Hundreds of feet of microfilm

October 5, 2009 7:37 PM

I have about 200 rolls of microfilm to be tossed out. There is no charity that would want them, guaranteed. Can anyone think of anything interesting I could do with them?
posted by 5ean to Grab Bag (20 answers total)

Are they exposed?
posted by klangklangston at 7:40 PM on October 5, 2009

Assuming they're exposed and full of the most boring, useless stuff ever imagined, get yourself one really awesome roll of microfilm and assemble that single awesome roll with the boring, useless stuff into some kind of interactive art exhibit that makes some kind of comment about the importance of mediated media experiences. Or something.
posted by davejay at 7:45 PM on October 5, 2009

Art classes might want them. I myself have bought exposed microfilm and incorporated it into several art projects. Call your local high school, they might just be interested.
posted by ilikecookies at 7:51 PM on October 5, 2009 [1 favorite]

I remember when I was a kid making hats that incorporated microfiche and thinking it was pretty awesome. Microfilm isn't quite as exciting, but would still be a pretty cool craft supply. Find someone who can get it into the hands of kids with scissors and glue.
posted by ssg at 8:00 PM on October 5, 2009

If it's nitrocellulose instead of modern acetate, then you should be able to ignite it with spectacular results.
posted by plinth at 8:09 PM on October 5, 2009

I wasn't going to get geeky and post this but now I should.

Do NOT burn this stuff. My god no. If it were nitrocellulose you're dealing with a potentially uncontrollable fire with lots of toxic by-products. From Wikipedia:

The use of nitrocellulose film for motion pictures led to a widespread requirement for fireproof projection rooms with wall coverings made of asbestos. The US Navy shot a training film for projectionists that included footage of a controlled ignition of a reel of nitrate film, which continued to burn even when fully submerged in water. Unlike many other flammable materials, nitrocellulose does not need the oxygen in the air to keep burning and once it is burning, it is extremely difficult to put out. Immersing burning film in water may not extinguish the fire and it could actually increase the amount of smoke produced.[5] Owing to public safety precautions, the London Underground forbade transport of nitrate films on its system until well past the introduction of safety film.

A cinema fire caused by ignition of nitrocellulose film stock (foreshadowed by an earlier small fire) was a central plot element in the Italian film Cinema Paradiso (1988), and more recently, Inglourious Basterds..."

Even if it isn't the older nitrocellulose kind there can still be problems. For both the cellulose acetate base and the newer polyester base, firefighters are advised to wear self-contained breathing apparatus when attending a fire, and wear bunker gear. So no, it's not okay to burn.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 8:28 PM on October 5, 2009 [1 favorite]

Decoupage a lot of lamp shades. I have no idea if this is safe or reasonable. It just sounds like it should work.

Alternatively: craigslist them, free. Art students want the darnedest things.
posted by knile at 8:36 PM on October 5, 2009

Splice them all together and run the film through a projector just slow enough be able to glimpse individual pictures.
posted by 6550 at 8:37 PM on October 5, 2009

Hide them in places or objects that are spy like. Go to the Salvation Army and slip one in the inside pocket of the oldest suit there.
posted by dirtdirt at 8:49 PM on October 5, 2009 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Oh they're exposed alright. Two and a half decades of the Wall Street Journal. Uninteresting to look at. Definitely not nitrocellulose, unfortunately for me, right now, at this juncture.

I'm tempted to try a high school art class. I'm increasingly more tempted to toss the junk. I could weave them into some sort of plastic mat but can't think of what I'd do with it.

Thanks for the ideas so far.
posted by 5ean at 8:55 PM on October 5, 2009

Response by poster: Oh, dirtdirt has the best so far. 6-inch lengths of the most text-dense sections I can find.

Is it a crime to print nice copies of, say, East German currency and include a wrapped bundle? Muhahaha.
posted by 5ean at 9:01 PM on October 5, 2009

Some towns and cities have a municipal "junk into art" program where you can donate interesting stuff to be used as art supplies. Call your garbage company and ask if they run anything like this.
posted by Quietgal at 9:09 PM on October 5, 2009

I'd say, that if you have a pair of sharp scissors to go along with all your microfilm, that you have the stuff for a lifetime supply of lightweight mandolin picks. You can laminate a few thicknesses as you like for the stiffness you want with a little superglue, even cutting back the edges of subsequent layers to produce a fast taper edge. Now all you need are a mandolin, some lessons, and the time to practice, and you'll be ready for the High Lonesome...
posted by paulsc at 9:24 PM on October 5, 2009

MeMailed! Oh man, I'd love to take it off your hands.
posted by avocet at 10:22 PM on October 5, 2009

You're sure that your local library wouldn't be interested in two and a half decades of the WSJ on microfilm?
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:16 AM on October 6, 2009 [1 favorite]

Send them to me! (seriously)
posted by smartypantz at 5:32 AM on October 6, 2009

Post it on craigslist or your community freecycle site too, maybe someone in your area needs a desperate WSJ fix
posted by Think_Long at 7:19 AM on October 6, 2009

I too would love a few rolls. So much so, this post was the final push I needed to get a Metafilter account after 9 years of lurking. Check your MefiMail!

Lamest first comment ever?
posted by Exploding Gutbuster at 8:28 AM on October 6, 2009 [2 favorites]

Sell it to the Russians.
posted by snofoam at 8:34 AM on October 6, 2009

A local cinema made blinds out of old film reels. I'm sure you could do it with microfilm.
posted by bibliophibianj at 5:37 PM on October 6, 2009