Filmwasters
Which Board? => Main Forum => : Jack Johnson July 03, 2012, 03:35:25 AM
-
Thanks! But you broke me. I read Bulk film loading for economy (http://darkroomuser.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/bulk-film-loading-for-economy/) yesterday and Suzi made me recall wanting to try Polypan F (http://www.lumiere-shop.de/index.php?page=categorie&cat=79&sorting=price) but what the heck do you do with 90m (or 152m!) of film? Do you have to "decant" it to a 100' roll for a standard bulk loader?
I see Andrea and Mr. Windy are Polypan F shooters. Any tips? I did see I can pick up a new Lloyd-type bulk loader (http://www.porters.com/lloyd-type-35mm-film-bulk-loader.html) for about $25 USD. Doubt I can find a used Watson anywhere local.
Also kind of scary that I might be able to get 90m of Polypan F from Wiehl, Germany for the nearly the same price as 100' of FP4+ from New York. Even FP4+ in bulk at modern prices is less than half the cost per roll of boxed locally, so I should definitely go bulk for my 35mm monochrome. And who wouldn't like to shoot more FP4+?
-
Jack - I've split this post from the Ed Buziak thread as I think it will get missed there ... I think you're more likely to get your Qs answered this way. Hope you don't mind.
-
Yes, I decant onto an old reel and insert that into the bulk loader.
-
Thanks Leon and Mr. Windy!
How big is a 90m spool? Something you could (or do) handle in a dark bag, or significantly larger?
-
Ah, Mr Johnson. May I call you Jack?
The reel of 90m is too big for a bulk loader but not huge. The film base is much thinner than fp4 for example. As Mr Windy does, I roll off 30m or so - - I guess the length - in a dark bag as you suggest then insert that into the loader. Voila!
Be minded that this lovely film has no halation layer so can 'bloom' in very bright sunshine - but Mr Windy and I don't have too many issues with up here on our island homes. Develop in Rodinal is my suggestion. 1:100 for an hour-ish when when shot in bright light, and I go 1:50 for 21 min otherwise.
Hope that helps
-
Ah, Mr Johnson. May I call you Jack?
Absolutely.
Hope that helps
Absolutely! :) Thanks!
-
Thanks Leon and Mr. Windy!
How big is a 90m spool? Something you could (or do) handle in a dark bag, or significantly larger?
Yes, I do it in a dark bag and 'guesstimate' - bit fiddly but do-able
-
Just picked up a dusty but functional Watson for $12 USD at lunch!
Probably not as cheap as elsewhere, but figure $3 USD in a garage sale in Texas plus $9 shipping and handling to Alaska....
-
I too have split a 90m roll of PPF into something small to fit in my 30m Watson Bulk Loader. Did it in complete darkness (bathroom darkroom) and measured the smaller spool I had rolled of the main spool against the diameter of the bulk loader as I did it leaving about 1cm gap. Worked great.
As PPF is rather thin I reckon I have probably got about 45m of film in my bulk loader. I am having nice results with Rodinal 1:100 too for around an hour at roughly 20 degrees C, or if I cant wait then I use 1:50 for about 18 mins.
-
Yay! My bulk loader arrived today with some reels and 25ft of film via an ebay seller, but where would be the best place to pick up bulk film apart from ebay I don't see any other place selling it?
-
Prices on Amazon seem to be reasonable. I have a few random rolls hiding in my wish list, but I think I've convinced myself to buy a roll of Kentmere 100, burn through that, then try a roll of Polypan F.
-
Cheers Jack I'll check it out!