Can't Load 120 film even if my life depended on it!

[AgX]

AP is a manufacturer originating from a plastic moulding company.

see also:
http://www.apphoto.es/ap_products/docs/eng/empresa.htm

 

[StoneNYC]

AP is a manufacturer originating from a plastic moulding company.

see also:
http://www.apphoto.es/ap_products/docs/eng/empresa.htm

For some reason my brain translates AP as Arista Plastics hahahha granted I've had 2 hours sleep an now headed to work lol


~Stone | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gone]

I have never heard of anyone having these types of problems loading film on a reel, nor do I understand how an improperly loaded reel cannot be scanned? Do you mean developed? If I had these sort of issues I would just shoot 35mm, LF, or digital. Life is too short as it is.

 

[k.hendrik]

hahahha granted I've had 2 hours sleep an now headed to work lol

I hope your work hasn't anything to do with health/education or in any form is related to human life

btw; after some wine yesterday evening I forgot to mention the word "calcium" !! The word 'crud' is new to me; thanks. and 'pencil' : use a 6B pencil >start in the middle > just one stroke on both reels>film goes in like ... well whatever. Works good on (old)car keys too. Nobody talks about the importance of "cutting the film-corners" !

 

[IndifferentCamera]

AP ones work better for me as well.

I have had a problem, on and off, for years with Paterson reels. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. I have come to the conclusion, having eliminated all else, that there is a defect with some of the 'halves' and when 2 slightly bad halves are joined, you end up with a very bad whole reel that will not load no matter how clean or dry everything is. 135 or 120 adjusted.

I'm switching to stainless now but having read some of the problems people encounter, I feel like it might be back to square one, with the exception being that if I master the steel, it will be downhill from there (til my body fails me ). The best thing I ever did buy, with ref. to loading, was a Calumet changing tent. I so love my pop-up tent.

Jon

 

[R.Gould]

I have used Patterson tanks and reels for 90% of my film developing life and have never had a problem with them, there is a very simple trick to Patterson reels, and one which would apply to any plastic reels, take a sharp pencil, run the lead around the groves of the reel, load film, film slips in like a hot knife though butter, I have been doing this for more years than I care to remember and I have yet to have a film stick.

 

[StoneNYC]

I have used Patterson tanks and reels for 90% of my film developing life and have never had a problem with them, there is a very simple trick to Patterson reels, and one which would apply to any plastic reels, take a sharp pencil, run the lead around the groves of the reel, load film, film slips in like a hot knife though butter, I have been doing this for more years than I care to remember and I have yet to have a film stick.

Again read the other posts, it's not the film sticking in the groves it's getting the film to load in the reel in the first place.


~Stone | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Argenticien]

AP is a manufacturer originating from a plastic moulding company.

see also:
http://www.apphoto.es/ap_products/docs/eng/empresa.htm

Mine, mentioned in my post above, must be AP as well. There are no words on the reels, but they came in a set with a tank, and on the bottom of the tank it says "Made in Spain."

As I said I've had no problems other than with flagrantly curly 35 mm -- so, no problems that I ascribe to the reels. That's despite the fact that they've never been cleaned with anything other than water. After each processing of film, I simply rinse them off. No scrubbing of the grooves or anything so scrupulous as that!

--Dave

 

[R.Gould]

Again read the other posts, it's not the film sticking in the groves it's getting the film to load in the reel in the first place.


~Stone | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

Again I have yet to have a problem, the only time I ever had problems starting 120 or 35mm films was with SS reels, gave up with them after spending to much time trying to start them, went back to patterson and never a problem, try starting with the tape end of the film, tear the tape and fold any excess and use the tape to stiffen the film, may help, also I was aware of the problem, using the pencil to dry grease the start of the reel does help, make sure the ball bearing are not stuck and the film should simply slip in, I have been loading 120 film into Patterson reels for over 40 years using these methods and I have yet to either have a film stick or problems starting,

 

[destroya]

loaded my first two 120 rolls into my patterson yesterday with no issues. i was worried as i read this thread first, but cutting the corners made it quick and easy, and i do use a changing bag

 

[gliderbee]

This is HUGE!!! I read it on this forum. This place is great for practical advice once you get past all the philisophical debates.

Unroll the entire roll of film and separate it from the backing paper. Fold the tape over the end of the roll. Now this is important. Bend the taped end of the roll back on itself near the end. Basically take the curve out of it. Now load that end first. With a dry reel that solved my loading problems. It can still be a bit finicky to get started but it doesn't hang a third or half way through for me anymore. I no longer dent my film and cause those semi circles and I don't use the SS reels I own. Try it and let us know how it works for you.

This is the way I do it since a few years now, with jobo reels. Works every time, provided the reels are dry.

Stefan

Verstuurd van mijn GT-P7510 met Tapatalk

 

[AgX]

Again read the other posts, it's not the film sticking in the groves it's getting the film to load in the reel in the first place.

Sticking in the groves and not slipping into the groves are two sides on one medal.
Both would basically be due to friction. One remedy could be the application of a dry-lubrican as graphite

 

[Nige]

I reckon being too 'gentle' when ratcheting the film in causes the ball bearings to 'stick'. I use quick movements and have no issues. I lightly grip the reel and if the film does jam I seem to be able to stop and not bend anything. Only time I've had trouble was when using a change bag... a creation of evil that thing!

