8mm Forum: Super 8 Home Movie Film on Polyester?

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Topic: Super 8 Home Movie Film on Polyester?

Will Trenfield
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 506
From: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
Registered: Mar 2016

posted December 10, 2017 04:58 PM

Sorry if this is a naff question. I recently acquired a home movie on a 3" reel. The plain leader seemed to be attached with film cement but, when I tried to cement a tail to the end, it wouldn't work. There's no manufacturer's name anywhere on the film or spool and the edges of the film are black. This holiday movie seems to have been shot in Florida. Was polyester based home movie film available in the USA? If so, what film cement was used?

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Nantawat Kittiwarakul
Master Film Handler

Posts: 280
From: Rajburana, Bangkok, Thailand
Registered: Aug 2017

posted December 11, 2017 04:04 AM

Fuji Single8 film?
It's dimensionally identical to usual Super8,but the base is probably poly. Another telltale would be that if you shine the light through it,poly will be more "transparent" compared to ordinary celluloid. Hope this helps. [Smile]

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Just a lone collector from a faraway land...

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Brian Fretwell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1785
From: London, UK
Registered: Jun 2014

posted December 11, 2017 05:39 AM

The lab may have used a type of welder (ultrasonic?) to attach the leader as I believe that was possible or superglue, which I read somewhere was developed to splice polyester film. In the UK Dixons Prinzcolor film could be polyester, I don't know who manufactured it.

The only Fuji Single 8 spool of home movie film I have seen was on a smaller than 3inch reel.

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Will Trenfield
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 506
From: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
Registered: Mar 2016

posted December 11, 2017 12:29 PM

Thanks for the replies. It sounds like it could be Fuji film. The leader is fractionally wider than the film. I didn't know about the use of superglue. You learn something all the time on this forum.

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted December 12, 2017 11:25 AM

Fuji single 8 stock was polyester based with a possible maximum length of 40ft.
A 3" spool would normally accommodate 50ft of Kodak, or similar, stock.
Dixons Prinz Color was made in Italy by Ferrania and had a cellulose acetate base.

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Maurice

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Will Trenfield
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 506
From: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
Registered: Mar 2016

posted December 19, 2017 06:02 PM

Brian mentioned the use of super glue to join polyester film. I had a film breakage tonight at the start of a commercial release on polyester so I thought I'd try it out. I used my cement splicer but carefully applied a small drop of Locktite Super Glue as you'd do with a acetate cement splice. No problem! It made a good strong joint in seconds. Best to wear gloves though.

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Phil Murat
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 671
From: Villeneuve St Georges, France
Registered: Dec 2015

posted December 20, 2017 04:15 AM

Hi Will,

Very interesting solution described here.

I have been thinking about the way to perform polyester splices using Cyanolit glue. To do that , I am thinking about the way to modify a former classical splicer (for Acetate Films) by adding a PTFE tape on guides to prevent from unwanted film sticking on splicer parts due to little glue overflow.

Of course just a very small drop of glue is necessary.

Cyanolit Glue is 100% compatible with Polyester material.

To follow......

That could be an interesting Topic to add in the list I assume.

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted December 20, 2017 04:40 AM

It does seem rather dangerous to use super glue. It will stick most things to most things, such as fingers. [Smile]

Perhaps better to use tape.

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Maurice

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Alexander Vandeputte
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 243
From: Belgium
Registered: Nov 2009

posted December 20, 2017 11:13 AM

Please use tape, as tiny glue particles can (will ?) get stuck in the gate and can (will?) cause scratches and lines...

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Will Trenfield
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 506
From: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
Registered: Mar 2016

posted December 20, 2017 05:59 PM

I wasn't advocating the use of super glue, only reporting that it will bond polyester film. I wore cotton gloves and only used a tiny drop on the film. Obviously, if too much were to be used, it could overflow onto the splicer as Phil's post indicates. What's needed is a safer glue that will bond polyester in seconds but not adhere to metal well.

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Phil Murat
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 671
From: Villeneuve St Georges, France
Registered: Dec 2015

posted December 22, 2017 10:24 AM

Hi Will,

Cyanoacrilate glue is fluid such as water and sticks almost instantly and almost every material apart polyethilen , PTFE.....

Under special cares this is a great material to use.

I'll make test(s) with a former (modified) motorized Hahnel splicer and a magnifying glass.

Merry Christmas and Best Wishes

Phil

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Will Trenfield
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 506
From: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
Registered: Mar 2016

posted December 22, 2017 04:12 PM

I see. The use of PTFE tape would prevent the film sticking to the splicer if too much super glue were to be used. I wonder, though, what adhesive is used for splicing tape which would be safer to use. Does anybody know? Compliments de la saison et un bon 2018!

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