By no means Say By no means – My Strategy to Spiral Modification for 110 Movie

After my first, latest expertise of the 110 format I concluded that I wasn’t received over to the it regardless of the digicam being so good to make use of. In actual fact, it made me extra than I anticipated after subsequently studying and re-reading numerous articles on the topic right here and elsewhere. Bob Janes’ posts (comparable to this one) and others sparked my curiosity, particularly relating to fabricating 110 reels for movie improvement.

They jogged my memory that I had an orphan half of a improvement tank spiral that got here from some forgotten supply and which is nearly an identical to the Paterson System 4 spiral I exploit commonly. The interior core half of my System 4 spiral suits into it dimensionally, solely the mating grooves have totally different mouldings on the finish which forestall the 2 components from sliding collectively. It’s marked ‘Paterson’ although so might be from one among their three earlier programs. It set me questioning if I may modify it to permit me to develop the 16mm broad 110 movies myself and discover the format a bit additional.

The surgical procedure

I actually wanted it to suit with out requiring any modification to my solitary System 4 spiral in order that I may proceed to make use of the latter for bigger movie sizes. I used to be pleased to chop down the orphaned half spiral to suit the movie, nonetheless, which I did with the assistance of a razor noticed. The surgical procedure on the orphan half eliminated the projecting mouldings that had been stopping mating and allowed it to slide snuggly over the System 4 half. The spiral grooves are about 2mm deep so I lower the core all the way down to 13mm to provide a 1mm tolerance to the match of the movie.

One other lucky coincidence was that the interior System 4 half is the one which rotates forwards and backwards for loading so I felt that holding them along with the loading slots and ball-bearings in alignment ought to hold this perform working. Testing with a developed movie confirmed that it was and the grooves and ball bearings all labored properly collectively. So when you’ve got the selection, lower down the outer core half to retain this characteristic.

Placing it collectively

You probably have a spare spiral pair to dedicate to the job you may now repair them collectively completely. Gluing the 2 haves collectively can be a easy process with a spot filling adhesive like one of many Gorilla merchandise. Job completed.

My want was for a non-permanent answer, nonetheless, and my first thought for holding the 2 halves collectively was a useless finish. I deliberate to make use of an O-ring however I couldn’t discover one the proper measurement.

Then I got here throughout a 32mm Pop-up Waste washer whereas shopping the native DIY retailer plumbing part, a cosy match to the diameter of the interior, System 4 core. The form of the rubbery materials grips properly too, holding issues in place properly and the 5-year guarantee suggests it will deal with the chemical substances. I feel inversion can be dangerous with this set-up although, the repeated sloshing and knocking would possibly work it aside and permit the movie to come back out of the spiral.

My subsequent choice was a small jubilee clip, giving a optimistic, safe fixing and being comprised of stainless-steel would survive the chemical surroundings. It also needs to be robust sufficient for inversion agitation when required nevertheless it didn’t maintain the 2 spiral halves in alignment to assist with loading.

In the long run I used the washer and the jubilee clip collectively which gave me optimistic alignment of the loading association in addition to safe connection between the 2 spiral sections for inversion agitation, which I’d must be examined out in fact.

So with the arrival of some extra movie I used to be set to strive growing C41 in Rodinal, one thing I felt would go well with the format, to reap the benefits of the positive grain of C41 movie, and be economical too to take a seat properly with my Yorkshire up-bringing.

The proof of the pudding

After capturing off a Lomography Tiger color print movie, I teased out the tip of the movie and backing paper able to load the spiral at midnight. This went surprisingly easily, pulling the backing paper brings the tip of the movie out sufficient to grip it and pull each out absolutely. Connections between movie, backing and reel are usually not tightly secured so mild tugs simply free issues. As soon as I had managed to manage the madly curling strip of movie, the ball-bearing loading mechanism labored properly and the movie slid easily into the grooves.

I used “tri-stand” improvement (i.e. three agitations – 30 sec. at the beginning plus two extra for five secs. 20 minutes aside) to possibly increase distinction a bit to assist overcome the bottom color. Improvement was in 1:100 Rodinal for 1 hour at 20ºC after a 2 minute pre-soak. Not having examined out inversion I agitated with the rod.

After fixing, once more agitating with the rod, I used inversion for the Ilford fashion wash stage which left the spiral firmly in place. So inversion must be protected for the opposite levels too.

The curling eased out after processing and drying I’m happy to say leaving the movie properly flat.

Conclusion

I haven’t seen this association proposed elsewhere however there’s nothing new underneath the solar as they are saying. It does present one other, mechanical solution to convert spirals with out connecting them completely for infrequent use if that’s what you want like me. And, aside from needing some care when reducing down the spiral, can be simple to do and will be taken aside once more after use.

Among the outcomes weren’t too dangerous although the grain was much less positive than anticipated, noticeably within the thinner negatives. I’ve all the time discovered that publicity on the beneficiant facet all the time advantages color unfavourable emulsions anyway. There was some tramline scratching in locations suggesting drawing the movie out via the gate could be the trigger in order that wants . And I nonetheless have to work on improvement instances and publicity a bit extra, distinction was a bit too heavy, so it appears to be like just like the 460 Tx will likely be getting a bit extra motion earlier than anticipated.