Bulk Film Loader help

RaglanSurf

RaglanSurf

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I have acquired a Watson bulk film loader, of course I have no instructions but have surfed t'interweb and think I've got it sorted but the guides suggest that there should be a spindle that fits in the centre of the bulk film roll, this I don't have.

Is this imperative? Or will the roll of HP5 I have need one or will it have a spindle in the centre anyway?

It's probably 20 years since I used one of these and can't remember whether my old one had a spindle or not.

The last thing I want to do is waste 17m meters of film
 
You need the spindle - the roll won't have one in it. If you're in a darkroom then you can load film onto an empty cassette quite easily without the film loader - number of frames will be a bit hit & miss! I've done it many times in a changing bag.
 
Darkroom said:
You need the spindle - the roll won't have one in it. If you're in a darkroom then you can load film onto an empty cassette quite easily without the film loader - number of frames will be a bit hit & miss! I've done it many times in a changing bag.
Click to expand...

Damn:bang: What happens if I don't use a spindle, will it just flop around in the loader and scratch the film?
 
It will flop around so you might/probably get some scratches. you could always bodge something up to take it's place.

Here's a link for the actual Watson instructions.

You can see the spindle in it to give you an idea of what you need.
 
Darkroom said:
It will flop around so you might/probably get some scratches. you could always bodge something up to take it's place.

Here's a link for the actual Watson instructions.

You can see the spindle in it to give you an idea of what you need.
Click to expand...

I'm happy to bodge something but I need to know sizes, has anyone got one they could measure for me?
 
RaglanSurf said:
I have acquired a Watson bulk film loader, of course I have no instructions but have surfed t'interweb and think I've got it sorted but the guides suggest that there should be a spindle that fits in the centre of the bulk film roll, this I don't have.

Is this imperative? Or will the roll of HP5 I have need one or will it have a spindle in the centre anyway?

It's probably 20 years since I used one of these and can't remember whether my old one had a spindle or not.

The last thing I want to do is waste 17m meters of film
Click to expand...

Follow the instructions for loading carefully, I forgot how to use mine and got this:-

70-210macro-1.jpg
 
I've just had a quick look for mine but it's been so long I don't know where it is or even if I still have it. Maybe someone else can.

You've got everything you need for the measurements:

Height - measure inside the loader film chamber, it just goes from one side to the other. The inner spindle bits - again nothing critical, it just needs to trap in the locating holes in the chamber.

Outside diameter of spindle - open up film roll in a darkroom and draw through the centre to get rough measurement. IIRC the roll won't unravel as it's free end is taped shut.
 
Last edited:
***Looks like you forgot to open the light trap!***

Indeed.
 
Thanks for all the help and advice, I've bitten the bullet and loaded the film and it seems that HP5 only has a narrow hole so the small spindle fits very well.

Unfortunately, despite reading Brian's post about forgetting to open the light trap, I managed to do just that:bang:

I did realise halfway through and it'll be just used as a test roll so shouldn't be too disastrous :bonk:
 
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