Film stucks in reel

[Deleted member 88956]

There is plenty of opinion supporting/refuting the science of shaken v stirred too!

Of course. I mean, we can argue here all day whether straight is indeed straight.

 

[otto.f]

Working 40 years with about the same is an argument for the idea that Patterson changed the plastic of their reels, which just don’t do the job. I have old yellowish Patterson reels from the eighties and they run very smoothly. Apart from that I prefer the larger mouth of AP. And what are we talking about in a time that films are almost more expensive than AP reels.

 

[Sirius Glass]

This isn't about shaken or stirred either.

There is plenty of opinion supporting/refuting the science of shaken v stirred too!

Ian Flemming did Dry Gin Martini's a great disservice. In one James Bond book is wrote, "Vodka, stirred, not shaken." The rest he wrote, "Vodka, shaken not stirred."

1. Vodka Martini is not a martini, it is an abomination.
   
2. Shaking oxidizes the alcohol and that reduces the taste of the botanicals.

Gin is used for its botanicals of which vodka has none.

 

[R.Gould]

Working 40 years with about the same is an argument for the idea that Patterson changed the plastic of their reels, which just don’t do the job. I have old yellowish Patterson reels from the eighties and they run very smoothly. Apart from that I prefer the larger mouth of AP. And what are we talking about in a time that films are almost more expensive than AP reels.

Not sure about Paterson changing the plastic in their reels, I have their reels from the 60@s and they are very smooth and give no trouble, I have 5 I bought 2 years ago and are just as smooth, and work beautifully, I have heard about AP reels, and next time I buy reels I will probably get a couple to try them, as far as films being as expensive as reels, I have been using Fomapan 200 and 400 for 25 or more years, and love them, and they are more reasonably priced, so maybe 5 is the price of a film,, the only reels I don't like is any SS, I have tried them, and wasted more film with them than Paterson, as for the OP's problems, I have racked my brains, and I can't for the life of me think what is going on, to have problems so suddenly, and with the reels being clean and dry, something he is doing must have changed, but what it is is anybody's guess, as exposed/developed load in daylight,

 

[MattKing]

I have one caution about relying on only the film washing to clean the reels - if there is residue on a reel, the film can actually stick to it.
It is better to follow up the film wash with a brief hot water rinse of the reels, preferably separated into their respective halves.
That way any contaminant that may have worked into the mechanism also gets cleaned.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Not sure about Paterson changing the plastic in their reels, I have their reels from the 60@s and they are very smooth and give no trouble, I have 5 I bought 2 years ago and are just as smooth, and work beautifully, I have heard about AP reels, and next time I buy reels I will probably get a couple to try them, as far as films being as expensive as reels, I have been using Fomapan 200 and 400 for 25 or more years, and love them, and they are more reasonably priced, so maybe 5 is the price of a film,, the only reels I don't like is any SS, I have tried them, and wasted more film with them than Paterson, as for the OP's problems, I have racked my brains, and I can't for the life of me think what is going on, to have problems so suddenly, and with the reels being clean and dry, something he is doing must have changed, but what it is is anybody's guess, as exposed/developed load in daylight,

Paterson has changed material, it is flimsy by comparison, feels softer, hence it may more susceptible to surface wear. When you try to split the halves they twist like hell before they give in.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Ian Flemming did Dry Gin Martini's a great disservice. In one James Bond book is wrote, "Vodka, stirred, not shaken." The rest he wrote, "Vodka, shaken not stirred."

1. Vodka Martini is not a martini, it is an abomination.
   
2. Shaking oxidizes the alcohol and that reduces the taste of the botanicals.

Gin is used for its botanicals of which vodka has none.

Vodka has no botanicals, so shaking won't "harm" it -- but it will chill the liquor faster and colder. It changes the taste of the drink, for certain -- because when colder, the subtle flavors of the vodka (nearly none anyway, for the good stuff) and the less subtle dry vermouth are less noticeable. The vodka martini is a drinking man's drink -- and Bond was a borderline alcoholic.

That said, I enjoy a vodka martini, quite dry, made with chilled vodka, no ice, two olives, and sometimes dirty. I can't drink the gin variety; it gives me a hangover feeling before I get to the bottom of the glass.

All of which to say, different people like things different ways.

 

[R.Gould]

Paterson has changed material, it is flimsy by comparison, feels softer, hence it may more susceptible to surface wear. When you try to split the halves they twist like hell before they give in.

I don't split them, I have a lot of them, from the first to 2 years ago, and half are 35,, half are MF, but to me they feel the same, I guess they could change the make up of the plastic, I remember when some reels were made of bakalite, drop one of those adn shatters into a hundred pieces, but things move on, I can't see paterson downgradeing thje quality, I mean, remember when dev trays were solid plastic, or tin, but I far prefer the paterson dishes of today, easier to clean, easier to look after, I have yet to have a new or okd paterson reel fail on me, and I can only talk of my own experience with anything, mind I love the new supre system 4 tanks, remember the old system 4 tanks? leaked like a basket no matter what you did, only other thing this is the first time I have heard that paterrson changed the plastic of their reels, never heard a complaint on any other forum, but as I say, times do change, things improve, and remember, over here, where paterson tanks come from, a lot of old plastic materials are now banned, but as long as the quality is as good, and personally I find the quality of paterson products are as good as ever, you may, of course, and probably will, disagree with me

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I don't split them, I have a lot of them, from the first to 2 years ago, and half are 35,, half are MF, but to me they feel the same, I guess they could change the make up of the plastic, I remember when some reels were made of bakalite, drop one of those adn shatters into a hundred pieces, but things move on, I can't see paterson downgradeing thje quality, I mean, remember when dev trays were solid plastic, or tin, but I far prefer the paterson dishes of today, easier to clean, easier to look after, I have yet to have a new or okd paterson reel fail on me, and I can only talk of my own experience with anything, mind I love the new supre system 4 tanks, remember the old system 4 tanks? leaked like a basket no matter what you did, only other thing this is the first time I have heard that paterrson changed the plastic of their reels, never heard a complaint on any other forum, but as I say, times do change, things improve, and remember, over here, where paterson tanks come from, a lot of old plastic materials are now banned, but as long as the quality is as good, and personally I find the quality of paterson products are as good as ever, you may, of course, and probably will, disagree with me

See, we all have our ways. I always split them, but if you don't how do you pull film out?

I also clean them when separated and they go to bed split up too, initially they were not overly happy about it, but I told them to suck it up and they've been OK ever since.

 

[Donald Qualls]

I always split them, but if you don't how do you pull film out?

I split mine, but not until the film is hung. I flex the film enough to get it past the start tabs, and pull, letting the reel spin in my other hand. A couple flexes and the film left in the reel will get short enough to just slip out. Cuts down the likelihood of the film winding up in a tangle (presuming I manage to keep control of the free end when it comes out). Works equally well for 120 and 35mm.

 

[R.Gould]

See, we all have our ways. I always split them, but if you don't how do you pull film out?

I also clean them when separated and they go to bed split up too, initially they were not overly happy about it, but I told them to suck it up and they've been OK ever since.

I gently pull the film out, I prefer not to split them, I have so many reels gathered over the years, in Ihave and use some of the original,the very first, Paterson reels and tanks they ever made, and still use them, and I find the very earliest reels easier to use, and, as many know, I have never cleaned a reel in 59 years, since that talk I had with a very well and respected Professional photographer, in fact it was John, now long gone to the great darkroom in the sky, that inspired me in everything I have achieved as both an amateur and later a Professional photographer, it works for me, my problem is only that Covid me to finally retire full time in March, but I am still doing pretty much the same thing, just not able to be paid for it, still it's and ill wind, and there is always after Covid

 

[R.Gould]

I split mine, but not until the film is hung. I flex the film enough to get it past the start tabs, and pull, letting the reel spin in my other hand. A couple flexes and the film left in the reel will get short enough to just slip out. Cuts down the likelihood of the film winding up in a tangle (presuming I manage to keep control of the free end when it comes out). Works equally well for 120 and 35mm.

