Film black and white film

how do you know how much film to use when you use the bulk loader. Is there a counter/indicator. And how do you cut off the amount you need? Does the machine do all of that? or you need scissors and have to count per inch rolled etc?
 
I've been using Cinestill's Monobath for B&W because it's easy, no stop or fixer, one step. It works great but has a shelf life. I have definitely thought about Rodinal and now that I've done color the stop and fixer don't seem such a daunting addition.
 
how do you know how much film to use when you use the bulk loader. Is there a counter/indicator. And how do you cut off the amount you need? Does the machine do all of that? or you need scissors and have to count per inch rolled etc?
Depends on the loader. The Watson does all of that. Do a search for Watson Film Loader instructions, they're out there on the interwebs.
 
I've been using Cinestill's Monobath for B&W because it's easy, no stop or fixer, one step. It works great but has a shelf life. I have definitely thought about Rodinal and now that I've done color the stop and fixer don't seem such a daunting addition.
I've never used a chemical for stop, I just pour out the developer and fill it with water and let stand for 45 seconds or so. And fixer is super easy, and reusable for a long time. DF96 monobath is pretty decent but you're right that it has very limited shelf life once you start using it.
 
Andrew how much did you pay for the bulk film. It's looking like $1/ft, 100 ft is $100 am I correct? And how many feet is 24 exp or 36 exp?
 
Andrew how much did you pay for the bulk film. It's looking like $1/ft, 100 ft is $100 am I correct? And how many feet is 24 exp or 36 exp?
Depends on the film; anything Ilford will be at least $100, but you can get Foma, Arista and Kentmere stuff around $50 a roll. This is B&W - color film is dreadfully expensive and out of stock everywhere right now, by the way - color is seeing the worst of the combined forces of increasing film interest and shortages in manufacturing.
 
update I got the watson bulk film loader. I didn't get the film yet. I want something to practise with loading the bulk loader. What suggestions are out there? I'm thinking of painter's tape, the green one. The 1" length. I also thought about a flat ribbon I can pick up just to try loading it. I don't want to mess up film trying to load it. I also found out about a film changing bag. $15 on ebay. Is that a useful item? I might call a few camera stores and see if they would load the "loader" for me. I wouldn't spend more than $20 for the service.
 
update I got the watson bulk film loader. I didn't get the film yet. I want something to practise with loading the bulk loader. What suggestions are out there? I'm thinking of painter's tape, the green one. The 1" length. I also thought about a flat ribbon I can pick up just to try loading it. I don't want to mess up film trying to load it. I also found out about a film changing bag. $15 on ebay. Is that a useful item? I might call a few camera stores and see if they would load the "loader" for me. I wouldn't spend more than $20 for the service.
Get the bag.

You will also need it if you start developing your own. You need pitch black, to the point that if you can see your hand in front of your face, or even a sliver of light, you risk ruining the film.

Get the bag.

There should be no need to practice, it's pretty straight forward. There is need to practice getting film on the reel if you ever start developing.

Get the bag.

Did I mention the bag is a good idea?
 
I'll get the bag thanks. I'm not going to develop. I'll drop off my canisters, which are reloadable and they are going to mail the negatives to me. Then I scan at home from the strip to digital 20 megapixels. When my scanner arrives : )

Not the film on the reel. Loading the 100ft of bulk film in the film loader. I think you misinterpreted that part
 
I'll get the bag thanks. I'm not going to develop. I'll drop off my canisters, which are reloadable and they are going to mail the negatives to me. Then I scan at home from the strip to digital 20 megapixels. When my scanner arrives : )

Not the film on the reel. Loading the 100ft of bulk film in the film loader. I think you misinterpreted that part
No, I get it. I suppose it depends on how much they charge and how often they need to do it. I would just get the bag.

Oh, and I'll eat my hat if you don't get the bug to develop within a year. Just sayin'...
 
spoken from someone who's been down this road before In all seriousness I don't have the room/space for a small set up at all. 100 ft of Monochrome film, should last me a long time. I'm mostly a digital shooter. Film will just be for fun ;)
 
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now I comprende, have a good night. I actually if I wanted to can't develop anything that I shoot on film. - 1 space to store the chemicals, dedicate a "room" stop bath, rinse.. My part of the hobby is to bulk roll shoot some film and split the work load between the store and I.

but I get to take all the images. :)

thanks,
 
now I comprende, have a good night. I actually if I wanted to can't develop anything that I shoot on film. - 1 space to store the chemicals, dedicate a "room" stop bath, rinse.. My part of the hobby is to bulk roll shoot some film and split the work load between the store and I.

but I get to take all the images. :)

thanks,
Actually, if you invested in the Lab-Box developer you can avoid the darkroom entirely. It's not that much more expensive than acquiring all the tank, reels, jugs etc. and the videos I've seen seem fairly straightforward.
 
now I comprende, have a good night. I actually if I wanted to can't develop anything that I shoot on film. - 1 space to store the chemicals, dedicate a "room" stop bath, rinse.. My part of the hobby is to bulk roll shoot some film and split the work load between the store and I.

but I get to take all the images. :)

thanks,
The biggest space needed for developing film is often the dust free space to dry it after developing.
I ended up getting a Kodak drying cabinet for 24 exposure rolls to keep the dust off.
Unless you have a filtered darkroom, you still need a dust free cabinet for drying the film, good wetting agent helps though.

But before that I used a thin wooden cabinet. Drying the film in the open especially if you have pets or dust in the air leads to very poor negs to use. No dust removal if you use an enlarger
 
All you need is the bag, some basic mixing stuff, the developing tank and some one step developer like Monobath. My entire 'darkroom' fits in a 14" long x 6" high tub. I develop at the kitchen sink.

I made a dust-free drying cabinet out of a piece of cheap blue tarp and 2 scraps of plywood for ends. There are holes in the plywood for air flow. I use cut up furnace filter to keep the dust out. It collapses flat into another small tub.
 
Thanks for all the developing tips. Lolz. I have done an experiment with the watson bulk loader. I can't seem to find a manual anywhere for my model. I did find one for the 100 series. My question now is, what is the proper orientation of the bulk film. The 100 footer. I have some pics I took using ribbon from the dollar store just to get the orientation right.

Thanks in advance

Did I get the bulk film orientation right?
IMG_0165-2.JPGIMG_0166-2.JPGIMG_0167-2.JPGIMG_0170.jpg
 
Thanks for all the developing tips. Lolz. I have done an experiment with the watson bulk loader. I can't seem to find a manual anywhere for my model. I did find one for the 100 series. My question now is, what is the proper orientation of the bulk film. The 100 footer. I have some pics I took using ribbon from the dollar store just to get the orientation right.

Thanks in advance

Did I get the bulk film orientation right?
View attachment 286603View attachment 286604View attachment 286605View attachment 286607
What model is it? that looks to be identical to the 100 on the inside, I am betting the instructions are the same. It can't be all that much different.
 
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