• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Choosing a tank

Latest Gallery

Ferns

H
Ferns

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
between takes

H
between takes

  • Tel
  • Mar 21, 2026
  • 2
  • 0
  • 28

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
202,863
Messages
2,846,749
Members
101,575
Latest member
ALCO
Recent bookmarks
0
I think it is the reels that make the difference. There are many different plastic reels that load differently. Most stainless steel reels load the same from the center. Though the grabber in the middle can be easy or hard to use, depending on the brand. When using 120 film, it is important to use a reel designed to allow even development at the edge. In that case I have had good results with the Jobo 1500 reels.
 
ic-racer said:
I think it is the reels that make the difference. There are many different plastic reels that load differently. Most stainless steel reels load the same from the center. Though the grabber in the middle can be easy or hard to use, depending on the brand. When using 120 film, it is important to use a reel designed to allow even development at the edge. In that case I have had good results with the Jobo 1500 reels.
Click to expand...

Exactly!
 
Lumipan said:
Thanks everyone, I just talked about this with an another friend and he told me that his father had full equipment for developing film and images.
He wants me to take everything, I'm not sure if I'd be overwhelmed, but I just might take it. Just need to see how big the whole lot is, I have this storage room with a desk in the building but it has a moisture problem, so it's OK for keeping bikes and tools, but not sure about the enlarger.

Maybe I could keep the enlarger in a sealed container with silica gel inside and put it out when I want to use it. It might be a good darkroom as it has no windows at all... I feel I'll get to the point where I want to develop images sooner or later.
Click to expand...

Never turn down free darkroom stuff.
 
I have neuropathy, loss of feeling in my feet and hands. I use IR goggles to load everything, miraculous. Toy goggles.
 
MattKing said:
Perhaps you should refrain from saying that advice should be ignored if you don't have knowledge about the circumstances of either the person giving the advice, or the person receiving it.
Click to expand...

Aww... now I feel bad. In all fairness, nobody has full knowledge about one's circumstances online unless they're listed. The OP did not mention anything so I made a reasonable assumption.
 
Steven Lee said:
Aww... now I feel bad. In all fairness, nobody has full knowledge about one's circumstances online unless they're listed. The OP did not mention anything so I made a reasonable assumption.
Click to expand...

But your assumption wasn't all that reasonable - that everyone's mechanical skills are the same as yours.
I've helped a fair number of people learn darkroom work, and I can assure you that those abilities are not the same for everyone, including for people who would otherwise be described as "typical".
The AP wide flange reels are considerably easier to learn how to use for most 120 film - easier to continue to use as well - those flanges make a difference! Whether that will make a difference for you is irrelevant, in the context of your posting to the effect that someone else's experience should be ignored. My experience helping others learn these things indicates otherwise.
For me, JOBO plastic reels are unusable. But I would never post that JOBO reels should not be used. Because like with so many other things we discuss here on Photrio, the suitability of anything is highly dependent on the user.
 
I use the 1500 tanks and the 3010 Expert Drum. I have full use of both hands but sometimes find that loading 35mm and 120 films can be a bit of a challenge unless I trim the film corners and sometime folding the tape over one end to make starting easier.
 
I like the Paterson reels.
They do not 'live well, they can stick causing much frustration.
The solution is to run a soft carbon pencil ( graphite) along the grooves a couple of times and the reels are better than new.
TB
 
I have a couple of buddies who are film lovers. We did a marathon developing session. I loaded the Jobo reels. I had them load Paterson. Once in the dark I heard WTF *#*. They had used Paterson tanks but the college had substituted AP reels. Even 35mm is way easier to load, 120 is 10x easier with AP reels.
They figured it out in no time, young fully healthy fingers and brains. I get by but I get by better with all my aids!
 
