, 2018 by rodeo_joe|1

If the seal is not good, the cassette should be trashed and replaced with one with a good/clean seal.

Using the camera will pull the film out, then rewinding will pull it back in.

Two passes through the light seal.

 

In a camera, the film is pulled pretty straight out of the cassette.

 

I am not so sure that it goes straight in in the bulk loader, so that is why I consider it more of a scratch problem.

I've used bulk loaders for over 50 years and never had a problem. Periodically I'd check the felt to ensure there wasn't any dust/particles trapped there. As far as labeling cassettes, I simply have a series of small file labels which I batch prepare and print from my PC, and then stick on the cartrige...they peel right off when I've developed the roll.