stainless steel reels - get the right ones!

[daninjc]

Ok, I'm starting this film developing thing, and I practiced a while with some generic-brand stainless steel reels I got from Freesytle. Unbelievable. I couldn't get the film right in not a single time. Seriously, they are a joke. A not-funny-at-all joke.
Today I got Hewes stainless steel reels. The film loaded instantly, easily, and perfectly. Worth every penny. Now my question: why would anyone even produce such a terrible and unusable product as those crappy reels? (answer - because some idiot like me buys them - but I didn't imagine they were so worthless).

 

[ederek]

Indeed, the cheap brands are worse than worthless.

I'm willing to bet that the cheap reels are such a bad experience, that those who don't push on and get Hewes would just quit developing at home altogether.

First time w/ the cheapies I had the film jump the wire (they aren't very flat when viewed from the side) and touch the previous loop, causing loss of several frames. grrrrr. Returned them to Calumet and told them it was wrong to even sell them, and Calumet went WAY down in my book at that point as a local source.

Glad you found the Hewes, they're the bomb!! The film just jumps onto them, each and every time.

 

[ederek]

Oh, btw, I think the rep at Calumet said the cheap ones (Kalt) were stocked for students learning B&W. :bang::bang::bang:

 

[mgd711]

Hewes, hewes, hewes.....

I’ve not got a dozen 35mm and 120 reels and its money well spent. The 35mm reels are the best, the 120 reels I still sometimes don’t get the film in straight but now it’s a rare occurrence.

I started with plastic AP brand tanks and reels and these were ok when they were new but as they got used I got more and more problems. I then bought a bunch of cheap reels and tanks on EBay. The tanks were ok but not one off the reels would load properly... lesson learnt! Everytime I place an order with Freestyle I add a couple off more reels.

 

[daninjc]

Wow that is terrible: those students will end up hating the developing process!
btw, I spent the last two hours developing and it's been great: I can't believe everything went so smoothly. Hewes load perfectly!

Oh, btw, I think the rep at Calumet said the cheap ones (Kalt) were stocked for students learning B&W. :bang::bang::bang:

 

[drewbarb]

We've been saying this for years for a reason.

 

[pschauss]

The old Nikor 35mm reels with no clip in the center are even easier to load.

 

[filmfan]

I found the old Nikor reels were nice. However, nothing comes close to the Hewes reels-- love those little hooks.

 

[RichL]

Been using Nikor and Omega sets for the past four decades and wouldn't trade them for anything.

Sore spot.
Why oh why do people sell junk and pass it off as "for the beginner"? The fastest way to turn a person off to a new field is to give them a piece of junk.
Anyone caught doing so should be slapped up side the head and have "I'm a disabler" tattooed on their forehead. 🙂

 

[dshfoto]

Just don't drop the ss reels!

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Oh, btw, I think the rep at Calumet said the cheap ones (Kalt) were stocked for students learning B&W. :bang::bang::bang:

They say that because students do buy the cheap ones because they either cannot afford good reels or they refuse to spend the money. A lot of students do shortsighted, stupid things. When I was in college, I had a friend who drank, partied, smoked weed, etc. but never had money to buy photo gear or film. Her dad was a professional photographer who wouldn't even let her use his stuff because she was so irresponsible!

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I agree on Hews. Incredible reels, wish I'd discovered them 20 yrs ago. I do have a bunch of the old Nikor reels and they lead easily, but not as easy as the Hews. I also have a bunch of offbrand made in Taiwan crap reels, they're damn near impossible to use. I just use them as fillers when i need empty reels to fill out a tank.

 

[sig]

They say that because students do buy the cheap ones because they either cannot afford good reels or they refuse to spend the money. A lot of students do shortsighted, stupid things. When I was in college, I had a friend who drank, partied, smoked weed, etc. but never had money to buy photo gear or film. Her dad was a professional photographer who wouldn't even let her use his stuff because she was so irresponsible!

'A friend who drank, partied etc'? What kind of university did you go to? That is what students are supposed to do.....

Students are also supposed to live on the cheap side, only because they can not afford to do anything else.

Anyways, I use plastic reels.

 

[typhillips]

Another enthusiastic vote for Hewes!

Although I must say that I now can load film on the cheapies just as easily (assuming they aren't bent). But when I was starting out, it made a big difference.

 

[wgerrard]

I use Hewes reels, but it took a very long time to figure them out.

I picked up two Kindermann reels along with a tank a few months ago. The tank is fine, but, for the life of me, I can't figure out how I'm supposed to load film into the reels. There's what looks to be a clip in the center, but it doesn't flex or open.

It is one of the odd quirks of photography that something as simple and fundamental as loading film on a reel generated such a variety of approaches and generates so much frustration in newbies.

 

[Graham Line]

The old Nikor 35mm reels with no clip in the center are even easier to load.

They're great, but it's almost impossible to find them in mint condition these days.

 

[jburgie]

I had a 120 reel that was 1 or 2 mm wider than it should have been. I didn't discover this until I ruined several rolls. So, when buying a new reel, always check it against one that works well. Ditto when you drop one on the floor.

 

[crawdiddy]

Well, I use the cheap SS reels (Kalt), and I rarely have an issue. It takes some practice to get it down, but once you do, it's not a problem.

The only issue I occasionally have is film jumping a track. It usually happens near the center of the reel, and never spoils more than 2 frames. I would say this happens in about 1 roll out of 20.

 

[Dwayneb9584]

I'm about ready to develop my first roll of film next week after extensive research i've done. I wanted to go with the Adorama Stainless Steel Daylight tank and two Hewes Heavy Duty Reels. What do you guys think about that instead of using the Paterson tanks and Plastic reels. I just want something that's going to last me for a loooooong time.

 

[Edward C. Zimmermann]

I'm about ready to develop my first roll of film next week after extensive research i've done.

Why extensive research? Its NOT rocket science!

I wanted to go with the Adorama Stainless Steel Daylight tank and two Hewes Heavy Duty Reels. What do you guys think about that instead of using the Paterson tanks and Plastic reels.

Why steel reels? While they have their place--- and I have a set in my kit--- they are not better than plastic. The plastic reels demand less experience and are more bullet-proof than any of the stainless steel reels. The main issue with plastic reels is that they can't be use wet or even slightly moist and they need to be fed good films. They also wear--- as the plastic breaks down--- and can't be cleaned in hot water. They are, however, also more robust in our typical darkrooms--- e.g. falls. The reason that the amateur market is dominated by plastic reels (Jobo, Paterson, A+P and their OEMS as Durst, Kaiser etc.) is because for most photographers they are easier to use and more reliable. As long as the film is relatively flat and smooth (as most contemporary films are) loading is easy and fast with plastic. Stainless steel might be faster to load in the hands of a highly experienced lab technician but that's irrelevant to most people developing their own film--- inclusive of professional photographers.

I just want something that's going to last me for a loooooong time.

Not sure that stainless steel will last longer. Plastic reels last a time and they are cheap. Since one can't use them wet and they adjust in size, one also tends to have more of them and so...