Matt, I suppose it depends on what time you have to spare but it is likely to be of help to those with a similar problem who are considering home developing and those who may have had the use of both hands but for a variety of reasons no longer have that

Giving them the advantage of what you can do after what may have been quite a lot of "cut and try" on your part to get there, is likely to be just exactly what some need and at worst is of some value to those whose hand dexterity issues may differ slightly

I hope you find the time

pentaxuser
 
mshchem said:
I have a couple of buddies who are film lovers. We did a marathon developing session. I loaded the Jobo reels. I had them load Paterson. Once in the dark I heard WTF *#*. They had used Paterson tanks but the college had substituted AP reels. Even 35mm is way easier to load, 120 is 10x easier with AP reels.
They figured it out in no time, young fully healthy fingers and brains. I get by but I get by better with all my aids!
Click to expand...

Yes, I only have Paterson but they're a bit of a PITA with 120 film depending on its curl and stiffness, I can imagine that the AP are way easier.
 
This could be of great interest to me, more so if you are able to show the AP wide flange reel. A decade ago I suddenly lost the feeling in my hands, I feel pressure, but not much else. Since then loading 35mm film has been very hard, doable but hard.

Loading 4x5 film into film holders and the film holders for my SP45 developing tank is still not too hard; but 35mm is now way harder than before.

This thread is the first time I've heard of the AP wide flange reel.
 
Arista Premium wide flange reel:
https://www.freestylephoto.com/55043-Arista-Premium-Plastic-Developing-Reel
1678053031829.png
 
Matt, that was quick.

As I understand it, you just slip the film header in-between the super wide flanges then twisting each side to get forward motion is the go?

Really looking forward to a video now.

I see it is compatible with most tank systems, probably everything except Jobo,, of which I have shed loads in a huge box. 🙂
 
Mick Fagan said:
Matt, that was quick.

As I understand it, you just slip the film header in-between the super wide flanges then twisting each side to get forward motion is the go?

Really looking forward to a video now.

I see it is compatible with most tank systems, probably everything except Jobo,, of which I have shed loads in a huge box. 🙂
Click to expand...

Compatible with Paterson mainly.


1678053757369.png

Flange A and (film path topper) C are connected to the top set of channels, and slide back and forth adjacent to Flange B and (film path topper) D, which are connected to the bottom set of channels.
You insert the film into the A:C and B to D gap - the dotted blue line - until (with 35mm film) the sprocket holes and the ball bearings engage.
Then you twist side to side, as mentioned.
When the reel is set wider to the 120/220 positions, a gap of about an inch/2.5 cm appears between Flange A and Flange B (as well as the corresponding film path toppers C and D). There still is though enough of a "runway" formed by A and B to make it easy to use one hand to insert the film into the A:C and B to D gap and push the end past the ball bearings. Then the film is advanced in the same way - twisting side to side.
There is an intermediate 127 position as well.
For comparison, a standard Paterson reel, with its relatively small and harder A:C and harder to locate B to D gap.
1678055101282.png
 
Mick Fagan said:
Matt, that was quick.

As I understand it, you just slip the film header in-between the super wide flanges then twisting each side to get forward motion is the go?

Really looking forward to a video now.

I see it is compatible with most tank systems, probably everything except Jobo,, of which I have shed loads in a huge box. 🙂
Click to expand...

Mick, those are the reels that my students use, as they are foolproof.
As far as a video goes, I'm very willing to help 😉
 
You've given a good explanation, Matt, of the wide flange AP reel but actually seeing it being used is still very worthwhile. You know how to use it and Andrew isn't bad at videos. Sounds like a good combo

pentaxuser
 
Here is the lot... 😄 seems I have everything...

There is even some old photopaper and chemistry I'll definitely try if it still works.

Just need a red light, any recommendations?
Does any red light work, or I need a special one?
Can I put a LED bulb in the enlarger, although the old 100W incandescent light still works for a start.

I even got an image dryer, although pretty dirty.

Probably need to get some chemistry and new paper, can't use Rodinal and adofix for photos?


IMG-4c8f69ad74232f1beb72b1048d45d34e-V.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:
Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom