Handling 120 film

[sienarot]

For those of you who separate as you load, what do you do with the backing paper? Peel it backwards like you're peeling a banana or let it flow over the top of the reel? My biggest issue is working out when I've got to the backing paper by feel...

The backing just rolls back up on its own for me, so it's like I'm pulling out the film between two rolls of paper.

 

[Rob-F]

The film goes on smoother and without those half-moon static marks when I load the head end (first exposure) first on my metal Nikor reel. That calls for separation before loading.

 

[Terao]

Hi Terao,
What kind of reels do you have ? Some plastic reels, within the same trademark may be more problematic than others. Therefore I use to have my 120 good reels, specially dedicated to 120 and not compacted for 135 film.

I use AP reels. They have a flat area at the film insertion point making it *very* easy to get the film started. My only issue is dealing with the backing paper so I'll give the separate in advance technique a go...

 

[Terao]

Update:

Tried the separation technique this afternoon, much easier thanks. Found that I could just reel up the backing paper as I fed the film of the spool by the edges. End result was a film that only got touched on the surfaceat the end where I folded the tape over and a reel with the backing paper still attached 🙂

*hums Getting Better by The Beatles to self* 🙂

 

[Bryce]

I load my stainless reels (never tried plastic) by separating as I go. As someone else pointed out, the paper curls up into another little roll on its own.
I use a pair of scissors on the tape.

 

[FrankS]

I separate as I load...plastic reels...no problems...

Same here. I load with the film and reel parallel to by body at chest or belly height, then once started, turn the reel with film farthest away from me. The paper backing curls up on itself on the same side of the reel as the film.