Do you bulk load your own film?

[Chris101]

I don't bulk load, but I'm gonna start. Does the cheap loader from Freestyle work? I have a 100' roll of PanF, but that's not my favorite film. I'd like to shoot real trix for less than $4 for a 36 roll, or Delta 3200 for six or so.

Is this reasonable?

[Godfrey]

not any more.

I don't shoot enough film at this point that it's worth it to buy bulk and do my own spooling. 20 rolls of XP2 Super last me for a year or three.

[Keith]

I wish Fuji still offered 100ft rolls in their popular films ... I could be quite happy with Acros and Neopan and little else. Particularly Neopan ... wonderful film IMO.

I've tried to like HP5+ but it's just OK!

[Thomas78]

I started with a 5 m roll Ilford PAN F (exp 1986) I got for free from my uncle. Now I have a 50" roll of TURA P400 from the 1980s and new 100" Adox CHS50.

I load them by hand, preferably in FILCA casettes but also in used Adox casettes.

By the way, I just bought my first shirely wellard casette.

[kdemas]

I've been doing quite a bit lately. Right now it's TMAX 400 (TMY2) and Acros 100 in the loaders.

[flip]

Originally Posted by Keith

I wish Fuji still offered 100ft rolls in their popular films ... I could be quite happy with Acros and Neopan and little else. Particularly Neopan ... wonderful film IMO.

I've tried to like HP5+ but it's just OK!

I arrived at the same place. I still have most of a HP5 roll, but it's slow going, particularly as I migrated to Rodinal for everything.

I just placed my order for efke 25 and arista tri-x (still have some acros in the freezer, but neopan was just too useful for me not to use it up quickly!)

[useless generation]

I've been bulk loading for a while but lately all my
Films are getting alot more scratches and I can't
Pinpoint weather it's the bulk loader or the film canisters!

[kdemas]

Originally Posted by useless generation

I've been bulk loading for a while but lately all my
Films are getting alot more scratches and I can't
Pinpoint weather it's the bulk loader or the film canisters!

Same here. One of my Watsons seems to be scratching my TMAX. Annoying.

[kokoshawnuff]

Important to keep the felt clean. They can attract dust like crazy...

[Keith]

Bulk loading is in danger IMO. I think when the dust settles and the remaining film manufacturers find their levels to survive in the new world they may lose interest in providing 100ft rolls.

There's already a rather limited range between Freestyle and B&H and the savings aren't really significant any more. By the time I burn up the 700ft of Tr-X I have in the freezer there may be little on offer to replace it!

[kdemas]

Originally Posted by kokoshawnuff

Important to keep the felt clean. They can attract dust like crazy...

I sure try to.

[funkydog]

I'm looking at the bulk loaders from Freestyle.

Arista 35mm Bulk Film Loader - Bobinquick Junior $65.99 (or 75.99 with 20 cartridges)

Legacy Pro Lloyd 35mm Bulk Film Loader $24.99

Any preference/recommendations/opinions/views on build quality, function, reliability, jack in the box tendencies of either one?

[crispy12]

Yes I bulk load all my BW film. Tri-X 30m rolls using a Konica bulk loader.

Previously I used to hand load in a changing bag because I was too cheap to buy a loader, but after trying one I can say that it's the best purchase of my bulk loading life. No scratches so far, takes about 1 minute to load a roll. It's almost the same as the AP bulk loader but apparently has higher factory QC.

[kokoshawnuff]

Originally Posted by funkydog

Any preference/recommendations/opinions/views on build quality, function, reliability, jack in the box tendencies of either one?

I have had good luck with the simple Lloyd.

[RomanV]

I'm using 2 of Arista 35mm Bulk Film Loaders for the last 4 years (and I think something around 20 rolls thru it of them) and I've found them very convenient in use and the quality good also (no scratched films as of now). But use only metal cartridges - plastic are questionable in quality IMO ...

Roman

Originally Posted by funkydog

I'm looking at the bulk loaders from Freestyle.

