Best Stainless Steel reel for 120?

MTGseattle · Feb 21, 2025

chuckroast said:
I learned to roll film onto the Nikkor (and other) SS reels without using the clip. It's much easier. You just slide the end of the film into the center of the reel and start winding.

Does this method work on reels that have a center clip? wouldn't the clip get in the way of proper insertion? Without looking at my reels, I guess it's likely that the little wire clip is only brazed to one of the center pins of the reel.

Nitroplait · Feb 21, 2025

I have Hewes, Nikor, Kinderman and a few unbranded 120 reels, and they all work the same for me.
I do not use the center clip - NEVER - on any of them. I just hold the end with my thumb for the first round and go from there.

I quickly found that trying to attach the end to the reel-clip just lead to disaster.

First I roll the 120 film free of the paper so the taped end is a the "beginning".

The taped-end then is where I start in the center of the reel. If that makes sense.

I have found that Paterson plastic reels as well as Hewes steel are perfectly fine for 35mm, but I can only comfortably use steel reels for 120.

Nitroplait · Feb 21, 2025

MTGseattle said:
Does this method work on reels that have a center clip? wouldn't the clip get in the way of proper insertion? Without looking at my reels, I guess it's likely that the little wire clip is only brazed to one of the center pins of the reel.

Just ignore the clip and hold the end of the film with a finger for the first round. It is much easier if you ignore the clip.

Sirius Glass · Feb 21, 2025

Hewes, Nikor, Kinderman and a few unbranded 120 reels work well, but the Hewes stainless steel reels are the easiest to use. Still it helps with any reel to trim the corners.

chuckroast · Feb 21, 2025

MTGseattle said:
Does this method work on reels that have a center clip? wouldn't the clip get in the way of proper insertion? Without looking at my reels, I guess it's likely that the little wire clip is only brazed to one of the center pins of the reel.

There is always a bit of space by the clip you can slip into, at least on the reels I have used.

chuckroast · Feb 21, 2025

brian steinberger said:
Is this after you have removed the backing paper? Or do you let the backing paper fall away as you load?

I remove the backing paper first.

Ben Hutcherson · Feb 22, 2025

The only way I’ve ever loaded 120 is to remove it from the paper first. I can’t imagine holding the film for proper loading on stainless with the paper in the way.

I’m definitely a no clip fan. The only exception to that are Hewes 35mm reels, where I let the two “spikes” hold the socket holes. Other than that, they all seem to cause more harm than good for me.

Sirius Glass · Feb 23, 2025

Ben Hutcherson said:
The only way I’ve ever loaded 120 is to remove it from the paper first. I can’t imagine holding the film for proper loading on stainless with the paper in the way.

I’m definitely a no clip fan. The only exception to that are Hewes 35mm reels, where I let the two “spikes” hold the socket holes. Other than that, they all seem to cause more harm than good for me.

Dittio. I completely remove the paper first and then load the reel or reels free of the paper.

Best Stainless Steel reel for 120?

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