8mm Forum: Expanding too-narrow spools

This is topic Expanding too-narrow spools - possible? in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Jim Bishop (Member # 81) on March 23, 2016, 01:16 PM:

Hi. Has anyone found a method of expanding spools which have somehow 'shrunk' & become too narrow for film, please? Thanks. Jim [Confused]

Posted by James Wilson (Member # 4620) on March 23, 2016, 02:20 PM:

I stuff the reels out with newspaper and leave.
works for me.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on March 23, 2016, 02:26 PM:

This has been discussed in previous threads. Here is a pic of how I have done it and depending on the type of plastic in the reel I have had good results.

Try this...
Wrap something around the inside of the reel to hold it open wider (I've use some romex cable in this example). I then use a hair dryer to heat the plastic. This sometimes takes multiple uses of the hair dryer for best results.

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on March 23, 2016, 02:34 PM:

Same method I use and it works great!

Posted by Jim Bishop (Member # 81) on March 26, 2016, 04:02 PM:

Thank you Everyone, much appreciated - I'll give it a try...

Posted by Will Trenfield (Member # 5321) on March 27, 2016, 06:32 PM:

I often see tape recorder spools being used for cine film on eBay.Although similar, I can remember reading that they were unsuitable for cine film. Is this correct?

Posted by Joe Taffis (Member # 4) on March 27, 2016, 07:51 PM:

Hi Will,
Yes, audio tape spools tend to be a bit too narrow for film...

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on March 28, 2016, 08:48 AM:

Yes...those audio tape reels have smaller hole and will fit standard 8 machines, but how you'd use them for Super 8, I'm not sure. And yes...they are narrow and usually made of stiffer plastic than film reels....so in the one time I tried one, the squeal was deafening.
Have tried the hair dryer trick and it does work....and your hair comes out dry, too.

Posted by Janice Glesser (Member # 2758) on March 28, 2016, 03:48 PM:

I forgot to add...Using romex to reshape the reels has an added benefit. The wires inside the romex casing get heated also...thus stay hotter longer than non-metallic materials. Heating the reel on a towel...top of your bed...or perhaps a pillow will also keep it heated longer. I use this technique on both 8mm and 16mm reels. After wrapping the romex around the reels I use a zip-tie to hold it in place.

Posted by John Richard Almond (Member # 2939) on March 28, 2016, 04:59 PM:

Janice.............you are a mine of great info.....thanks for the input.

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