Thin film stock

[Dez]

It's been a while since I did any film developing, and my recent experiences have not ben good.

It appears that film stock is a lot thinner than it used to be. I have always used Nikor tanks, and never had problems in the good old Tri-X days, but I am constantly getting incorrect loading with modern Ilford and Kodak films, with two turns ending up in the same groove, or else buckling in such a way that the film is in contact with subsequent turns. I never had that problem before, but recently, I have had a lot of ruined, undeveloped images.

Is a new kind of tank needed these days, or is there some magic accessory or method that I need to use to ensure the film is loaded properly?

Thanks,
Dez

 

[Rob-F]

It's even worse with 120 film. I listen as I load, to help me know if it's going right. If I hear "shh-shh-shh" then it is. If I hear "crinkle-crinkle snap" then the film edge is jumping the track. After every few turns I try slipping the film back and forth a couple millimeters. If it moves freely, good. If it binds, then it has jumped the rails and i need to back up to where it is free.

I unwind the film completely from the cassette, and start it onto the reel from the leader end, which is more tightly wound on the cassette spool. It will go on smoothly near the center of the reel; but at the edge it wants to curl up and not stay flat between the rails.

Don't forget to pinch the film into a curve when loading.

 

[ptpdprinter]

Perhaps you are just out of practice. I haven't had any issues with the various Ilford films and the old reels.

 

[Dez]

Perhaps you are just out of practice. I haven't had any issues with the various Ilford films and the old reels.

That's entirely possible. Also, it used to be I had a genuine darkroom to load the reel in, and now I'm reduced to using a dark bag.

I did like the tip about putting the film in spool end first. I'll try that on the next roll.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I have one prestige brand metal tank and reel. Same crap as you described. The only reason I didn't make it flat with hammer is because I have plenty of old ECN-2 film. Not only it is thick, it spits crappy remjet as lot. Plastic turns grey. Metal is fine.

 

[sepiareverb]

You’re just out of practice. Spend an hour while watching tv loading some expired film again and again, you’ll be back on two wheels in no time. Some films are on thinner backing, the ADOX Silvermax for one. Ilford doesn’t seem to have changed, and some are on a beefier stock, like XX and ORWO UN-54.

 

[maddoc]

I always use Nikkor (spell?) rolls and a changing bag. I have usually no problems loading the rolls if I remind myself to push the film into the reel. A little bit difficult at times due to the limited space inside the changing bag. Contrary, I find it more difficult to load films with a thick base (old Tri-X stock or Double-X) than modern films, which indeed seems to be thinner.

 

[sepiareverb]

I’m on Hewes reels, which really are easier to load.

 

[philosli]

One thing to check while loading is to see if the film is flush in the reel groove by touching. If it's not, then unspool the film to the point where the film edge sticks out from the groove and restart from there.