8mm Forum: How much leader do you put on your films?

This is topic How much leader do you put on your films? in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Daniel D. Teoli Jr. (Member # 6043) on August 25, 2017, 01:31 PM:

I generally go with about 2 feet on the front and end. Is there a sweet spot for the leader length?

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on August 25, 2017, 02:18 PM:

I use more if you mean white leader 3 to 5 ft or enough to take the film onto the take up reel with some spare. I also put some onto the tail of the film too, only about a foot in this case.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on August 25, 2017, 02:39 PM:

I do two feet of white leader to get from one reel to the other. I do maybe another foot or two of black leader and this is where I light the lamp.

I start with the white leader because this section is the most likely to get mangled and black acetate leader isn't easy to find these days. (I cement splice when I can...)

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on August 25, 2017, 04:31 PM:

i am looking for a couple of 50 ft spools of white leader.
I like to have enough leader to get it up and around the take up spool with a nice bit left over, this give the start up a good run and stabilises everything. [Wink]

Posted by Clinton Hunt (Member # 2072) on August 25, 2017, 06:26 PM:

I also put a couple of feet of leader,but obviously some films already have a bit of a leader so I add maybe a foot.
Unless the films has been damaged at the start and the film starts without opening titles,then add even more leader so I can start it projecting and still see all off the start [Smile]

Posted by Will Trenfield (Member # 5321) on August 25, 2017, 06:32 PM:

Eumig recommended at least 20" of leader at the front end. You can buy films for less than the prices being asked for 50' of white leader on eBay. It's cheaper to use blank film.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on August 25, 2017, 06:46 PM:

If Feature films come to me with original leads and tails in tact, I don't use any.

If anything, Derann used to place excess leader at both ends of a reel of film for even the projectors that need around 3 feet comfortably to get to reel.

For anything else, I use 3ft of clear Poly or white Acetate leader dependent on the type of film stock I am adding it to.
Only around 18 inches is sufficient for the tail.

I have been pleasantly surprised in recent times, at just how many features have arrived with me with all leads and tails uncut and with all original spools and boxes.
Only a few years back I struggled to find hardly any films in this condition.

Posted by Joe Taffis (Member # 4) on August 25, 2017, 09:42 PM:

Enough, but not too much [Big Grin]

is this a trick question? [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on August 25, 2017, 11:01 PM:

I put at least 2 feet at the start, enough to get the film onto the take up spool before the leader leaves the gate. I also put a small amount on the end, enough to get a few wraps around the reel.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on August 26, 2017, 12:27 AM:

yes i will say i dont often need to add any at all as, like already said, most films do come with more than enough on. The less splices anywhere the better. [Wink]

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on August 26, 2017, 07:59 AM:

Tom
Here is a supply of white acetate leader in 50ft rolls for £8.99, plus postage.
http://www.gaugefilm.co.uk/store/p29/Super_8_White_Acetate_Film_Leader_50ft.html

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on August 26, 2017, 10:52 AM:

Thanks maurice. [Wink]

Posted by Daniel Macarone (Member # 5102) on August 26, 2017, 01:33 PM:

I like to have a good amount left over after it's on the take-up, so it has plenty of time to run smoothly before picture. I imagine this is necessary for a long play unit, which I don't have the privilege of owning.
My preference is to have clear leader first, then the original leader. If a film doesn't have original leader, I like to give it black leader instead of a countdown. That allows me to turn the lamp on and then sit down and enjoy watching the show start from black. Again at the end, I like black leader, so I can stay seated and watch the very end of the movie without seeing leader appear on screen immediately after.

Posted by Gregory Oliver (Member # 5803) on August 27, 2017, 07:25 AM:

The RetroScan unit 'pulls' the film, so I add two feet to both ends so that I capture every frame. Post processing, I can always crop it off.

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on August 27, 2017, 08:59 AM:

24" is max, that will allow threading time and any accident with the claw - Poly is best, if not go with the alternate - Shorty

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on August 27, 2017, 09:09 AM:

Two foot is probably enough leader length for 95% of all Super 8mm projectors out there but for long play projectors and long play units, you require at least another foot in length so that the joining splice does not go through the machine while it is still in the thread position as this can cause problems.

You always want that first splice entering the loops and gate a few seconds after placing the projector into normal run mode ideally for any auto threading machines, so that the top loop is fully open and the pressure plate is fully closed.

Any splice runs far smoother through a projector when doing so in these conditions rather than the opposite ones.

It goes without saying, that if you can do without a splice altogether at the beginning of any reel of Film, then better still.

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