Running Out of Film Cans - What To Do?

[CoolToolGuy]

My daughter has a school project to collect water samples at the local reservoir, so she needs several small containers. Our supply of baby food jars is exhausted (the little one is 9 now), so I suggested film cans. She asked if I could give her 20, and I said "sure, I have plenty." So I went to my stash, and discovered that I only had about 35 left, so I gave her 15.

This raises a question - what will I do when I run out of film cans? I have used them for everything from hardware storage to paint cups to craft projects. There was always a big supply of them in the house.

What have you used film cans for? They might have been one of the best 'freebies' ever. Somehow, I don't see the same utility in the plastic cases that the CompactFlash cards come in. :lol:

Have Fun,

[CyberDyneSystems]

I;m not sure I follow...

"Film cans" ???


:lol:

[CoolToolGuy]

I;m not sure I follow...

"Film cans" ???


:lol:
Sorry CDS, that comment doesn't wash - Its short term memory loss that is all the rage - you mean to tell me you don't remember the Great Yellow Father? :lol:

Have Fun,

[Turbowolf]

Film cans - an ancient plastic (or even older, metal) container used to hold unexposed and exposed film in a clean environment.

They are about as round as the inside hole found on 45's (another ancient recording medium, plastic platters which used a needle to convert bumps in the records surface into music.)

Off to class...

[Belmondo]

I;m not sure I follow...

"Film cans" ???


:lol: Restroom in a theatre. (just past the refreshment stand on the left) Learn it.

[jaypie77]

As a child: trash cans for my teenage mutant ninja turtles to fight with.

[CoolToolGuy]

They are about as round as the inside hole found on 45's (another ancient recording medium, plastic platters which used a needle to convert bumps in the records surface into music.)

Off to class...
45s - I have some of them. They were 79 cents, and you got two songs. If you didn't like them, you could use them for target practice. Now you pay Apple 99 cents per song, and all you get is a bunch of 'ones and zeroes'. :lol:

Have Fun,

[Cadwell]

A friend of mine used to use them for transporting his (personal use only) wacky-baccy through customs... Not a recomended practice.

[Longwatcher]

I only have one film can (that I can find), but I have two film reels left. They make great speaker stands. (see note below)

As to other small storage containers.
- Fly on USAirways in the morning on a 3+ hour flight, buy the inflight breakfast for $7 and get a small plastic container which holds the granola for the yogurt (almost the same volume as the film cans)
- Nestle's Quik (perfect for larger storage projects)
- Pill refill bottles (I seem to be collecting more and more of these each year)
- Hotel Shampoo bottles (just make sure to clean them out throughly first)
- Airline booze bottles

and these are just the ones I could think of just off the top of my head.

As to 45's I still have over 200 of them. Along with about 1500 albums of the vinyl variety (1200 were my Grandmother's before she passed on several years back)


side note: The one film can I have is for 5" film from a camera I can't talk about, but it took really, really great pictures. I keep it as a memorial to my favorite and to store gaming dice. Discalimer to C.M.A.: I don't and have never had the film in my posession outside of USAF facilities. The two reels are for 9" film and were slightly bent, thus rendering them unuseable for the U-2 cameras of the day and I was told I could have them so I did. They, I can at least mention without worry. I used to have the cans for those, but they rusted very quickly when used for trash cans and have since gone the way of all free things and of no value.

[robertwgross]

In my garage I have stored an entire trash bag full of plastic film cans.

I'm going to wait for film to make a comeback.

---Bob Gros---

[iwatkins]

Really easy way to get more ?

Go down you local camera store and buy twenty rolls of film. Remove packaging from the cans and also throw away the contents of the cans. Result = 20 empty film cans.

I'm just too good... :D

Ian

[F1_Fan]

For your daughter's project... I'm an environmental scientist and used to work in a water lab. When people had no containers available we'd have them collect water in Ziploc bags. Since they're food-safe they're a good choice.

If you use good ones and handle them carefully they won't leak.



This raises a question - what will I do when I run out of film cans? I have used them for everything from hardware storage to paint cups to craft projects. There was always a big supply of them in the house.

Check with your local 1-hour labs... I'm sure they have 100's of the canisters headed for the recycle bin.

Oh by the way... this is what I do with my film canisters:

http://jja.image.pbase.com/u12/digitallattice/large/38335565.film_cannon.jpg

[CoolToolGuy]

I'm an environmental scientist and used to work in a water lab. When people had no containers available we'd have them collect water in Ziploc bags. Since they're food-safe they're a good choice.

If you use good ones and handle them carefully they won't leak.
Good answer for the original issue - She is supposed to go there this afternoon after school, so if that falls through I'll mention the Ziploc bags.

Have Fun,

[CyberDyneSystems]

A friend of mine used to use them for transporting his (personal use only) wacky-baccy through customs... Not a recomended practice.

Outside of using them to carry this thing you call film... I am sure this has been the most common use for these little containers. I mean.. sure.. the Altoids tin eventually caught on in some circles.. but that wasn't untill the late Eighties.. and well.. compared to the 60's and 70's when Film can's were in style... clearly therehas been more use of the film can than anything else...

The Film can will allways be remebered as the place to put your stash!

[PacAce]

45s - I have some of them. They were 79 cents, and you got two songs If you didn't like them, you could use them for target practice. Now you pay Apple 99 cents per song, and all you get is a bunch of 'ones and zeroes'. :lol:

Have Fun,

But how did you know you hit the bull's eye if there's already a big hole in the center? ???

[CoolToolGuy]

Outside of using them to carry this thing you call film... I am sure this has been the most common use for these little containers. I mean.. sure.. the Altoids tin eventually caught on in some circles.. but that wasn't untill the late Eighties.. and well.. compared to the 60's and 70's when Film can's were in style... clearly therehas been more use of the film can than anything else...

The Film can will allways be remebered as the place to put your stash!I had a close personal friend (not me, mind you) who used to use them for that purpose - including coding the contents by the type of can and/or the color of the can and lid. But that was against the law, right?

And I swear, I never inhaled! http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_redface.gif

Have Fun,

[CoolToolGuy]

But how did you know you hit the bull's eye if there's already a big hole in the center? ???
With a shotgun? No problem!

Have Fun,

[ppuga]

I put the spare change of coins in the film cans! jeje One film can (35mm) is the same size of the hole in the ashtray of my car, and I dont smoke so its a perfect way to keep the spare change without noise and movement, all in one place! jejeje

if you need more, as they have told you visit that aufull 1hr photo lab near home, an ask for some, usually they all go to the trash.

[ByteTheBullet]

I needed some to put Tannerite in for a shoot I was going to so I went by a larger Wolf camera and got a HUGH trashbag full. They just throw them out. I still have lots left. The cannisters worked great for Tannerite, btw.


ByteTheBullet (-:

[DeeplyDigital]

What have you used film cans for?

If that is photographic-stills-film-cans....
they are great for bringing small amounts of cosmetics (creams, shampoo etc.) when travelling light.
How I miss them! Must shoot film again...

J.