What kind of reel for developing 120?

[Pfreddee]

I tried my own developing years ago for 120, and as I recall, I used one of the metal reels, you know, the one with the tiny, STIFF little clip in the middle of the reel to which one attaches the end of the roll. It worked fine but I sure had sore fingers using one. I found I could manage only two rolls at a sitting before the pain was too much.

Now I'm using a Patterson tank and plastic reel for 35mm, and loading this reel is a breeze. Well, usually.🙄.
I see that I can pull the reel out to make it fit 120, but there's nothing like a sprocket hole in 120 film for the reel to grab. How well do the plastic Patterson reels work with 120?

Or is there yet another choice?

Thanks to all who reply.

With best regards,

Pfreddee(Stephen)

 

[chris00nj]

I use a Patterson reel and I don't have any trouble winding it.

 

[oftheherd]

They will work fine. There should be a spring loaded ball bearing, what grips the 35mm film. It isn't just to grab sprocket holes, it applies pressure to the film and pulls it on into the reel.

 

[pschauss]

I use Hewes or Nikor reels for 120. The Hewes 120 reels have the wire clip in the middle facing the oposite direction from the way the generic ones do. On the Nikor reels, which are no longer made, the clip in the center is a flat strip of metal. The older ones are set up to pinch the end of the film between a small spike and a flat spot on the metal strip. The newer ones pinch the end of the film between the metal strip and the wire center frame of the reel.

 

[nikon_sam]

For 120 and 35mm I use Paterson reels and they work great for me...
The thing with these reels is they need to be completely dry in order for them to work properly...
I can load two rolls of 120 film on a single reel...I load the first roll, then push it forward until it stops then load the second...this doesn't happen if they have any moisture on them...
I also find that the older Paterson reels were made a little thicker and better than the newer ones that seem to flex a bit when set to load 120 film...
The older ones had bearings that were chromed and stayed shiny, the new ones have bearings that turn black...

 

[maddoc]

Recently, I bought some Patterson reels / tanks and also AP reels. The AP reels look like a copy of the Pattersons but are cheaper and easier to load when developing 120 film.

 

[Vics]

I used the Patterson reels for years, and they work fine. Why do you need sprocket holes?

 

[benlees]

Arista makes an "easy load" version of the Paterson reel. It is a lot quicker using one of these. Available at Freestyle.

 

[chioque]

I'm now using Hewes, Nikor or Kindermann steel reels. For me they're all quite easy to load. But, when I started, I used the Paterson tank and plastic reels

 

[Melvin]

I love Hewes reels for 35mm and hate them for 120. I find them very hard to load and I also think that the curve in the film from the clip causes uneven development at the edges of the frame. For 120 I vote Patterson all the way.

 

[gilpen123]

Try Samigon reels, it's a breeze to load 120 due to it's wide flange.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Like others, I find plastic easier for 120, the more so as I can load two 120 films end to end. I have LOTS of Jobo spirals (I buy 'em whenever I see 'em cheap) so I always have plenty dry. But for 35mm, it's Hewes by a country mile.

Cheers,

R.

 

[tokengirl]

I love Hewes reels for 35mm and hate them for 120. I find them very hard to load and I also think that the curve in the film from the clip causes uneven development at the edges of the frame.

I thought the same thing until the other day when, while I had my hands, a roll of 120 film and Hewes reel in the changing bag, I had a minor epiphany after cussing repeatedly then taking a deep breath.

The Hewes 120 reels are actually INCREDIBLY easy to load. I've taken some photos of the process with my iPhone, and I hope you can understand what I'm showing in spite of the pictures (they would probably make more sense if I had three hands).

Lay the film flat on top of the little bars (circled below),


so that it looks like this


press the clip to open it and just slide the film in a little and release the clip


and then the film will wind right on.


This is incredibly easy to do by feel in the dark. Practice with a spoiled roll in the light can't hurt.

Hope this helps just one person that has been cussing out Hewes in the past. 😀