Practise makes perfect, they say, after 60 years of doing this I still get it wrong, very occasionally, film seems sometimes to have a mind of it's own

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I think we can meet up by a sea side and continue this, good lobster would help. No split to not damage film, i split for exactly same reason. there are clearly many ways to get to the end of the same tunnel.

 

[cliveh]

Do you start loading the spiral in the bag where you can't see what you are doing? Or before you put it in the bag? Loading just the first few inches that you wasted when loading the camera?

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I'm happy to report this thread has potential of taking the reins of thread supreme, to be revived over next 15 years, get pinned, or at least join endless arguments over bath or no bath.

As for the topic, OP has stated to have done loading successfully until very recently, when problem popped up, so unlikely starting film in is of any concern.

 

[R.Gould]

I think we can meet up by a sea side and continue this, good lobster would help. No split to not damage film, i split for exactly same reason. there are clearly many ways to get to the end of the same tunnel.

We have the best fresh lobster ever here, caught, cooked and eaten the same day, and as for the sea shore, never more than 10 minutes away, which is why I take a lot of seascapes, as far as the rest, my attitude to this, and my other passion, which are my Classic Mercedes Benz collection, which take a lot of cleaning and polishing, just like the forth Bridge, you are never finished, is if it works for you, great, and if you don't like polish, well it works for me, and if you prefer another polish, or film, or tank, or developer ,and so on, great do your own thing

 

[Deleted member 88956]

We have the best fresh lobster ever here, caught, cooked and eaten the same day, and as for the sea shore, never more than 10 minutes away, which is why I take a lot of seascapes, as far as the rest, my attitude to this, and my other passion, which are my Classic Mercedes Benz collection, which take a lot of cleaning and polishing, just like the forth Bridge, you are never finished, is if it works for you, great, and if you don't like polish, well it works for me, and if you prefer another polish, or film, or tank, or developer ,and so on, great do your own thing

And I was always told in no uncertain terms there is nothing like Main lobster, probably not surprising having lived by Cape Cod for over 20 ages.

 

[Donald Qualls]

And I was always told in no uncertain terms there is nothing like Main lobster, probably not surprising having lived by Cape Cod for over 20 ages.

To date, I never met a lobster I didn't like.

More of a diner than a diver, me...

 

[Horatio]

I've had similar issues with my plastic reels lately. Maybe it's a film pandemic?

Anyway, I'm going to check the bearings and pencil the rails.

Now, can someone tell me how to load PET films into Lab-Box reels?

 

[grat]

Paterson has changed material, it is flimsy by comparison, feels softer, hence it may more susceptible to surface wear. When you try to split the halves they twist like hell before they give in.

Flexibility has very little to do with durability-- PLA is very brittle and inflexible, but has nowhere near the strength of PETG, for instance-- and nylon is far tougher, but more flexible. They feel like they're made out of something like PTFE, which is a fairly durable, low friction surface. Also hydrophobic, which paradoxically may explain why they're annoying to dry.

I'd guess the OP's problem is photo-flo build up, since the problem's gotten worse over time.

 

[grat]

Now, can someone tell me how to load PET films into Lab-Box reels?

Open the box, throw the film in.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I've had similar issues with my plastic reels lately. Maybe it's a film pandemic?

Anyway, I'm going to check the bearings and pencil the rails.

Now, can someone tell me how to load PET films into Lab-Box reels?

Yes, reels just like other components secretly are in contact and arrange causing us problems.

I pull my film off the reels and then for black & white the film is immersed in PhotoFlo.

 

[Horatio]

Open the box, throw the film in.

Now why didn’t I think of that!

 

[focus_on_infinity]

And I was always told in no uncertain terms there is nothing like Main lobster, probably not surprising having lived by Cape Cod for over 20 ages.

We vacationed in Maine once. And after a week of as much Maine lobster as I could eat, I realized that Maryland blue crab tastes a lot better.

 

[Sirius Glass]

We vacationed in Maine once. And after a week of as much Maine lobster as I could eat, I realized that Maryland blue crab tastes a lot better.

So ... you have crabs?