My reels are driving me nutz. Plz help.

[fbf]

I used to use plastic reels for develop at school's darkroom and I never had any problems. I started doing b&w processing at home not long ago and the stainless reels are driving me crazy. :bang: I have done less than 40 rolls of b&w processing at home and EVERY SINGLE TIME there will be part of film sticking together, sometimes one or two frames, sometimes more (like today, 10 frames was ruined :bang🙂. I bought general brand stainless tank and reels from B&h (a pro recommended to me...) I think my technique is right which I learned from school but IT DOES NOT work ... so please help me. Any tips or suggestions will be appreciated.
Thank you.


L.

 

[MikeL]

fbf, I've stuck to using plastic with 135 and stainless with 120 for the same reason. I switched to stainless to increase the number I run at a time, but I screwed up feeding them twice and that was enough for me. I could have practiced and got it to work, but the plastic ones were/are working fine.

 

[eric]

What is the technique they taught you?

 

[Chris101]

... Any tips or suggestions will be appreciated.
Thank you.


L.

http://www.amazon.com/Hewes-Heavy-Stainless-Steel-Developing/dp/B0000ALKEN

 

[FPjohn]

most generic reels are faulty, Hewes or kindermann reels as suggested by chris101 are the way to go. Unlike plastic reels, loading is from the center out.

yours
FPJ

 

[fbf]

fbf, I've stuck to using plastic with 135 and stainless with 120 for the same reason. I switched to stainless to increase the number I run at a time, but I screwed up feeding them twice and that was enough for me. I could have practiced and got it to work, but the plastic ones were/are working fine.

I had no problem using the plastic ones at school but honestly they are very difficult to be cleaned (at least for the ones we used). No one really cared, because no one actually cleaned them 😀 (TAs did the dirty job)

What is the technique they taught you?

Only thing I remember is that roll the reel with left hand while right hand continues to feed. The probleme is that I can FEEL the films sticking out from the reel so I just keep roll it back and forth.....in the end, I got tried of it and my hands were numb (small chaning bag).

http://www.amazon.com/Hewes-Heavy-Stainless-Steel-Developing/dp/B0000ALKEN

Thanks.

 

[fbf]

most generic reels are faulty, Hewes or kindermann reels as suggested by chris101 are the way to go.

yours
FPJ

Thanks. It is ...expensive and I have to buy two 35mm and one 120...:bang:

 

[srtiwari]

As much as I admire hard work to develop some real skill- such as eating with flat, heavy, steel chopsticks- I prefer the easy way. The AP compact set with big, wide, tabs, makes it effortless, without practicing. Here is the link to these plastic 135/120 reels and tank.
See right side of page...

http://www.frugalphotographer.com/catChemicals.htm

Hope this helps.
Subhash

 

[FPjohn]

A second set of dry plastic reels or a low temperature drying oven give quick turnaround. They load well only when dry IME.

SS reels, good ones, require a nack to load. Basically a slight curl from holding them as the film is threaded into the grooves. Once you get it they never fail.

yours
FPJ

 

[steelydam]

I can say that I have no problems with a few reels I've had and used frequently since 1990, even after having dropped them a few times creating some minor bending. On the other hand, a few months ago I bought one brand new that had "made in China" inscribed on the box. After botching 2 consecutive rolls with this one, I tossed it. Unfortunately I don't know what brand my trusty old ones are...

 

[rtphotos]

As previously mentioned, quality SS reels are essential. They are worth it. Never heard of "general brand".

You have my sympathy, though. 😀 I think many of us have gone through this. The easiest way to learn how to do it right is to sacrifice a roll of film, and practice with it (with the lights on) - over and over and over. Somethings are worth the bit of time invested! Watch carefully how the leading bit of film needs to be seated perfectly at the git-go or you are in for some pain!

You can FEEL (and hear) the film winding on correctly/incorrectly. Pay attention!

Also, if you have a tendency to get nervous and sweat, the film will start to curl and you're up-the-creek again. Stay cool, and if possible load the reels in an A/C darkroom (no lights) - not in a changing bag.

Once you get it, it's like riding a bike. You don't even think about it.

Keep trying. It's worth the initial pain. And may the force be with you! 😉
rt

ps. don't ding or drop the SS reels. If you do, they won't work well at all, as all college photo labbies will tell you! Are you sure that your reels are dingless and dry?

 

[underbyte]

I have been through the same experience minus the plastic reels. I had a number of steel reels that I could never get to load consistently. There is little more frustrating in this world than standing in the dark and knowing you have a problem. I finally bought a couple of the expensive reels, I think they are Hewes, but branded as Omega. They have starter "fingers?" for the sprocket holes, and are just about fool proof. I haven't had ANY problems since I started using them 1-2 years ago. It seems expensive when you buy them ($26 USD) but they make the difference between developing negatives and screaming obscenities. Almost all 120 reels work but the technique is important. Get one of those reels, you will be glad you did!

