How to load a minox cassette with home slit film?

Hi everyone,

I have built my film slitter and it "appears" to work great. The slit film ends up in a 35mm cassette ready to be loaded.

Next problem is loading the "eeny-weeny" minox cassette how does everyone go about this?

From cutting the film to the right length to attaching the film to the spool and finally loading etc.

It seems very fiddly.

Kind regards

Steve

Step 1:

Use an old minox 36exp roll to measure length, if you want to get techy then get a board with indents that show you teh cutting range for different exposures or a guillotine type assembly as I've seen some minox users utilise.

Step 2:

Darkroom / cupboard etc

Wear cotton gloves, (can be gotten from chemist), Tightly spool the cut strip between thumb and forefinger of one hand and wrapping with the other, place this into the spool-less side of the snap lid cassette you have waiting threading the loose end 0.5inch-ish into the felt light trap so that it protrudes toward the other spool, snap the lid on, turn on the lights, stop sweating, have a cuppa etc, (it gets easier and less panic stricken each time)

Step 3:

In the light, unsnap the spool side, tape the loose end of the film to the spool with scotch tape, (I use this for all my bulk load, it sticks well and removes easily and cleanly), thread the film through the felt trap again and replace the snap on lid, done.

Load into the camera and enjoy.

n.b. if this is a new slitter i'd heartily recommend sacrificing a strip by dragging it through by hand after step 2, this ensures that it rolls through evenly and cleanly, my first home made slitter didn't and jammed on me halfway through a roll whilst out.

this is a really great resource:

http://www.kcbx.net/~mhd/2photo/slitter/slit.htm

Thanks Mike for the detailed description that all makes perfect sense I will give it a go - seems quite straight forward the way you have described it.

Thanks Mark for the link it is very useful.

All the Best

Steve

http://www.photo.net/minox-camera-forum/003HBL

http://www.photo.net/minox-camera-forum/003HCD

http://www.photo.net/minox-camera-forum/003HCE

http://www.photo.net/minox-camera-forum/003HBM

Thanks Martin, crikey they are 10 years old and still current.

I have ran into a slight technical hitch with the slitter in that it is cutting the film at 8.4mm which is a bit odd at the spacers are 9mm and the blades measure 0.1mm!!?? So I think I will make the spacers out of aluminium instead of plastic.

Thanks again

Steve