Canon P and developing reel problems

[Argenticien]

Hi all,

For the second time recently, I've just had trouble loading a roll of film shot in the Canon P onto my developing reel. I'm wondering if this has anything to do with the P's strange take-up spool that turns clockwise (unlike those in most[?] other cameras that turn anticlockwise). Before loading the developing reel, of course I snip off the first bit of leader that is severely backward-curled, but still I've had buckling and jamming of film in the reel. Last night it took four tries for me to load a reel even semi-successfully. Does anyone have any suggestions or proven successful processes to avoid this problem?

If it helps: The reel is a plastic ratcheting one for an Arista tank from Freestyle (Paterson knock-off). The present buckled film is Efke KB 50, and I think prior one may have been as well. Same problem happens with either of this tank's reels. I haven't had this problem (yet) with film from other cameras. (Hence posting here, not in the processing forum.)

Thanks for any advice...
--Dave

 

[ferider]

Spool the film on the reel end first. Don't know why, but it made a huge difference for me.

 

[Carlos Cruz]

I usually let exposed films wait few days to regain proper curl.

 

[Argenticien]

Spool the film on the reel end first. Don't know why, but it made a huge difference for me.

Duh, I never thought of that! I guess I've been lazy/daft, as I always load the front end into the reel first, without ever taking the film out of the cartridge. I pull out a few frames-worth of film from the cartridge at a time, ratchet it into the reel, and repeat until at the end of the roll the cartridge bumps into the reel and I snip it off. I think I learnt this originally to avoid pulling out all 36 frames and risk that long tail getting in the dust, and to avoid mucking about with cartridge openers and exposed metal edges that could scratch the emulsion. I will try it your way next time!
Thanks!
--Dave

 

[Mablo]

Ferider's trick is a good one. I use it sometimes with LegacyPro 400 film. It has a thin film base and the leader sometimes gets too soft to load properly into the reel.