 

[fbf]

My reels are "new" and I always keep them dry and clean in the drawer.
Anway, I have wasted about 30-40 precious frames since I started processing at home and I can't take it no more. I am getting new reels tomorrow. Thanks to everone. 😀

 

[bmattock]

I know no one listens, but for some reason, I feel compelled to say once again:

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=&pid=5628

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/sc_prod.php?cat_id=&pid=5629

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kodacraft-Roll-...ryZ29993QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

No reels at all - not plastic, not steel. You just roll the film up in the clear plastic apron and that's it.

I recently did a roll wrong - first time ever - I rolled it with the emulsion side in instead of out and ruined it. That was dumb of me. Otherwise, it is all I have used in years, for 35mm and 120.

 

[underbyte]

I don't listen, but....

I don't listen, but....

I know no one listens, but for some reason, I feel compelled to say once again:

No reels at all - not plastic, not steel. You just roll the film up in the clear plastic apron and that's it.

Sounds and looks too simple, it can't possibly work! Where is the hardship involved?🙂

 

[drewbarb]

Yep, it's the reels. Cheap off brand ones suck, and will ruin your film at their first chance, so don't give it to them. (B&H's "general brand" tag just means that they get the cheapest they can find, and it might be from any one of a number of manufacturers. Beware the "general brand" merch from B&H...)

The Hewes reels others have mentioned are really the way to go, for stainless steel reels. The sproket hole prongs grab the film and keep it properly aligned at the start of the roll, which really helps to keep it properly aligned the whole way on. Plus, the wires are thicker and more heavy duty, so they will stay straight and true, and not get knocked out of alignment at the drop of a hat. They are a bit more expensive, but they are so much better that it's just not worth getting the cheap ones- unless you like your film messed up.

 

[bmattock]

Sounds and looks too simple, it can't possibly work! Where is the hardship involved?🙂

Yeah, I know. I've been down this road before. I've actually gotten into arguments with dinosaurs who believe that there SHOULD be some pain involved in learning how to load reels, or you're not a real photographer. Seriously.

I am of the opinion that at this point, we need to attract young-uns to the film camp, not drive them away by playing the 'fetch wood, carry water' apprenticeship b.s. Those days are over. Tell the kids that they can't learn to develop film until they too have ruined a few hundred rolls of film and they'll tell you introduce it up your jaxie and return to their digicam with glee.

I get really tired of harrumphing old smell-pots that can't figure out that ruining film trying to stuff it into a reel is not a skill that makes one a better photographer. It's simply one of those rites of passage whose time has come and gone, and they need to get over it.

The aprons DO have a couple of drawbacks. One is, even the original Kodak tanks would only hold two rolls of 35mm film, and one roll of 127 or 120/620. So it is definitely for the small-scale developer, not a lab or a guy who shoots a couple dozen rolls at a go. For them, I can see why they'd want the deep tank or the nikor reels, etc.

The second drawback is you have to agitate a tad more frequently with the aprons to prevent them from having uneven development. Not a huge deal. Like I've got something else to do while my negs are souping.

Other than that, they're so easy, I am disgusted with myself for messing a roll up recently.

 

[underbyte]

If I was just getting going, I would look at this for sure. As it stands, I have finally figured out how to process 1-2 rolls at a time with great consistency. How can I turn my back on a process that works? That said, easy is often better, especially for beginners. And, I did not relish the rolls of film wasted. That is no fun for anyone. In fact, I will take a look at this after all, thanks for sharing it.

 

[bmattock]

If I was just getting going, I would look at this for sure. As it stands, I have finally figured out how to process 1-2 rolls at a time with great consistency. How can I turn my back on a process that works? That said, easy is often better, especially for beginners. And, I did not relish the rolls of film wasted. That is no fun for anyone. In fact, I will take a look at this after all, thanks for sharing it.

I agree, if you're fine with what you have, no reason to change it. I have both plastic reels (cheap) and some really high-quality steel reels, and I'd get them both humming and then I'd have a meltdown and nothing would work, I'd get mad, etc. I mean ten years is enough. If I'm that fumble-fingered, then I'm at fault and not the reels, but enough is still enough. I tried the aprons. No more problems. Simple as that. If reels still worked for me, I'd have never tried aprons either.

 

[rich815]

Hewes. Worth their weight on gold. A true bargain even at their premium price to "standard" reels.