Getting 120 film onto a Paterson spiral

[peterc]

For some reason I've just never had consistent success with the regular Paterson reels. Guess it's just me.

Nope, it's not just you, Allan.
When I started developing black and white many years ago I got Paterson reels and tanks because everyone said they were so much easier to load etc. After several months of kinked film, much cursing and frustration I bounced the Paterson stuff off a concrete wall with extreme prejudice and got metal tanks and reels (both 35mm and 120) and I've been happy since.
Last weekend, I was handed a roll of 127 to develop and had to borrow a Paterson tank and reel since I never shot 127 myself. Never again.

Peter

 

[kaiyen]

Well, the paterson _system_ is just fine by me, and the fill/pour speed is AWESOME and gives me much more control as I go from 1-2-3-4 reels. And for 35mm their reels are okay. But there are better actual reels out there.

For instance: http://photos.kaiyen.com/pages/reels_tanks.html

I have pictures of both the standard paterson reels and the AP Photo/Samigon ones. The latter are so much better. I routinely load 2 x 120 on a single reel, and have done 4 rolls of 120 in a 4x135 tank.

allan

 

[trittium]

120 on paterson is a pain. Jobo reels are easier becasue there are no ball bearings, but I find metal to be the best for 120.

 

[titrisol]

Maybe not, I have some different brand reels, and rthe KALT and Besseler seem to have better transport than the original patterson.

Also those with "big lip" are very cool (Arista premium)

 

[Fred]

Not really had a problem recently with the Patterson reels. Initially the extra 'wobble' of 120 was a worry. I've moved over to stainless steel stuff following increasing problems winding 36mm 36 frames. I guess it that over time using wetting agent my spirals are more prone to binding. No probs with SS reels after a practice.

 

[kaiyen]

Do the arista premium ones also have the big lip? I couldn't quite tell from photos of them. I know the samigon ones at B&H currently are like that.

allan

 

[jlw]

I've moved over to stainless steel stuff following increasing problems winding 36mm 36 frames. I guess it that over time using wetting agent my spirals are more prone to binding. No probs with SS reels after a practice.

This is the molecules' little way of telling you that you shouldn't be leaving your film on the reels for the wetting-agent dunk. Take it off the reels and dip it through a container of wetting agent solution.

If you do your wetting-agent rinse with the film still on the reels, wetting agent scum eventually builds up on them. It can cause problems other than binding, such as uneven development or formation of precipitates. This will happen with stainless reels, too.

The good news is that if you put your reels (stainless or plastic) in the dishwasher and run it a couple of cycles without adding detergent (or Jet-Dry or anything else) that should get the wetting-agent residue off, and you'll be good to go. I suppose that if you insist on doing your final rinse with the film on the reels, you could dishwasher the reels every month or two to avoid problems.

And please don't bother posting saying, "I've been dunking my reels in wetting agent for _____ years and have never had any problem." I know you haven't. That doesn't mean you won't...

 

[titrisol]

That is why you "borrow" mom-in-law's toothbrush and clean your plastic reels every other while 🙂

This is the molecules' little way of telling you that you shouldn't be leaving your film on the reels for the wetting-agent dunk. Take it off the reels and dip it through a container of wetting agent solution.

If you do your wetting-agent rinse with the film still on the reels, wetting agent scum eventually builds up on them. It can cause problems other than binding, such as uneven development or formation of precipitates. This will happen with stainless reels, too.

The good news is that if you put your reels (stainless or plastic) in the dishwasher and run it a couple of cycles without adding detergent (or Jet-Dry or anything else) that should get the wetting-agent residue off, and you'll be good to go. I suppose that if you insist on doing your final rinse with the film on the reels, you could dishwasher the reels every month or two to avoid problems.

And please don't bother posting saying, "I've been dunking my reels in wetting agent for _____ years and have never had any problem." I know you haven't. That doesn't mean you won't...