Hewes reels: you guys are right!

[vdonovan]

Anyone who posts in this forum who says they are having trouble loading steel reels always gets the same response: "Use Hewes reels!". I thought, however, that technique was more important than the reel.

Last week I had to develop 12 rolls of 220. I was loading a mix of Hewes and non-Hewes 220 reels. The non-Hewes reels were a nightmare, with the film constantly getting off track and several rolls ending up with ruined frames because I had loaded them incorrectly. The Hewes? Each loaded quickly and perfectly every time. It was as easy to load 220 on the Hewes reels as it is to load 120.

I've loaded 220 many times before but this was the first time when I could compare Hewes and non-Hewes side by side. Now I'm a believer. "Use Hewes reels!"

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I've never tried their 220 reels, or the 120 ones. I have 4 of the 120 ones, however, and they were worth every cent. (though I admit to paying little for mine...got them cheap on ebay)

 

[visiondr]

I have Hewes 35 mm rolls and have never mis-loaded one.

 

[bmattock]

Stainless steel reels are a sucker's game, as are plastic. Use aprons.

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/50120-Arista-E-Z-120-Single-Reel-Film-Developing-Tank

No one can mess these up, and they cost a couple bucks each. I do not understand why everyone doesn't use them. Reels are for sucks.

 

[vdonovan]

I used aprons in high school and you are right, they are fast and idiot proof.

The problem is you can't put more than one roll in a tank. I often use four-roll tanks.

 

[Merkin]

How does one load one of those apron tanks? I must confess to being intrigued.

 

[marke]

I used aprons in high school and you are right, they are fast and idiot proof.

The problem is you can't put more than one roll in a tank. I often use four-roll tanks.

Right. Who's got time for that?

 

[Ducky]

I've never used an apron on 35mm but they are great for casual 120 use such as Holga & Diana.
Can the 120 aprons be used on 35mm? I have not seen 35mm aprons ever mentioned anywhere.

 

[bmattock]

Arista tanks with aprons can be used for 35mm or 120, but I think they have discontinued the 35mm ones. However, they were pattered after Kodak's "KodakCraft" aprons and tanks, which held two 35mm rolls or 1 120 (they also had aprons for 127 as well). They can usually be found on eBay for a couple bucks.

You can also use the aprons in any old tank you desire, it doesn't have to be a KodakCraft tank. I use my old stainless steel tanks, no problem. You do have to use something to keep the aprons apart if you're stacking more than one roll in the tank at a time. Kodak did that with a stainless-steel plate with holes in it that physically kept the aprons stacked one on top the other and still let the chemicals through.

I agree that if you're doing more than two rolls of 35mm at a time, the aprons probably are not the best bet. However, for all newbies, and anyone who has trouble with reels of all kinds, plastic and stainless steel, I recommend them. Everyone talks about how easy this or that system is to master - with aprons, there is nothing to master. You just roll up the film inside the apron and that's that.

 

[bmattock]

I've never used an apron on 35mm but they are great for casual 120 use such as Holga & Diana.
Can the 120 aprons be used on 35mm? I have not seen 35mm aprons ever mentioned anywhere.

I do not think I would use the 120 aprons on 35mm. It's the wavy edges that keep the film from touching the plastic apron itself on the part where the photo image is. There are lots of 35mm aprons on eBay, you just have to keep a saved search for Kodak developing tank, and they'll come up. Usually have to buy a bunch of junk with them, but I've collected all I'll ever need for a couple bucks, plus shipping. I've had to tell confused sellers to leave out the enlarger I won and paid for, all I want is that little plastic thing that looks like ravioli.

EDIT: Here is an eBay auction that has a couple of the KodakCraft tanks in it - might have aprons inside, you'd have to ask the seller. Looks like a bulk loader too, could be a score for someone.

HUGE Lot Camera Film Developing Processing Equipment

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Just wanted to add to this old thread that I just got a couple of Hewes reels, and wow. I'd been using a Patterson tank, but it was beginning to leak around the seals, and I decided I would at last give these a try. Night and day, compared to cheap reels--they are amazing.

 

[SuitePhoto]

I'll pile on as well and profess my love for these reels. I had a couple no-name stainless steel reels from Adorama that were a total pain to use. The Hewes work perfectly every time.

 

[Seele]

Anything would be pleasant compared to loading the original Contax tank: the "spiral" only has spiral on one side, the other side against which the film edge rests is completely flat.

 

[drewbarb]

Aprons are great. I use them all the time in the kitchen and the darkroom to keep my clothes clean. When processing film, however, I'd rather use reels and not waste my time.

Lately, I've been using the old trick of putting two rolls back to back on one reel- it's surprisingly easy with good Hewes reels. In a short tank I can process four rolls of 35mm in 450ml of developer- vs. one roll on an apron, in the same tank, with the same amount of chem.

 

[pschauss]

I have recently become a convert to the old Nikor reels. The 35mm reel that I have has no clip so centering the film between the top and bottom and feeding it straight are automatic. The 120 version has a clip with a spike. You still have to center the film on the reel but it is easier to make it feed straight because the film can pivot on the spike.

AFAIK these reels are not made anymore. Mine came with a couple of tanks that I bought off of Ebay. I was actually only interested in the tanks. I tried the reels out of curiosity and the rest is history.

 

[WDPictures]

Lately, I've been using the old trick of putting two rolls back to back on one reel- it's surprisingly easy with good Hewes reels. In a short tank I can process four rolls of 35mm in 450ml of developer- vs. one roll on an apron, in the same tank, with the same amount of chem.

Does this work for both 35mm and 120 film? I've loaded 2 rolls of 120 end-to-end on one reel with success but this back to back method sounds better. Any disadvantages with either film size?

Regarding the reels, I may have to get my Hewes back out for old-times sake but the plastic, ratcheting ones are faster and easier loading for me. 35 is fine on metal but hours spent in the dark trying to load 120 is no good.

 

[MISH]

For 120 Kindermann reals are fantastic

 

[semrich]

When I first considered doing my own developing I came upon a thread here with raves for Hewes reels and that's what I got for 35m and 120mf, now you couldn't get me to use anything else.