How do you use a steel reel?

MattKing · May 20, 2020

tomkatf said:
Hmmm... Interesting, I'm not sure I ever used a twisting motion while inverting the tank, just a nice snappy inversion and back and a bump when setting the tank back down. In larger tanks when you invert, you can feel the bubble rising inside the tank and I would let it rise all the way before turning the tank upright again. I thought that was helping agitation, I guess...

You really want to add some rotation and/or twisting into your randomized agitation routine - it really helps with consistency and repeatability.
It may be, of course, that there actually is something happening inside your tank that adds some rotational randomness there!

ChristopherCoy · May 20, 2020

Rick A said:
It usually happens when you use a twisting motion with inversions. Also, like Matt said, is worse with 120 film, and especially with rotary gear.

You know what.... now that I'm thinking about it maybe I'm using the reel completely wrong. I bet I'm supposed to go over the sprocket holders, under the center part, and THEN into the clip.

I was trying to go into the clip, then OVER the center part, and I was missing the sprocket holders all together.

I'll try and see how that works out.

Michel Hardy-Vallée · May 20, 2020

tomkatf said:
Steel reels couldn't be easier if you've taken the time to learn the technique (20min?) and don't ham fist it. They virtually load themselves. When loaded run your thumb and finger across the outside of the reel... if you can feel film edges, it's not loaded properly... unroll till you get to that area and start again, gently. Don't over-bow the film.

Meh, I stopped at cursing Despite all my attempts to do it gently, properly, etc. I failed, so I stuck to Paterson.

tomkatf · May 20, 2020

ChristopherCoy said:
You know what.... now that I'm thinking about it maybe I'm using the reel completely wrong. I bet I'm supposed to go over the sprocket holders, under the center part, and THEN into the clip.

I was trying to go into the clip, then OVER the center part, and I was missing the sprocket holders all together.

I'll try and see how that works out.

Hey Christopher, I'm not sure what your saying here... I'll try and make a small movie as soon as a stand for my iPhone gets here... I'll need both hands...lol...Tom

tomkatf · May 20, 2020

Michel Hardy-Vallée said:
Meh, I stopped at cursing Despite all my attempts to do it gently, properly, etc. I failed, so I stuck to Paterson.

The important thing is that you found a process that works for you!

ChristopherCoy · May 20, 2020

tomkatf said:
Hey Christopher, I'm not sure what your saying here... I'll try and make a small movie as soon as a stand for my iPhone gets here... I'll need both hands...lol...Tom

There are 4 "cross bars" between the two sides of the reel. The clip is on one, and directly across from it are the sprocket holders. Instead of going THROUGH the center of the reel from sprocket holders to the clip, I was trying to insert the film into the clip and go AROUND the center cross bars.

Forgive this crude drawing. The four dots represent the "cross bars" between the two sides. The grey line is what I'm envisioning - over the sprocket holders, through the middle of the reel, and into the clip. The red line is what I was trying to make it do. In the clip, up and around the reel, and over the sprocket holders, and it just wasn't working.

tomkatf · May 20, 2020

Ditch the clip...lol, but If I'm seeing this right yes the gray line is what I'd think is correct... By "sprocket holders" do you mean the two slightly bent ends of the reel that protrude into the center space? If so, they have nothing to do with the film's sprocket holes/perforations. They just help guide the film onto the first/innermost portion of the reel. I think if you look closely you'll see they are too narrow/close together to engage the perforations...

ChristopherCoy · May 20, 2020

tomkatf said:
Ditch the clip...lol, but If I'm seeing this right yes the gray line is what I'd think is correct... By "sprocket holders" do you mean the two slightly bent ends of the reel that protrude into the center space? If so, they have nothing to do with the film's sprocket holes/perforations. They just help guide the film onto the first/innermost portion of the reel. I think if you look closely you'll see they are too narrow/close together to engage the perforations...

Interesting. I thought those upright ends were meant to go through the sprocket holes. I guess I've been doing it ALL wrong then. LOL

Sirius Glass · May 21, 2020

ChristopherCoy said:
There are 4 "cross bars" between the two sides of the reel. The clip is on one, and directly across from it are the sprocket holders. Instead of going THROUGH the center of the reel from sprocket holders to the clip, I was trying to insert the film into the clip and go AROUND the center cross bars.

Forgive this crude drawing. The four dots represent the "cross bars" between the two sides. The grey line is what I'm envisioning - over the sprocket holders, through the middle of the reel, and into the clip. The red line is what I was trying to make it do. In the clip, up and around the reel, and over the sprocket holders, and it just wasn't working.

View attachment 246626

That is the way to do it. I never thought about going under a bar and glad that I did not.

How do you use a steel reel?

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How do you use a steel reel?

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