jan normandale said:
Any comments / thoughts regarding the tanks ie stainless vs plastic? I've heard stainless has issues regarding loading and sometimes scratching emulsion. What about it?
Jan, I use both - I have to say I'm a bit of a fumble-fingers with the stainless reels. I do ok from time to time, then I'll really mess one up. With stainless steel, you bend the film just slightly to give it a 'bow' in the middle, and then you place the end of it in the center of the reel - there's a spring-loaded clip there. You feed the bitter end of the film into this clip and then you begin slowly winding the film around the reel, from the inside out towards the outside of the reel. There are spirals on top and bottom of the reel, these catch the film edges as you let go (remember you are bowing the film so it is not as 'tall', when you release as you feed, it gets taller and the spirals stop it from escaping). When it goes well, it is sweet - and fast. When it does not go well, you end up with film touching film inside the reel, and that spells disaster when you get it out of the soup. Chances are you won't know you've done it, either - remember, you load film by feel in total darkness (or a changing bag).
Stainless steel tanks are a bit smaller than the same thing in plastic - and tend to be more economical with chemicals. They also 'feel' more professional - and sometimes it does matter how you feel about what you're doing! When you master loading stainless steel reels, you feel like going out and celebrating - you've learned a he-man darkroom guy skill. One with HCB and all that stuff.
A plastic reel is a ratcheting device - you feed the bitter end of the film into a lip on the outside of the reel, and as you wind it up, it ratchets and drags the film into the center, spiraling around and around. It is a one-way trip - you can't easily pull the film back out again. You open it by twisting the reel halves after development - sort of like opening an Oreo cookie. Do you have Oreo cookies where you are? They are great in milk. Anyway...
With a plastic reel, if it loads, it is loaded right. It can be frustrating to get it to start sometimes, but overall, I find it easier than steel reels. Either one must be ABSOLUTELY DRY when you begin to load or you'll have a hell of a time.
If you are doing 35mm, plastic reels are a tad easier than 120, because the film sprockets are used by the ratcheting device. 120 works, but not quite so nicely.
There is another alternative - one I just found out about. It is from many years ago, and yet it works like a champ. I have no idea why it died out.
The thing is called Kodak Kodacraft. It comes in sizes for 120/220, 127, and of course 35mm. Now, what makes it different is this. Instead of a reel of any kind, inside the can is a transparent roll of slightly wavy plastic, called an apron. What you do is wind the plastic up with your film alongside it - so it becomes a two-layer thing. The waves in the clear plastic keep your film from touching itself (naughty film). It is SO EASY!
Here's a photo:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Kodacraft-Minia...ryZ29993QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Freestyle sells a modern-day rebop on them too:
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=&pid=5629
Only problem with Freestyle is they have a $25 minimum order (but they sell all kinds of cool stuff too) and their tanks are single-roll only - the Kodacraft tanks are 2 roll for 35mm (one roll for 120 or 127).
I've been collecting these old Kodacraft aprons and tanks for a few months now - I think I'll be doing all my developing with them. Call me a wimp - I'm no good with stainless steel reels!
One thing with these older Kodracraft tanks, though - they are not sealable - so you can't invert them during processing. That's not really a big problem, but you have to remember that, or you'll be unhappy when you turn the thing upside down and everything falls out.
So, I have to say - my first choice is Kodacraft or modern updated version. Second choice is plastic reels, third is stainless steel.
Hope you find this helpful!
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks