Rewind bench

Rewind controls on a Kelmar rewind table

• Kelmar benches
• Hand crank
• Horizontal rewinds of various types
• Spindle types and shapes

• Best practices

-No matter what type of rewind equipment you are using, it is essential that even speed and tension be maintained on the take up and feed reels at all time. Always be checking your reels and spindles to make sure they are true and not bent or warped. If you're using a Kelmar table check to make sure the pads aren't worn down. The rewind table is one of the main places that prints are damaged! Never leave winding film unattended.

• Be very careful when winding film that is loosely wound onto another reel, if too much tension is put on the film it will become cinched. THIS DAMAGE IS IRREVERSIBLE as dirt is embedded into the emulsion.
• Keep it Clean: your rewind table is not your desk. We know booths can be very small, but keep your rewind table tidy and free of dust, and give yourself room to work.
• Tension: check your tension, change it depending on film gauge, size of reel etc.
• Check the pads often on the kelmar rewind arm, if they get worn down they need to be replaced. Do not get oil on the pads! The same goes for the kelmar arms on your projector.
• having trouble getting a warped film to wind? Trying winding it over/over or under/under. Make sure it’s not rubbing against the side of the reel.
• Check for bent spindles. Can be straightened out by a machinist, or you can buy new ones. Bouncing can mean the bearings are going bad or you need to replace the pad.
• Speed: generally not past 40%, slower is better!
• rewinding onto reels that are out of round/not true (slowly but surely…)
• Auto Stop: It can “sometimes” help to get a tighter wind on warped prints, make sure the roller is clean if you use it. Never leave rewind bench unattended while film is rewinding.
• Common problems: telescoping and cinching on loosely wound prints, proud edges (when some edges are raised or sticking out of the reel). Never ship a print with proud edges on the reel, they can be crushed easily and cause edge damage.
• Tension winds: Learn how to do a tension wind (i.e wind the film onto the core of the reel WITHOUT putting the end of the film into the slots. NEVER tape the film to the reel or core. Use a tension wind for the take up reels on your projectors as well.

External Links

• Kelmar Systems, manufacturers of motorized vertical rewinds. Rewind tables and accessories here