Hi, This isn't really a technical question but I was wondering if anyone out there has discovered a good use for the plastic film cannisters that seem to accumulate so quickly. Also the nice aluminum cans that bulk film comes in. Any good ideas? Thankyou!

-- Justin Fullmer (provo.jfullmer@state.ut.us), August 08, 2001

Answers

I bulk load film, and I use plastic film cans to protect the bulkloaded film from grit. As soon as I load the rolls, they go into the plastic canisters. This protects the cannister's felt, keeping it clean while film jostles around in your camera bag.

Since I've followed this practice, I've had almost no problems with scratches. I'm also comfortable re-using the cannisters over and over since this practice keeps them so clean. I use the plastic, screw-top cannisters.

I don't have a good use yet for the aluminum film cans. They sure are nice cans, though.

-- Ted Kaufman (writercrmp@aol.com), August 08, 2001.

The aluminum cans are great for little nails (brads) and little nuts and bolts that always seem to get scattered around the workshop. But not everybody is intothat sort of thing anymore. They also make great containers for those spare bottons that come with dress shirts and are always missing when you need one. The little plastic film containers were great for my unrolled tobacco when I was younger but that's just a fond memory now.

-- wd nagel (wdnagel@home.com), August 08, 2001.

Don't forget, film in plastic cassettes, stored in plastic film cannisters, can go through metal detectors, thereby avoiding x-rays.

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), August 08, 2001.

I use bulk rolls of Ilford FP4 and HP5 and neither comes in cans anymore. Both are in plastic bags in the cardboard box. The last 'cans' I got were black plastic with screw on lids... quite nice too, but not in the same league as the aluminum ones!

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@unite.com.au), August 08, 2001.

TMX still comes in aluminum cans.

-- Ted Kaufman (writercrmp@aol.com), August 09, 2001.

You can recycle the plastic film cans, alot of labs do this. We usually save all of ours up in a big box. Every couple of months our education dept. likes to gather up scrap materials for hands-on programs. Those little plastic cans are perfect for crafts projects. Everyone always wants the bulk film tins. We use them in the studio to prop things up on tabletop shoots, or to carry rolls of film on location. The spools that the bulk film comes on are handy too....Kodak and fuji still use aluminum cans. Fujichrome Dupe film comes in a larger can as well, it has about 5.5" diameter & we use them to carry pc cords & battery cables. Kodak has some info about recycling photo packaging materials & scrap film leaders on their professional/environmental website.

-- DK Thompson (kthompson@moh.dcr.state.nc.us), August 09, 2001.

I think some of you folks ought to check if a magnet sticks to your aluminum cans; at least before putting them in the aluminum recycle bin!

-- Bill C (bcarriel@cpicorp.com), August 09, 2001.

Send them to the court appointed First Drunk in the white house. He can give them to his girls to hide their booze in.

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), August 10, 2001.

Bill, I don't know if the recycling comment was aimed at me or not, I guess that's what I get for trying to offer some help...here's the Kodak site for recycling info.

http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/environment/kes/pubs/pubsList.shtml#re cycling

You've got to be burning up alot of film if you have so many cans that you can't find a use for them...

-- DK Thompson (kthompson@moh.dcr.state.nc.us), August 10, 2001.

Hi DK; I apologize if it sounded "aimed"; also I really didn't intend it as a recycling comment. Rather I wanted to call into question the "aluminum can" assumptions (or assertions?) made in six posts. Granted, this is probably an insignificant thing. However, if someone has a specific need or purpose for all aluminum cans, they ought to test with a magnet.

Myself, I find that a magnet will stick to (~100 ft) cans for: Kodak VPS III, Portra 160, Konica 160 and Fujicolor Interneg (a 5.5" diam. can).

PS; thanks for the Kodak recycle link; however I would suggest that any individuals wanting to recycle the plastic parts ask your local 1-hour lab if you can add it to their recycling shipment.

-- Bill C (bcarriel@cpicorp.com), August 13, 2001.

That's okay, I was in a touchy mood that day I guess. I'll admit that you should try to use the cans in some creative way before recycling them. Contact your local recycling place to see if they'll take them, or find a large lab that takes part in this program, and see if they'll help you out. We just hoard the plastic cans & bulk film tins, it seems there's always someone who wants them. But it's a shame to toss them, think of all the stuff just lining landfills forever.

-- DK Thompson (kthompson@moh.dcr.state.nc.us), August 14, 2001.