 

[StoneNYC]

Sticking in the groves and not slipping into the groves are two sides on one medal.
Both would basically be due to friction. One remedy could be the application of a dry-lubrican as graphite

Ok well when I use Paterson/jobo reels, I don't have trouble sliding the film, I have trouble getting the film to simply go into the groves... Once it's in the groves it's no problem, it's that unlike the samigon. There's no tongue to lay the film on and guide it into the track. There's a TINY edge sticking out bit it takes me forever and a million tries to get both sides of the film to fall into the groves and not slip out of the other side.

It sounds like the OP has that same issue.

I could be wrong.. OP?


~Stone | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[removed account4]

i'd get rid of the plastic reels altogether .. even metal reels with no film clip
are easier to load ... plastic reels are for the birds ... and loading them
in a hot humid zippered bag .. talk about looking for troubles ..

 

[StoneNYC]

i'd get rid of the plastic reels altogether .. even metal reels with no film clip
are easier to load ... plastic reels are for the birds ... and loading them
in a hot humid zippered bag .. talk about looking for troubles ..

Guess we all have a preference.


~Stone | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AgX]

Ok well when I use Paterson/jobo reels, I don't have trouble sliding the film, I have trouble getting the film to simply go into the groves... Once it's in the groves it's no problem, it's that unlike the samigon. There's no tongue to lay the film on and guide it into the track. There's a TINY edge sticking out bit it takes me forever and a million tries to get both sides of the film to fall into the groves and not slip out of the other side.

Now I understand what you referred to.

By the way, Jobo too changed the design of their reels (transparent to white version) concerning those guides at the start of the groves.

 

[edcculus]

I have quite the opposite problem. I hate loading 35mm, and have a much easier time loading 120.

 

[gus.]

Time and time again I have tried using SS reels with little success. I use plastic with the ratchet with no issues. I felt like I was 'failing' at using a standard darkroom tool and I couldn't bring myself to let it go but I finally just used what worked for me. Good luck!

 

[P C Headland]

I find the centre loading plastic Gepe reels really easy to load. They come with a loading guide, and can be loaded in about 15 seconds dry or damp. I think they are sold under various different brand names. I prefer them over the Jobo reels, especially when it comes to unloading - the film unwinds so easily. In fact, I don't think I've had a single problem with these - no jumped tracks, no kinks.

 

[tron_]

I didn't read all the replies but my biggest advice is when you load the film, don't let the film "rock" back and forth as you're winding it onto the reel. Also use your pinkies as a spool to hold the spare film. I can get my 120 film onto the reel the first time 95% of the time using these tips and I had a lot of trouble before.

 

[StoneNYC]

I didn't read all the replies but my biggest advice is when you load the film, don't let the film "rock" back and forth as you're winding it onto the reel. Also use your pinkies as a spool to hold the spare film. I can get my 120 film onto the reel the first time 95% of the time using these tips and I had a lot of trouble before.

Always had trouble with the pinky trick... I agree don't rock the spool.

But I just let it hang and rotate one side without altering the axis of the spool.

Never had a scratch or anything of concern. In the beginning if I didn't make sure the ball bearings were sufficiently loose I would have issues where it would jam but once I learned to "release" them by relieving pressure on their surroundings and hearing the rattle of balls on both sides, then I haven't had issues.


~Stone | Sent w/ iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bsinmich]

I had stainless steel and could never lod them quickly. I have 5 reels for the Unicolor film drum from doing my own E6. For a single roll of 120 I like the old FR plastic tank. You spear the end on the spear that is on the center post and just keep rolling it on. It used to take 220 also when that was more available. That was the easiest I ever used. Now I have Patterson for 2 rolls at a time. I never got brave enoigh to try B&W in the Unicolor drum and rotator.

 

[Nuff]

I have a paterson tank and I always had a bit of 120 film sticking out of it. I couldn't get all of it in, because it would bend. I've tried all the tricks mention here except pencil/graphite/lead. And none of them made much difference.
I've just tried to pencil trick and the film has never loaded easier. It was quick! And it's winter here, so sweat was never an issue lately.

Now I'm keen on trying to taping 2 x 120 rolls together and feeding them on the same reel. The pencil made a huge difference. Just as a side note I used a B2 pencil, since I thought that softer pencil should work better...

 

[jvo]

101 not enough...

FWIW, I occasionally had problems if reels were not 101% dry, and particularly in warm conditions when hands were damp or perspiring (and. if you get agitated or flustered, hands get even moister). Light cotton photo gloves are a possibility.
I see that you've practiced, but, for anyone who hasn't. it's worth trying with a scrap film, both in daylight then in the darkroom.
(Apologies if that's all obvious).

i loved the paterson reels and tanks... but if they weren't 120%+ dry, those little balls pushed forward and my thumbs in exactly the right spot, i was never gonna get my film loaded.
i went all stainless and it was painless (had to do it - the pun). i don't remember it being difficult to learn. now i could load film in my sleep, blind folded, upside down, underwater with both my hands tied behind my back... errhh, well, maybe not underwater - but you get the idea. i also use less solutions with ss tank.

go for it.