I Hate plastic

[Jim Chinn]

Ever since I bought a JOBO I have never looked back at stainless reels. The JOBO reels are super easy to load and work just as well for hand and stand agitiation as they do with the motor.

 

[Markok765]

I will buy some ilford ortho film,them i can load under safelight! the other advantage is perfect developing, and pushing is really easy,l BTW, what iso is this film

 

[jhavard]

Plastic all the way. I have three tanks for 35mm and 120 that I alternate in a developing session. One will be stewing some film, the other doing rinse duty, while the other is sitting idle with the reels sitting on an air purifier. Cuts down on dust while drying my reels! I mean seriously, $20 for a new tank and a pair of reels from the local camera shop? That's well below the price point where you'd have to tell your SO!

 

[Markok765]

Plastic all the way. I have three tanks for 35mm and 120 that I alternate in a developing session. One will be stewing some film, the other doing rinse duty, while the other is sitting idle with the reels sitting on an air purifier. Cuts down on dust while drying my reels! I mean seriously, $20 for a new tank and a pair of reels from the local camera shop? That's well below the price point where you'd have to tell your SO!

Its 15 for a paterson plastic, surprisingly, a kalt ss is 5 $

 

[mgphoto]

You know, studies have shown that using plastic reels is a warning sign of an impending conversion to digital!

No seriously, I was mentored early on by an old crusty photojournalist that taught us everything the old-school way. Hell, I got so good at 'em that I became like the Jimi Hendrix of loading steel reels! I would amuse students with my prowess at loading behind the back, behind my head and though I never mastered the "loading with my teeth" technique, it was attempted.

 

[gnashings]

You know, studies have shown that using plastic reels is a warning sign of an impending conversion to digital!

No seriously, I was mentored early on by an old crusty photojournalist that taught us everything the old-school way. Hell, I got so good at 'em that I became like the Jimi Hendrix of loading steel reels! I would amuse students with my prowess at loading behind the back, behind my head and though I never mastered the "loading with my teeth" technique, it was attempted.

And although millions would have paid to see this, Hendrix had the benefit of spotlights - you had perform your unique artistry in total darkness. What a waste of talent!

 

[dolande]

I have no problems with my Paterson (bought this year new) BUT I just can’t load Kodak hie in it. It gets stuck in the first few turns. I’ve being wanting to sacrifice one roll to see what’s going on but is just to much money. I use an old general brand ss for this.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Stainless(Reliable, Easy to clean, hard to load for begginers)
Plastic( Hard to clean, Hard to load when wet)

That's one hell of a biased poll. I love my plastic reels. They're not difficult to clean, and they shouldn't be loaded when wet. All reels should in my opinion be dry before you load film. I use Paterson reels with the wide loading slot, they've been used extensively for the last four years, and I'm still using the same ones without a single glitch.

- Thom

 

[eubielicious]

I've never used stainless steel, only plastic. I tend to find that the solution is plenty of reels for each tank, as I find it isn't a problem loading the tank even if wet, so long as the reel and my hands are dry.

Euan

 

[Peter Williams]

Chalk up another one for the plastic reels. I have never had any problems with them. On the other hand - I'm also metallically challenged. I have a 50% rate of destruction while loading steel reels.

Peter

 

[dschneller]

...and another for plastic reels. They also have the advantage of being adjustable to 35mm, 127, and 120 formats. All of which I use.

Dave

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I infinitely prefer the stainless reels. I don't get uneven development with them, which I did get with plastic. I think it is because the stainless reels take up so much less space in the tank that they don't set up turbidity currents when you agitate.

 

[JBrunner]

I bought a nice Patterson tank that has 3 120 reels at a garage sale. I dutifully washed them and then tried to load them when wet.... I had no idea. I'll fish them out from behind the desk where they landed after hitting the wall. If they aren't broken I'll try again dry..... I have only ever used ss before this.

 

[Markok765]

Ok! i bought an ss tank and 2 reels. processing my6 first films today!
They are kalt brand. i found them really easy to load. not bent or anything!

 

[P C Headland]

I have a SS reel for 35mm with prongs, and a plastic reel for 120. I've not had problems loading either.

The plastic 120 reel will load any film, wet reels or dry, even a film that was badly kinked & creased. But then this one (gepe) loads from the centre out, unlike most of the other plastic reels I have seen where you push the film in.