8mm Forum: Best way to re-shape reels?

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Topic: Best way to re-shape reels?

Ron Douglas
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 166
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012

posted May 17, 2014 05:01 AM

With a pile of 400' reels needing re-shaped, I'd love to hear any suggestions as to the best way to do this.
I've been told they are best re-shaped by soaking them in boiling water to soften the plastic enough to be slightly plyable, then insert polystyrene in to the space to re-set their shape.
These reels have been under some considerable weight for quite some time, but don't appear brittle. Tips and tried methods would be very welcomed.

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Ron

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Ernie Zahn
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 540
From: Greenwich, CT, USA
Registered: Oct 2004

posted May 17, 2014 08:39 AM

I've re-shaped them without the boiling but it took a long time. I bet the boiling will put the process on a more practical time table. And disinfect them!

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Check out the trailer for my feature length Spaghetti-style Western:

Six and Bisti

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Ron Douglas
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 166
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012

posted May 17, 2014 08:56 AM

Hi Ernie, how did you re-shape yours and how successful did you find it?

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Ron

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Janice Glesser
Film Goddess

Posts: 3468
From: Sunnyvale, CA USA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted May 17, 2014 12:25 PM

For minor adjustments I've used a hairdryer [Smile]

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Janice

"I'm having a very good day!"
Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).

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Jason Gronn
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 237
From: Boyne Island, Queensland, Australia
Registered: Sep 2013

posted May 17, 2014 05:11 PM

I did a couple reels a while back by putting spacers in the reel to give me the correct width and placed them in the dishwasher

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Pasquale DAlessio
Film God

Posts: 3523
From: Bristol,RI, USA
Registered: May 2010

posted May 17, 2014 06:17 PM

I use a hairdryer as Janice does.

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Ernie Zahn
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 540
From: Greenwich, CT, USA
Registered: Oct 2004

posted May 17, 2014 06:24 PM

The reel was pretty narrow. I actually wedged a film box in the reel and left it there for a long time. Essentially a spacer.

But as others say. Time is best supplemented by heat.

--------------------
Check out the trailer for my feature length Spaghetti-style Western:

Six and Bisti

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Allan Broadfield
Master Film Handler

Posts: 452
From: Bromley, Kent
Registered: Nov 2010

posted May 17, 2014 06:26 PM

The way I did it was to wrap something like a thin strip of cloth around the centre, just enough to pull the sides apart uniformly, put into the hot water, leave till the water cools down a bit then transfer to cold. Spacers of some sort sound like a good option for better accuracy.

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Ron Douglas
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 166
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2012

posted May 18, 2014 04:16 AM

That's great advice from everyone, thank you.
Good call with the hairdryer Janice, and as to Pat having a hairdryer, we'll just not get in to that... [Wink]