Crooked Plastic reels

[Erik Snel]

Hi all, i have a very annoying wel.. problem, i would call it a challenge. Whenever i get a new projector and the set is complete is usually has an original take up reel. I have many generic plastic reels in their protective box from Gepe, revue, Goko etc. which stay straight and are fine. but now i collect eumig and like to use original reels provided with the projector. originally there was a piece of carboard or plastic within to keep it straight but people throw packaging away and the reel is stored in a bad position, often clamped somewhere in between the box and the projector. After many years they become crooked. This is especialy annoying with the Automatic loading reels because there is allways one clamp that clamps the film really high and then the spool jumps and jerks really hard on the film. (which is a big nono for the sprocketless 500 and 600 eumig projectors). i have about 25 original eumig of Posso for eumig or Bonum for eumig reels and behold, only 4 of them are in good using order, mainly because the original filler packaging is still there.so the problem is evident, the solution may be just simply try to bend the reels out and that's were the challenge lies, should i use some heat (it's ABS plastic so a heat gun will melt in instantly). anyway, is this a familiar problem for you as fellow collectors? yes this is not so much a question rather then a train of thought i have today battleing with some of these reels today.

[Brad Miller]

Not sure how well this would work, but if you have a projector that rewinds pretty fast, try putting an empty warped reel on the feed spindle and setting it to rewind. Use a hair dryer (so you aren't putting TOO much heat on it) and hold it at the edge of the reel. The inertia and momentum of the reel should in theory help flatten it out. The trick is after you remove the heat, let it continue to spin for a few minutes so it is still spinning while it cools to room temperature.

[Erik Snel]

seems like something i am gonna try. good tip thanks!. i might do this on a lathe

[Janice Glesser]

Hi Erik...As Brad suggests .... using a hair dryer is a better heat source than a heat gun. I also wrap the inside of the reel with romex wire cable to expand it then apply the heat. Different plastics react to this technique better than others. Some plastics will take repeated applications, but I've found the openings of the reels will eventually stay in shape.

This tip is referenced in the Index of Technical Topics section of this forum:

http://8mmforum.film-tech.com/cgi-bi...c;f=1;t=010589

[Erik Snel]

ah thanks, that could work

[Shane C. Collins]

These are all great tips guys! The take-up reel that came with my Bolex 18-5L Super is housed in a sturdy plastic case. No chance of it bending. But I too have had some bent take-up reels. The Sanyko 2000H I once had used those cardboard inserts you mentioned in the first post. Those really work well. Brad that is an interesting technique as is Janice's DIY.

[Dominique De Bast]

How long are you supposed to heat the spool with the hair dryer in Brad's method ?

[Janice Glesser]

Here is a video I made showing my technique with romex and a hair dryer. The time it will take depends on how hot your hair dryer is and the type of plastic. You should repeat the heating and cooling process at least twice...but more applications may be needed for some reels. I heat the plastic and the romex until it's very hot but still touchable. You just want to soften the plastic a bit...not melt it

[Dominique De Bast]

Thanks, Janice ! I will try to find "romex" in a diy store but at the moment I'm still avoiding "non essential" shops for obvious reasons.

[Dominique De Bast]

I didn't find ""romex" but while looking for it at the diy shop, I came accross another product that is 16 mm wide (if that isn't luck...). So I will try Janice's method with my fingers crossed.

[Janice Glesser]

That material should work fine Dominique. I am sure you will see some improvement in your plastic reels. Be patient, you may need to do multiple applications of the heat, but I am sure you will eventually get good results.

[Dominique De Bast]

Took me time but it did work ! I repeated several times the same operations : heat with a hot hairdryer, then let cool, heat again etc. I tried the spool with a film (it's a take up spool) but it was still not possible to use it correctly. I then heated and let cool again several times and then bingo. It took probably more time because the plastic of this Eiki take up spool is harder than usual. I have two other (normal) crooked spools so I try to rescue them in the coming days.

[Janice Glesser]

Great Dominique! Yes... some plastics can really be stubborn. If the reel starts to rub the film again after awhile...just repeat the process. It will eventually hold it's shape.

[Dominique De Bast]

Thanks for all your valuables tips, Janice !

[Larry Byer]

You could possibly try using a metal film can (if you have one) on the side that is bent in. Slide the film can in to expand the reel and apply heat. I'm going to try it with my Elmo FP8-C take up reel.