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-   -   Reloadable cassette spools that don't need taping (http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.org.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=13867)

Michael 26th June 2021 08:05 PM

Reloadable cassette spools that don't need taping
 
The spools in four of my modern reloadable cassettes have little plastic wedges that allow you to secure the film to them without tape. You cut a tongue, push it through and double it back: the wedge tightens and holds the film securely, allowing you to free it easily when unloading.

Does anyone know what make those are and whether they're still sold? They came to me unbranded and I've forgotten who supplied them.

John King 26th June 2021 08:30 PM

Cutting a Tongue
 
I would be intrigued to know how you accurately manage to cut a tongue in film when you work in total darkness.

I have about a dozen and a half, mostly metal with the slot, but the plastic ones also have the same type of slot but they need the tongue to be pierced in 3 places to hold the film. I have always used waterproof adhesive tape that is used in processing labs when they hang film by the trailing end into the developer. I would think they would be far easier to use than cutting a tongue. I have never had a film come loose after a bulk load.

Keith Haithwa 27th June 2021 07:08 AM

Michael, I have five of these cassettes and like you I have forgotten where I got them. However, I abandoned this method of loading them because a) you need extra film poking out out of the loader to enable the cutting, inserting and wedging process to be carried out and b) if the tongue shape isn't cut smoothly I found out the hard way that the film can tear easily and come off the spool and finally c) it just took so long to load so I resorted to using tape as John alluded to.

Nat Polton 27th June 2021 08:20 AM

4 Attachment(s)
If the tongue shape is a simple wedge, then the gadget that I made a week ago may be of interest.
Made for my Shirley Wellard casettes.
Simply made from bits of scrap wood, glass papered and glued together.
No rocket science involved.
The construction is mostly self explanatory.

One piece has the hole drilled before gluing.
Two pieces of film placed between top and bottom when gluing together to give clearance in the finished article.
Captive piece of dowel to hold the film in position when cutting the film.
All roughly sawn to shape, then trimmed with an electric sander.

The film slides into the chamfered slot, and the dowel button is pressed with the thumb, thereby clamping the film in position.

Scissors are placed against each side of the block in turn and the wedge shape is cut.

The wedge can be left long or cut short to suit your situation.

Loosen your thumb pressure on the button and slide the film back out.
VOILA!
( Why do magicians always call their rabbit Voila?


http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.or...1&d=1624781703

http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.or...1&d=1624781703

http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.or...1&d=1624781703

http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.or...1&d=1624781703



Cheers.

Michael 27th June 2021 08:41 AM

Keith, as I load Leica cassettes more often than these modern ones, I'm used to having to waste a frame or so of film to marry it to the cassette spools. You will see that Nat's template, which is clearly effective, actually needs more than one frame. With small scissors I am able to cut a rounded tongue with a reliable shape.

Nat, I really like your design. The firm Deutgen made a cutter called the Durania, which made a tongue suitable for Leica cassettes (their loader, the Füllfix, opens and closes both FILCA and IXMOO types very well). The generic German name for such cutters is "Filmknips", which you can google; and I'm looking out for one of those.

I said nothing in my first post about trying to cut a tongue in the dark. It never occurred to me that anyone could think I meant that.

Nat Polton 27th June 2021 10:12 AM

1 Attachment(s)
Michael.
You mentioned the tail covering more than one frame.
It can be any length you want when you cut the thing to its final shape.

Cheers.

http://www.film-and-darkroom-user.or...1&d=1624788700

MikeHeller 27th June 2021 10:18 AM

I also have plastic reloadable cassettes with the small plastic wedge but have never tried cutting the necessary shape and use tape. Nat's cutter guide might be the way to go.

If I made one, I am sure that it wouldn't be as aesthetically pleasing and neatly finished as the one pictured but as with most of my DIY work - large or small - it may not look good but usually does the job.


Mike

Nat Polton 27th June 2021 10:46 AM

Mike, it is only later in life that I have managed to assemble a reasonable set of tools around me, thanks to cheap foreign imports. Most of my jobs over the years have been rough looking but functional.
Always had more important and pressing things to spend the wages on to keep my head above water. Same with most people I think.

Cheers.

alexmuir 28th June 2021 12:04 PM

I have some plastic cassettes with the wedge. I think the maker of mine is Barfen.
Alex


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Michael 28th June 2021 03:15 PM

Thank you for that, Alex: I'll follow it up.


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