Paterson tank - 2 x 120 on one reel

[Phantomas]

I have a question about the capacity of a filmreel in Paterson tank. I have a standard plastic black/red Paterson tank, it fits 2 x 35mm reels or 1 x 120 reel.
Currently I have quite a backlog of film to develop, and while usually the above capacity is plenty sufficient (feels right developing 2 rolls of the same type 35mm at a time), righ now I have quite a few of the same type 120's and quite a lot of 35mm to go. I'd like to do 120 quicker 🙂

Here's the question - I've noticed that loading 120 into the reel, there's still sufficient space left for another one... Is it possible to "push" 2 rolls of 120 onto one reel (one after the other of course)? Or is it a silly idea? I notice that after the film has loaded, if I keep rotating the reel the film keeps winding more towards inside thus possibly making space for the second roll...
Has anyone tried it? I do not have spare rolls of film right now to try it and wouldn't want to ruin exposed rolls, so I'll wait for your advice. Thanks!

 

[valdas]

I'm not sure about Paterson, but I have Jobo - I always load 2 120 films on one reel, no issues. It is desiged for two...

 

[mich8261]

I have the similar Jobo plastic tank and it can take a roll of 220 which is the same as 2 X 120 (once the paper back has been removed). You will have to find a way to attach your second roll to the first; you don't want it to slide over it as you load the tank.

 

[Phantomas]

Thanks for replies. Attaching indeed sounds like a good idea! I'm going downstairs now to load the tank and I'll try to scotchtape one to the other.
(Ah, the relief, my developing time halved! 🙂 )

 

[Al Kaplan]

Once those films come out of the wash the tape might no longer be sticking too well, so take 'em apart for squeegeeing and drying just to be safe. You'll also need twice as many film clips or clothes pins on hand.

 

[mich8261]

Thanks for replies. Attaching indeed sounds like a good idea! I'm going downstairs now to load the tank and I'll try to scotchtape one to the other.
(Ah, the relief, my developing time halved! 🙂 )

Not to mention that you will halve the amount of chemicals you need since 120, because of its width, requires a full tank of chems.

 

[palec]

I used the same tape the film was attached to the backing paper. Loaded one film, left a piece of it for attachment. Then detached second film together with tape from paper and carefully aligned films together and continued with loading. Now I have Jobo tank, which has tab to protect sliding the two films over.

 

[dfoo]

Not to mention that you will halve the amount of chemicals you need since 120, because of its width, requires a full tank of chems.

120 requires no more chemicals than 135.

 

[nikon_sam]

Yes it will work...I do it all the time...
No, you don't need to tape the ends together...
Just push the first roll all the way into the reel...it will stop and you will feel when this happens...then just start the second roll and reel it on like normal...
500ml of developer is enough to do the job...I use Rodinal 1+50 so the math is pretty easy...

THE REELS HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY DRY TO DO THIS...

 

[Silva Lining]

Like others have said, this does work well. I do it all the time.

I tend to use the tape that attaches the film to the backing paper to join the two films together. After developing I separate the two films to dry as the tape often loses its stickyness and separates.

 

[marcr1230]

2 rolls one reel

2 rolls one reel

the Jobo has a little red tab on one side of the reel that most people take off and throw away or lose - the purpose is to separate 2 120 rolls on one reel. you push it in after the first roll is loaded.
it seems to work fine with or without anyway.

 

[sanmich]

Yes it will work...I do it all the time...
No, you don't need to tape the ends together...
Just push the first roll all the way into the reel...it will stop and you will feel when this happens...then just start the second roll and reel it on like normal...
500ml of developer is enough to do the job...I use Rodinal 1+50 so the math is pretty easy...

THE REELS HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY DRY TO DO THIS...

I second this
and this
and this too.

 

[bobdole369]

I have an Arista tank designed for 2x135 rolls, or 1x120. I did manage to fit 1x120 and 1x135 to develop once, but I was not able to use the swizzle stick to turn it. It BARELY fit, and it was difficult to completely fill the tank. I got uneven development on the top roll - the 135, most likely because the tank wasn't absolutely full.

 

[Phantomas]

Hi, last night i successfully did it! Better yet, I did it on a wet reel (I didn't read the above advice, was already working on it and went straight to loading after developing 35mm rolls) and it worked!
Well, thanks again!

 

[sircarl]

There must be some secret technique I'm just not getting. Trying to load two 120 films on my Jobo reel has failed for me too many times. I wind the first film as far as it can go, press the red tab down, and wind the second film on. When I take the films out after processing, I usually discover the second film has overlapped the first for a few frames, ruining those frames. Any further hints would be welcome.

 

[Phantomas]

I'm not familiar with Jobo, did this in Paterson, but I'm a bit suspicious of rolling-first-film-all-the-way-then-second-roll method. I'm not questioning that it works for some people, but in my case it seems if I wind the film all the way runs the risk of displacement once the second roll is winded (since the reel is still being rotated).
The scotch tape worked for me - roll the first film till the end tip just enters the reel grooves and then stick the second film onto it. It requires a bit of fiddling but at least you'll avoid two films overlapping.
(Heh, just last night I was asking the advice and now I'm an "expert" 🙂 )

 

[vfrazz]

what about the chemicals...

what about the chemicals...

But wouldn't the the activity of the chemicals be diluted because the surface area (of two rolls) has doubled?

 

[Phantomas]

It doesn't matter. You simply need enough chemicals to cover the film (500ml in case of 120). Chemicals will have the same effect on two rolls as they would on one. (It's like developing 24 shot 35mm vs 36 shot - same amount of chems required - enough to "drawn" the film).

 

[dfoo]

As I said the amount of chemistry required for one roll of 120 is the same as the amount of chemistry required for one roll of 135 (that is the surface area of the film is more or less the same). In a two roll tank, you can certainly develop two rolls of 135, so it therefore follows that you can do the same for 120.

 

[Rogrund]

In a two roll tank, you can certainly develop two rolls of 135, so it therefore follows that you can do the same for 120.

As I recall, a two roll Paterson tank can't take two 120 reels. I could be wrong, though. 🙂