Darkroom: Wheels Of Steel Or Plastic Fantastic?

[peterc]

Steel reels and single and double tanks. Only plastic is my (now never used) HP5 Autowinder reel.

Peter

 

[Honus]

Steel.

Stainless Steel.

Black Gold. Texas Tea.

 

[titrisol]

I've used both over the years, but plastic is my favorite now... a lot easier to load!

 

[jlw]

Faster to load, more durable, less developer, can be loaded wet... and the list goes on and on.

Next thing you know, someone's going to be telling us that processing on steel reels gives your photos an indefinable but indisputable superior "steel look"...

 

[dcsang]

Next thing you know, someone's going to be telling us that processing on steel reels gives your photos an indefinable but indisputable superior "steel look"...

Residue build up on my plastic ones sometimes give the negs an idisputable "plastic look"..... just that the look usually involves splotches on the negs 😀

That being said, $25 once every 2 years isn't going to kill me for new reels 😀

Dave

 

[Stephanie Brim]

This weekend my boyfriend is going to get a surprise when I put my reels (all of them) into his dishwasher. 😀

 

[kbg32]

I hate the plastic reels. Always got air bubbles no matter how I tapped the tank.

Steel is reel!

 

[pesphoto]

Steel all the way. I havent used plastic since.....hmmm.......

 

[lushd]

Just had my first go at this since the 1980s with steel instead of plastic. Came out well, with but the one crinkle. I like the size, the economy, the durability and the link with my elders who were doing this in the 1930s.

 

[RicardoD]

I followed T_om's advice and got some Kindermann reels and tanks. I was so worried that steel reels would be so hard to load. I was surprised to find out how simple it was once I practiced a bit. You can then quickly teach yourself the feel of a properly loaded reel. I think some of the negative comments about steel reels and difficulty to load are a bit exaggerated.

 

[bmattock]

NEITHER!

This is the easiest thing in the world:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luketrash/100347598/

You can find these things for a couple bucks on eBoy. You can get brand-new aprons (the ravioli-looking things) at Freestyle for 99 cents each!

All you have to do is unwind the plastic ravioli. Put the end of your film against it and let it roll up - it will do so on it's own - like a slinky kinda. Just guide it while it does so. Then put the rolled-up apron in the tank. If you have two rolls, put the metal plate in and do the second apron. Put the top on and you're done.

You literally CANNOT do this wrong. No jams, no misfeeds, no crinkled film. EASY! CHEAP!

Pros:

1) You can get aprons (used) for 120/126/127/828/35mm.
2) I dare you to find something easier to use.

Drawbacks:

1) If you buy a tank from Freestyle - only one roll of film per tank.
2) If you use an original Kodacraft tank you buy off eBoy - only two rolls per tank (35mm).
3) If you buy Freestyle aprons new - they only make 35mm and 120/220 aprons nowadays.
4) No top on the original Kodacraft tank - no inversions when you agitate.

If you are a newbie - if you just hate plastic AND stainless steel reels - this is the BEST!

If you are a master with stainless steel or some kinda masochist, then go on, have a ball.

But otherwise - TRY this sometime!

I've tried it - I liked it - I now do not use anything else. Period.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[nightfly]

Hewes steel reels, also sold under other names by B and H (King something?), the ones with the little tabs for 35mm or the spring clip for 120. They work great, last forever, and are easy to dry if you want to do a second batch of film after your first one. So easy.

Plastic is difficult to get bone dry and if you don't it sticks and kinks.

 

[pesphoto]

Plastic is difficult to get bone dry and if you don't it sticks and kinks.

True enough. All you need to look out for with steel is dropping them or somehow getting a slight bend in the reel. This makes it a pain to roll it on.

 

[bmattock]

True enough. All you need to look out for with steel is dropping them or somehow getting a slight bend in the reel. This makes it a pain to roll it on.

Can't bend the plastic aprons, and you can dry them with a towel. They don't wear out or break.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[pesphoto]

hmmm...Bill, I guess I didnt look too closely at the "lasagna" at first, but it does look pretty easy to deal with. HAve to admit once in a while I get a roll that just gives me headaches to get on a metal reel. But thats maybe 1 in say 50.

 

[kmack]

Can't bend the plastic aprons, and you can dry them with a towel. They don't wear out or break.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Who da thunk it, an ex Marine tied to an apron.

What a world, what a world.

 

[bmattock]

Who da thunk it, an ex Marine tied to an apron.

What a world, what a world.

Former Marine, please. I'm not an ex-Marine until a priest throws dirt on my face.

And only a Marine could make an apron look macho. We class the joint up.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[pesphoto]

Who's to argue with a former Marine? Not I....

 

[bmattock]

hmmm...Bill, I guess I didnt look too closely at the "lasagna" at first, but it does look pretty easy to deal with. HAve to admit once in a while I get a roll that just gives me headaches to get on a metal reel. But thats maybe 1 in say 50.

I realize that steel vs plastic is like a religion - you get people defending each side as if it were f vs d wars and no way will one side consider the other, so I'm stepping into the cross fire here.

My suggest is neither one, so maybe I'm not the enemy?

Steel reels can be really easy - for those who have mastered them. And yes, some take to them like a duck takes to water. But those same cannot seem to fathom that others curse and struggle with them.

I guess it's like programming. I try to explain it - but if you don't get it, I guess you're stupid. Obviously, you're not stupid - it just seems too easy to me - how could someone NOT get it?

The same can be said for the devotees of the plastic reels. They just don't 'get' steel reels - why would anyone subject themselves to that masochism tango?

I've had both work so well I think I'll never use the other. I've had both fail miserably and have me wanting to throw my film out and stop home processing.

Never had a problem with the aprons. And they work really well!

So what's the problem?

I don't get it.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[pesphoto]

No problem here. As always, each to his /her own right? Ive used plastic, but have just gotten used to the steel so thats what I use. Ive never seen the Aprons before. Its a clever idea.