SPECIAL TOPICS -Winning Entry-

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH OLD X-RAY FILM?

If it is new (green or lavender) film, or clear, you can:

(Note: Green/lavender (unprocessed) film is cleared by placing it in fixer until all emulsion is removed.)

Make a straight edge (like a ruler, draw lines)
Use clear film for making over head projector transparencies
Read nomograms
Make a poster protector, by taping it over a poster or notice to protect it
Use it to cover a map so you can write on it (grease pencil) and erase your notes
Make a stencil by cutting out letters or figures to be spray painted
Fold it to make a cup
Make a party hat
Make a pinwheel
Use hole puncher to make sequins of clear, green or black film
Cut it into geometric shapes to help as drawing aids (angles, squares, circles)
Make windows, windshields for model cars, boats and aircraft
Use to make a cone that is attached to a tin can with diaphragm, to generate smoke rings
Duplicate radiographs by using green film with original image by solarization
Cut green film into strips to be used as test strips for identifying developer, fixer or water solutions
Curl or roll a long piece, tape it, and attach as an extension to the vacuum cleaner hose
Make a straw for non-edible liquids
Tape around a book for a water resistant book cover
Roll it into a circular shape to be used like a cookie cutter, when working with clay
Make a circular shaped piece as a mold for pouring plaster or clay wheels
Shape it into a wedge to help pour granular solid materials such as sugar, pasta, or beans
Write on strips cut to size and folded to make place name tags
Cut it into shapes such as stars, snowflakes, and circles to be made into Christmas tree decorations
Cut into three inch circles and place under short, thick candles to act as wax catchers
Make one inch strips with graduation marks to be used as a map measurement tool
Place unexposed film in an old cassette, one screen blocked, and clear protractor on the other side. Expose and process to make duplicate protractors of lab/classroom quality that can be distributed as needed at very low cost
Make a drawer liner
Roll it into a bean shooter
Create blank slides, to smooth the transition between images and narrative
Make a drawing compass by taking a strip and placing a pin on one end, and holes for a pencil at strategic distances from the pin
Place a piece of clear film under a napkin that is used for tea bags to protect the table cloth underneath
Protect book pages by placing a clear piece of film above and below an item being pressed in the book, such as flowers or leaves
Make low cost slide cover "glasses" using single emulsion clear film cut into half-inch squares
Fold a piece to fit over front of pocket and protect it from wear due to inserting and removing pens (pocket protector)
Create teaching aids, such as two sets of parallel lines to demonstrate moire principles as applied to X-ray grids
Make a lampshade
Use it as a comb cleaning tool
Make a simple dust pan
Cut into shape to act as shirt collar stiffeners
Remove light snow (not ice) from the windshield of your car
Bend several pieces into a stiff splint, to immobilize an injured limb
Roll into a half-inch diameter tube, then tape in position and add stopper to make a whistle or flute
Make an edger to help in painting walls and reduce accidental spillage onto ceiling
Cut out characters so that the film can be used for painting numbers
Use to create portions of Halloween costumes, such as cuffs, "buttons", hat, or other articles
Wrap around the end of a flashlight to act as a beam restrictor
Use a clear piece instead of opaque paper when demonstrating ron filings, magnets, and magnetic flux lines in physics class
Curl into rolls of appropriate diameter to store stacks of coins of various denominations
Tape a piece over a cracked window as a temporary repair to stabilize the glass until it can be replaced
Tape over the front of your headlights when driving on gravel roads to protect the lenses from getting chipped

If it is exposed and processed radiographs you can:

Make a funnel to pour oil, water, or other liquids from one container to another
Make an eclipse viewer
Make silhouettes of important characters from black film to be used inside luminaria
Perform a pinhole camera demonstration by using black film with a small hole cut in it
Cut black piece into a circle to replace cracked stethescope diaphragm
Use it for a place mat at the table
Cut it into circles to make coasters with X-ray images
Make plastic tooth picks, especially for a Halloween party
Cut into strips and weave it into a small place mat
If of the older cellulose type, soak in acetone to make glue
Burn it to keep warm during a cold spell
Make a signal fire, since it burns with black smoke (Did you know that x-ray safety film DOES burn?)
Sell it for the silver content
Cut in a circle and stick a round toothpick or match through the center to make a spin top
Use it to make an extension for a match, as might be used to light a furnace, hot water heater, or fireplace
Cover up part of the safelight filter in order to reduce the light intensity in the darkroom
Place under car engine to act as an oil drip catcher and reduce staining in the driveway or garage
If totally black cover up a small door window for privacy
Use as an artistic postal envelope stuffer to increase stiffness of the envelope, as when mailing photos
Use pieces as a spacer when positioning an object that must be level
Mount selected radiographs on a frame and add backlighting so it can be hung as X-ray artwork
Use a black piece, cut into a quarter moon shape, to be attached to a hat as a visor extender
Create a radiographic anatomy and artifact review quiz using partial images to be identified
Cut into wide strips about eight inches long to be used as radiographic bookmarks
Attach to top of doghouse as doubled, overlapping and waterproof roof shingles
During winter when the engine never quite warms up place several radiographs in front of the radiator to reduce the chilling effect of the cold air on your engine, and improve heater effectiveness

For more information on Alaska go to the Fire-'n-Ice Web site.

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