8mm Forum: converting take-up reels

This is topic converting take-up reels in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by John Skujins (Member # 1515) on February 11, 2010, 06:12 PM:

Has anyone converted an autoload take-up reel to a regular reel by snapping off those plastic thingies that grab the film? Is this a good idea?

The reason I ask is that I have a film stored on a 600 ft take-up reel and I hate the squeaky noise it makes while projecting, caused by the autoload feature, and I'm having trouble finding a 600 ft plastic reel that's not autoload. So I'd rather convert the one I have.

I'd appreciate any feedback.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on February 11, 2010, 06:48 PM:

I know this sound well! It's a thousand tiny fingernails on a chalkboard especially at the end of a reel.

Still the same, the ability of the reels to grab film without fumbling to put the leader end in a slot is a big help, especially when you're running two projectors and you have to start film on a reel in the dark while the other machine is running. The bigger the reel, the truer this is.

So it'll work if you do it, but every benefit comes with a cost.

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