Just unsure if I should try ... My Jaws print is on 3x1600’ film is 2:04 ... That should fit on 2x2300’ right? The reels are not full. From what I saw, 1:04 should fit on 2300’ or is that incorrect?

Vidar
The spools are 2200ft. A running time for acetate film is 60.5 minutes. I suggest you keep the film as it is.

I use the Taylor Reel, 2000’ size, but small core, holds 2300’

I have The Outsiders, Coppola film, on one 2300’ thin film stock. Less reels, the better :-) But I need to be sure, so thanks, will perhaps leave it as is

On this subject Maurice, i also now have a few films mounted onto 1600ft spools that know would fit onto 2200 reels, but,
My own instinct on these is to leave them as they are, especially dances with wolves and,(if i decide to keep it after tonight) Robin Hood.

What is the general thought with you and other 16mm users here please?

The lesser reels the better for me, but I do find scenes where it is okay to end it

With a perfect print, I probably leave it, unless the full 2x1600’ would go on a 2300’ like The Outsiders did. Full film on one reel, Jaws 3 will also fit on 1 I think

I just leave things as they are Tom. i had one feature that came on a 1600ft spool and one very full 1200ft spool. I put them both on identical 1600ft spools, and then they went into cans that matched the spools. someone probably wanted a 1600ft spool, so transferred one to 1200ft. Otherwise, I leave well alone.

If I can simply and easily consolidate three slightly smaller reels on to two larger reels I usually will. But I won't cut a film mid-reel and add splices to a film to do so. While it would be nice to have fewer breaks during a screening by using fewer reels, to me it isn't a big deal--just one of the acceptable trade-offs of showing film vs. other formats.

I prefer all of the reels (spools) of a 16mm multi-reel feature to be the same size--even if one of them is only partially full. The silly reason for this--it is easier for me to keep all three of the reels together if same-sized when I stack them on the shelf. Just afraid that a much smaller reel (even if labeled) can get separated inadvertently from the others, and then I have to look thru the stacks/shelfs to try and locate. Also, since I have a number of odd reels for various movies, I don't want to become confused that a smaller reel is just an odd leftover vs. an actual part of the full feature. While this is what works best for me, I also understand the rationale that a film across three reels may in fact increase the risk of losing one of the three vs. if it was only on two reels--and therefore one less reel to possibly misplace.

Hopefully, my response here doesn't fall into the "unhelpful" category... :)

Greg makes a good point about keeping all spools of a feature the same size. This also means that you can continue the film by removing the just empty feed spool and placing it on the take-up arm ready for the next part.

I do respool my super 8mm onto one large reel. I have some 16mm on 6000ft reels about 15 I think. The rest on 1600ft. After watching ITV the other night OHMSS was on it dosen't matter where you have a break.