Arista 35mm Bulk Film Loader - Bobinquick Junior $65.99 (or 75.99 with 20 cartridges)

Legacy Pro Lloyd 35mm Bulk Film Loader $24.99

Any preference/recommendations/opinions/views on build quality, function, reliability, jack in the box tendencies of either one?

[defconfunk]

When I got my developing tanks (used) the seller threw in her old bulk loader (Llyod's, loading door held on with duct tape, but still light tight!) and an unopened 400' can of Plus-X. So I've got 60ish rolls of free film (I've developed a test strip, and it seems good). Yup, bulk loading for me.

[Martytoof]

I just bought a Lloyd loader and 100ft of Kentmere 400 from freestyle.

For me it's not about making economic sense, it's about the freedom to load 10-roll cans so I can switch out film more readily, and so forth.

Really looking forward to it. If I like the process, I might pick up another Lloyds and get some bulk Portra-160 from ultrafine.

[funkydog]

As an update to my previous post, I've since bought the AP/Arista Bobinquick bulk loader. The 20 cassettes included in the box are the same plastic design as Kalt cassettes but with (imo) better felt. The loader works like a charm. Dont lose the crank. It unlocks the light trap or something when inserted. A pencil wont work.
For those who respool 500' rolls to use with the loader, the chamber is about 95mm diameter so a 80-90mm diameter spool should fit nicely. The spindle is about 7mm diameter if you're making a DIY core or rolling the film without a core. FWIW a 80mm wide roll of PolypanF should have way more than 100' because the film is thin.
The loader is compact (11x13x8cm). The only downside I see is the price if one wants to buy four to keep various film types handy.

[Rangefinderfreak]

Originally Posted by Mablo

Hmmm.. those Freestyle price for 100ft cans are lucrative indeed. Unfortunately postage charges and VAT will appr. double the price sent to this side of the pond.

mablo: hehe, both Double-X and RPX-400 and RPX -100 available "from my fridge" RPX 100ft is € 40,- Double X a little higher (negotiable...) no extra. maybe a cup of cofee...

[FrankS]

The only things that bother me about bulk loading are the wasted/exposed section of film at the end of the roll and how that wipes out the last one or two exposures at the end of each roll. This is due to the design of my bulk roller.

[Tom A]

Just finished loading 70+ Nikon Rf cassettes - which also works in Nikon F's ( this was TriX - 4x100 ft) and have started the somewhat sisifysian project of loading 1200 ft of XX in Leica IXMOO cassettes. In the end I will have 212 IXMOO's loaded - this should keep me going during the gloomy part of the North West fall and winter.

[Adanac]

Voted no, but wished there was another poll category:

No, I mostly shoot / shot 120/220 film. Bulk loading wasn't practical.

[Michael Markey]

Originally Posted by FrankS

The only things that bother me about bulk loading are the wasted/exposed section of film at the end of the roll and how that wipes out the last one or two exposures at the end of each roll. This is due to the design of my bulk roller.

Me too Frank.
I`m not convinced that it is cost effective , as often claimed.
There may be other reasons to bulk load such as convenience or the ability to use unusual emulsions of course.

For mainstream film such as TriX or HP5 its cheaper to buy bricks.

[Dylan Hope]

I actually got a bulk loader as well as some other stuff from the guy who gave his enlarger to me (Durst M800 with an almost totally separated Rodenstock 105mm). I've been thinking about bulk loading, but I can't really see the savings justifying the time I'd have to put into it. I'll keep it on hand in case any friends want to try 18 rolls of tri-x for the cost of 16 (imported), but I think we're pretty alright with paying 6-7 bucks more for convenience of 18 pre-loaded canisters.

Maybe the cost savings are significantly cheaper in the states or Europe though, but for us we'd have to buy bulk rolls in bulk to see any real savings

[crispy12]

Originally Posted by Michael Markey

Me too Frank.
I`m not convinced that it is cost effective , as often claimed.
There may be other reasons to bulk load such as convenience or the ability to use unusual emulsions of course.

For mainstream film such as TriX or HP5 its cheaper to buy bricks.

I've only lose half a frame at the end, just be careful when putting the casette in the loader. Unfortunately Freestyle is too expensive to freight to Australia and Asia. Bulk loading is a 50% cost savings for me.