8mm Forum: Kodak Presstape Universal Splicer

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Topic: Kodak Presstape Universal Splicer

Maurice Leakey
Film God

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

posted September 05, 2014 09:45 AM

Having read that splicing tapes are still readily available for the Kodak Presstape Universal Splicer I decided to buy one, it seemed also a useful tool for repairing damaged perforations.

I believe that this splicer was never generally available in the UK and when I went on UK eBay there were none on offer. A switch to "Worldwide" revealed a great many advertised on US eBay. There was a great variation in price, some postages to the UK were astronomical. Some units were not complete, instructions and/or the punch not being included. Some advertisers mentioned the missing items, others with photos revealed that the splicer was not complete.

I eventually decided on a reasonable offer. The box looked pristine, the punch and instructions were there, and also some standard 8 and Super 8 tapes, although the latter as Kodak items might now be a slightly devoid of their adhesive quality.

The one slight problem was that it was the subject of the "Global Shipping Programme". This has not had a good press and I was a bit dubious of proceeding with the purchase. However (as I mentioned in another posting) I decided to give it a go.

Members may be interested in the pricing. The grand total was £33.33. Made up of splicer @ $24.99 (£15.56) , US postage @ $19.12 (£11.90) and the Global Shipping Programme @ $9.42 (£5.87.)

Ten days after buying/paying I received the package, delivered by the British courier Yodel. I must say that I am highly delighted with the splicer and the service.

Fellow member, Janice Glesser, has an excellent YouTube video showing its operation. In it she refers to the punch as a burnishing tool and says it's not necessary as a smooth and rounded pen can be used instead. This is to completely smooth over the finished join, however, I should advise that the punch should be used if it's included as it has a small hollow end which sits completely over each pin and gives a closer approach for a better smoothing operation.

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Maurice

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Adrian Winchester
Film God

Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004

posted September 06, 2014 03:05 PM

Maurice - Thanks for the information, I was interested to learn more about presstapes splicers, as they are rarely seen in the UK. Do you find any advantages over (e.g.) Wurker splices other than the cost? Does the cutter go through polyester film OK? I've always been a bit baffled by the cut not being along the frameline, which might be stronger but simply seems 'wrong' other than for splicing a leader!

On the 16mm Forum, the manufacturer has said that you can use the tape to restore a film with short sections of damaged sprockets, but I have my doubts whether it can repeatedly be hit by the claw without bending.

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Adrian Winchester

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted September 06, 2014 03:48 PM

I have been using the Kodak Presstape splicer for over 20 years. It does a fine job, the cutter goes thru Polyester without trouble, and the splices are virtually impossible to get apart, even in a few minutes after making the splice. There seems to be a plentiful supply of Presstapes in the USA.

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

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

posted September 06, 2014 03:53 PM

Adrian

The splicer is to augment my CIR which of course is quite cheap for rolls of tape, whereas the tape patches for the Kodak are a trifle costly. But the CIR is not much good for perforation repair.

I have not actually used the Kodak yet. With regard to the cutting blade, according to the illustrations in the book it actually does three different kinds of cut for each of the three gauges.

The Super 8 cut is straight across the frame line. I can see no reason that there should be any problem with polyester.

As I said, the tape patches seem ideal for perforation damage repair, there should be no problem of bending in the gate, after all, the gate is straight; or have I misunderstood your comment?

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Maurice

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Adrian Winchester
Film God

Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004

posted September 06, 2014 09:13 PM

Maurice - sorry, my phrasing wasn't very clear. What I meant was that if Presstapes are (e.g.) used to restore 16mm sproket damage in a situation where the claw then only makes contact with tape, because there are small pieces of film missing (which of course is quite common with sprocket damage) then I have doubts whether the tape would be sturdy enough to not be compressed at all by the impact of the claw. I have tried some 16mm repairs using Presstapes (even though I don't have a splicer) but the results were not entirely conclusive, partly because it's difficult to get the positioning of the tape 100% perfect.

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Adrian Winchester

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

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

posted September 07, 2014 09:32 AM

Adrian

I think a piece of tape on either side of the film would pass through a gate without a problem, the claws should able to handle it.

With regard to the three different types of cut, click on the instructions sheet shown below and look at page 4.

http://www.urbanskifilm.com/presstapesplicer.html

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Maurice

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Adrian Winchester
Film God

Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004

posted September 07, 2014 07:19 PM

Maurice - I agree that the film would go through the gate fine, but the question is: would the tape be thick and firm enough to essentially replace missing pieces of film in the case of sprocket damage? I'm genuinely unsure. I think the tape would avoid the loop being lost but I find it's practically impossible to make such repairs so well that you don't notice them as they go through the gate. I'm not just referring to Presstape repairs as I haven't had better luck with sprocket repair tape either!

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Adrian Winchester

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