I walk the dog backwards too (Jobo 2502 Q)

Well, this is an embarrassing question. I read with interest another thread on the Jobo 2500 series tanks and reels, and noticed that a couple of posters observed that they found the 2502 reel to be easier to use for 120 than the 1500 series reel. So I decided to buy a 2502 reel, and if I were happy with it, I'd follow that up with the 2520 tank.

The reel arrived, and I eventually succeeded in getting it set up for 120 film (I had been nervous that too much effort would break the thing). The reel is properly locked into place, the opening gates from the two pieces line up, all is good.

Except that I can't get film to wind onto the reel at all. I've been practicing in broad daylight with an old roll of film, and either nothing happens at all when I try to walk the film onto the reel, or, even more perversely, the roll elegantly walks backwards and falls off the reel.

I've used film developing tanks and reels before, so I am not quite as stupid as I make myself out to be. But I can't figure out what's going on here. I even suffered the ultimate indignity of finding and reading the Jobo instructions, to no avail.

Can anyone help?

Edward

Use your thumbs to perform the role the ball bearings do on the Paterson reels. Takes a little practice but should be obvious - good luck!

It’s a little hard to describe but you need to hold the film with your thumb(at least that’s what works for me) as you walk it on. You may need to initially hold the film as you walk the reel out but once the film is far enough on the reel you should only need to hold the film as you walk it forward.

It’s not quite as easy as say the Paterson reels which have the ball bearings to hold the film, but it works quite well once you figure it out.

Thanks to you both. Using my thumbs as ball bearing replacements works, I guess, but leaves me doubly puzzled as to how Paterson figured this out decades ago and Jobo still relies on this primitive solution. Do you all find that it's relatively easy to load the Jobo this way without creasing the film, or is this a multi-year learning curve?

Thanks again.

Edward

The Jobo solution seems the older one. I would not say it is primitive, but intuitive.
But seemingly not good for you. It needs one left and one right hand. Some people say they got two left hands. For them the Jobo system likely is not intuitive.

However, there a lot of people using the true-ratchet Paterson system, who took out the balls from the reels as they often found them sticking.

Be also aware that there are different styles of Jobo reels, depending on age. For instance with and without barbs, which also is likely to make a difference depending on type of film.

If you snip the corners of the 120 film just the slightest amount, about 1mm, you can actually push the film onto the reel without walking it at all...at least most of the way on. I load mine this way using a changing bag and blunt tip kids scissors, not the easiest way to do it, but I manage (mostly).
If you have a darkroom to work in, it should be a lot easier, having more room.

Thank you all. I’ve been practicing my thumb-reel coordination skills and have made some progress. I’m used to using metal tanks with a clip on film guide, or sometimes a Paterson, but had a hankering to perhaps move one day to a Jobo system, hence my interest in mastering their reels.

edwardk said:

Thanks to you both. Using my thumbs as ball bearing replacements works, I guess, but leaves me doubly puzzled as to how Paterson figured this out decades ago and Jobo still relies on this primitive solution. Do you all find that it's relatively easy to load the Jobo this way without creasing the film, or is this a multi-year learning curve?

Thanks again.

Edward

Click to expand...

If you don't learn the art of trimming the corners of the film, prepare for a long miserable time. I bought a scrap book accessory that nips a tiny round corner on the film edge. I always lead with the untaped end. If you get the corners right you can just slide the film onto the reel. I use IR goggles which makes anything possible.
There's a fellow in China who makes a reel that is a Jobo compatible (core diameter) reel with the AP like guide lips and the little ratchet ball like Paterson. I tried one but it was horrible.
Once you get the trimming, holding your fingers on the side to keep the film centered, it's easy, 1500 or 2500 series reels.

Here's me with my toy goggles

I too use my thumbs all the time for 135 and 120 film, but not for 4"x5" film in the 3010 Expert Drum. I also clip the corners of he film.

I concur with the others: snip the corners of the film so they don't snag on the reel, and press down lightly with the sides of both thumbs (alternating them, depending on which one is moving forward) on the film to advance it as you do the twisting motion with the reels. Some reels are easier than others; when doing 120, I usually use the older Jobo reels (of opaque plastic) and not the newer polycarbonate/transparent ones. They both work, but the older style reels seem to work marginally better in my hands, at least for 120. Make sure the reels are clean and perfectly bone dry. The slightest moisture will make the gelatin emulsion sticky and then it becomes a nightmare to load the film. A changing bag can also make things more challenging; I vastly prefer to do things like these in a darkened room and not in a tiny bag where I have little room to move about, have the cloth of the bag interfere with things and create a warm a humid atmosphere. Sometimes, especially with 120 film that has been stored for an extended period of time (e.g. expired film), it helps to unwind the film from the take up spool and load the film onto the reel starting with the end that is closest to the spool, as that part of the film has a little less curl than the other end.

koraks said:

I usually use the older Jobo reels (of opaque plastic) and not the newer polycarbonate/transparent ones.

Click to expand...

The opaque ones are the newer ones.

Hm, then I've got it backwards. I'm not sure anymore where my reels came from to be honest; I always assumed the polycarbonate reels were the newest as they look more "advanced" than the opaque ones, haha.

For what it's worth, I've found that nipping the corners actually makes the film snag worse - and usually any catching happens at the end of the recessed bit (where you can feel how full the reel is).

As others have said, the reels must be as clean as possible and bone dry for optimal loading.