How do you use a steel reel?

ChristopherCoy · May 14, 2020

This is the first set of steel reels I've ever used, and I'm finding it extremely difficult, even with my eyes open. I have a hard time keeping the film perpendicular with the reel while loading, and things get off track. I use the "U" shape in my right hand, and load the reel with my left. I've been sitting here for an hour trying to practice and I still can't get it.

What's the trick?

BrianShaw · May 14, 2020

Two hours of practice. I’m serious and not being a smart-Alec.

glbeas · May 14, 2020

The film will get tight in the reel if not perfectly straight so try jogging it in and out a little as you load. Sometimes loading it with the reel and the film rolling on a table helps keep it straight. Theres a stainless jig you can snap on the reel to help too, works pretty good for 35mm, no so much for medium format.

Grim Tuesday · May 14, 2020

There is a chance your reel is bent. I spent so long in the dark bag with one of my reels loading film before I realized that the issue was not that I have trouble loading the film every once in a while, but every single time I use a specific reel. I've found good success not clipping in the film to the center hub, so it can self-center itself by sliding up and down. I don't know if this is standard practice but it works for me.

roblopes · May 14, 2020

ChristopherCoy said:
This is the first set of steel reels I've ever used, and I'm finding it extremely difficult, even with my eyes open. I have a hard time keeping the film perpendicular with the reel while loading, and things get off track. I use the "U" shape in my right hand, and load the reel with my left. I've been sitting here for an hour trying to practice and I still can't get it.

What's the trick?

View attachment 246260 View attachment 246261

Vaughn · May 14, 2020

I roll similar to the video, tho I do all 120. But helped a lot of students with 35mm on SS reels -- both 'normal' ones and the better Hewes. With the 'normal' ones, after clipping the leader under the clip I pull it out slightly, wiggling the film back and forth while centering the film on the reel with the fingers holding onto the reel.

From the photo, it looks like you might be pulling too tight as you roll. Good luck!

ChristopherCoy · May 14, 2020

Grim Tuesday said:
There is a chance your reel is bent. I spent so long in the dark bag with one of my reels loading film before I realized that the issue was not that I have trouble loading the film every once in a while, but every single time I use a specific reel. I've found good success not clipping in the film to the center hub, so it can self-center itself by sliding up and down. I don't know if this is standard practice but it works for me.

And we have a winner!

Sat here and wound the film on, but every time it went whackadoodle, it was at the same spot. Took the film off, and rolled it across the table, and found the wide spot. Couple of wrenches on each side and it went right on as its supposed to!

ChristopherCoy · May 14, 2020

Grim Tuesday said:
There is a chance your reel is bent. I spent so long in the dark bag with one of my reels loading film before I realized that the issue was not that I have trouble loading the film every once in a while, but every single time I use a specific reel. I've found good success not clipping in the film to the center hub, so it can self-center itself by sliding up and down. I don't know if this is standard practice but it works for me.

I guess the wire "clips" that were on these were added. Turns out there's little pegs at the start of the reel. Sticking the film in there instead of the clip is much easier! I've been able to load it three times without looking and had success.

Pentode · May 14, 2020

ChristopherCoy said:
I guess the wire "clips" that were on these were added. Turns out there's little pegs at the start of the reel. Sticking the film in there instead of the clip is much easier! I've been able to load it three times without looking and had success.

It's nice when things work out!

GRHazelton · May 14, 2020

Chris, I feel your pain! Way back in the day I loaded SS reels flawlessly. I loaded a five reel tank to process Ektachrome - 100 feet that I'd loaded myself - that I'd shot on a trip to England and France. No problems! But I seem to have lost my mojo. I now find the SS guide useful, but back in the day I didn't need it. As far as 120 film......I'll stick to Paterson.

Sirius Glass · May 14, 2020

BrianShaw said:
Two hours of practice. I’m serious and not being a smart-Alec.

What he said, plus the others.

Check that the reel's top and bottom are parallel.
While you are loading the film, if the film is not loading correctly you can feel the edges of the film on one side. Stop and unwind the film part way and then continue to load the film.
For 120 film fold tape over the end of the film and load that end.

mooseontheloose · May 15, 2020

It's funny, I just made a video about how to load film onto steel reels for my 18-year old first-year uni students who probably have no idea what I'm talking about (we're doing how-to presentations). But yes, would confirm everything said above.

dmr · May 15, 2020

Learning curve kinda like riding a bicycle. Once you learn it you can do it in the dark, first time, every time. Not that I'm recommending riding a bicycle in the dark, that is.

Chrismat · May 15, 2020

I don't know why, but I've always found using 120 with steel reels much easier than than 35mm, though I mostly use plastic reels now.

guangong · May 15, 2020

For 35mm I use a guide that snaps into the axel of the reel. Bought in about 1970. For 120, a steel guide that fits into palm of hand, so palm doesn’t need to be paralyzed into one shape. I have found both to be very helpful gadgets.
As the late great golfer Bobby Jones taught putting,”The idea is to knock the ball into the hole. I leave the details up to you.” The same can be said about loading steel reels.

ProfessorC1983 · May 15, 2020

I recently taught myself this "life skill" as well through a lot of trial and error. Sacrificed a roll of HP5 so I could practice in the light about 40 times before it was committed to muscle memory. For me the trick was getting just the right amount (maybe ~1mm) of film under the clip, enough to provide tension as I turn the first revolution, but not so much that it can't adjust itself on the reel if I don't align it perfectly straight (which I find impossible to do without mashing my fingers all over the film). I go very slowly on that first revolution and listen to the film (oh, the phrases I never thought I'd use before adopting this hobby!) and can generally tell if it seats correctly on the first turn or if I need to unroll and adjust the clip.

Now if I can just figure out a way to keep my hands from sweating inside the changing bag...

canuhead · May 15, 2020

If one is going to use steel reels, then one should look into Hewes reels. Best ones afaic. Two teeth grab the sprocket holes and it's rare for film to load improperly. They're kinda spendy, but so worth it. I fone also uses Jobo tanks, then you can use the Hewes reels that fit the cores, and use them in traditional steel tanks as well. Win win. and the wire gauge is a bit heavier so more durable imo.

takilmaboxer · May 15, 2020

A long time ago, in a place far removed from 2020, a gentleman named Richard Misrach taught me how to load steel reels. The trick for me is to hold the film by the edges such that it has a slight upwards curve, convex across the film. This helps the film slide between the steel spirals, and then pop into place as you move your fingers up the roll of film. I shoot mostly 120, and had a hard time with 35mm until I discovered the Hewes reels. They really are better.

ChristopherCoy · May 15, 2020

I think I've got it, mostly, down pat. I had to adjust the second reel as well, but I'm able to get them loaded successfully, albeit quite slowly. I'm sitting here at work loading and unloading reels repeatitively.

Ko.Fe. · May 15, 2020

"How do you use a steel reel?"
I use it as display unit. It is nicely made steel thing. With matching neat, little tank. So awesome.

For real use I use plastic ones.

Sirius Glass · May 15, 2020

Ko.Fe. said:
"How do you use a steel reel?"
I use it as display unit. It is nicely made steel thing. With matching neat, little tank. So awesome.

For real use I use plastic ones.

There is no challenge in that.

MattKing · May 15, 2020

FWIW, I find the easiest to use non-Hewes steel reels are the ones that have a simple, C-shaped gap at the core that you insert the end of the film into, crimp it slightly and then pull/roll the film into the channel of the reel.
I can load them with 1.5 hands!

Andrew O'Neill · May 15, 2020

When I was using steel reels, I found if I kept the film straight, and curled the edges of the film slightly down in my hand, and kept tension on the film, it went on nicely. The same with 120 film, Once I started using plastic Patterson tanks and reels, I never touched steel reels again.

ChristopherCoy · May 15, 2020

Andrew O'Neill said:
When I was using steel reels, I found if I kept the film straight, and curled the edges of the film slightly down in my hand, and kept tension on the film, it went on nicely. The same with 120 film, Once I started using plastic Patterson tanks and reels, I never touched steel reels again.

I learned on patterson reels in high school, and have always used them since then. Now that I'm loading these steel reels consistently (going on 4 hours of loading and unloading now) I think I actually prefer the steel to the plastic.

Donald Qualls · May 15, 2020

IMO, steel reels have two advantages: they take less chemical to cover, so for 35 mm can use a little less developer, and they can be loaded as easily when reel and/or film are damp or wet as when bone dry. Plastic reels generally load best when both film and reel are bone dry -- or else under water (but may scratch the film edges if the emulsion is wet), but you can load two 120 rolls onto an adjustable plastic reel, one after the other, as long as you have a way to keep them from overlapping; 120 size steel reels use thicker guide wire, so can only take a single roll unless you master the questionable technique of loading two rolls base to base (which seems likely to guarantee having to refix or rewash to remove dyes from the base side).

I wouldn't even try to load steel reels in a bag -- but on a counter top, they're quite easy (at least in 35mm), as long as they're not bent.

How do you use a steel reel?

ChristopherCoy

BrianShaw

glbeas

Grim Tuesday

roblopes

Vaughn

ChristopherCoy

ChristopherCoy

Pentode

GRHazelton

Sirius Glass

mooseontheloose

dmr

Chrismat

guangong

ProfessorC1983

canuhead

takilmaboxer

ChristopherCoy

Ko.Fe.

Sirius Glass

MattKing

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Andrew O'Neill

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How do you use a steel reel?

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