Spooling 120 into patterson

[Roger Hicks]

I start 120 film into the grooves but do not try to push it past the ratcheting balls. Instead, I take my thumb and forefinger and pull the initial edge of the film through. Then I ratchet the remaining 99% of the 120 roll onto the reel. That has always been bulletproof for me.

35mm I can push through the ratcheting ball mechanism but 120 I just pull.

Seconded.

Cheers,

R.

 

[ferider]

x2 with trimming the corners.

x3. For both 120 and 35mm. Makes a big difference.

And for 120, if you've never done it blind, do a dry run in the open.

Roland.

 

[emayoh]

Banish moisture! Keep some silica gel packets in your change bag, and handle some dry rice before you do yer spooling.

 

[Zorkiiglaza]

EXCUSE ME, if I overlooked this in the conversation but, have you tried loading a roll in the light. Waste a roll of film and just practice until you can do it with your eyes closed.
I have always preferred the SS tanks for 120 myself.

 

[wblynch]

I have also spooled from the taped end. Some Rollei and Foma film i had was very springy and the tail end was too tightly wound to want to go on the reel.

Putting the taped end on first (with the tape wrapped around the edge) and trimming the corners made it very easy.

 

[Zonan]

Banish moisture! Keep some silica gel packets in your change bag, and handle some dry rice before you do yer spooling.

A quick read had me thinking you were suggesting handling some dry ICE first- that would surely make for interesting loading! That little "r" makes all the difference 🙂

 

[jan normandale]

+4 for trimming the corners off of the rolled film. Next I take the "tape end" and I use my thumbnail to take out the 'curve or bend' in the film. This helps it track through the grooves more smoothly. I hear people say SS vs Plastic I think it's a matter of practice. I can load 3 spools of 120 inside a bag in 9 - 10 minutes total using Paterson spools and tanks. I've not seen these other "wide mouth" spools but YMMV.

Trim those corners!! ;D

 

[Beemermark]

Years ago I learned on SS reels. Some three years later, reading photo magazines, I decided to get the "easier to use" plastic reels. When they work as advertised, they are indeed nice. When the don't, they are worse than SS. I quickly went back to SS reels and haven't gone back.

Same here, I could never load 120 on the Patterson reels. I couldn't even do it in daylight without a lot of swearing.

If you're just starting out take an unexposed roll of film and practice with the lights on.