posted 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
posted 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.
-------------------- Janice
"I'm having a very good day!" Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).
Posts: 506
From: Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK
Registered: Mar 2016
posted 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?
Posts: 979
From: Manassas, VA. USA
Registered: Jun 2003
posted 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 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.
-------------------- Janice
"I'm having a very good day!" Richard Dreyfuss - Let It Ride (1989).