Loading 120 stainless reels

skinnyvoice · Mar 21, 2010

I'm curious - do people remove the backing paper and load the film from the tape end or leave the paper on and start that end, pulling the paper off when the reel is loaded? Is one end easier to fit under the spring clip than the other?

Cheers

jamesgignac · Mar 21, 2010

Admittedly my experience is slight but I've never loaded the paper with any kind of reel. I load my 120 onto stainless reels the same way I load 35mm - though I'd be interested to learn some tricks as well...

skinnyvoice · Mar 21, 2010

jamesgignac said:
Admittedly my experience is slight but I've never loaded the paper with any kind of reel. I load my 120 onto stainless reels the same way I load 35mm - though I'd be interested to learn some tricks as well...

I meant pulling the paper away as you load the reel as opposed to removing it completely first! Not loading the paper.

jamesgignac · Mar 21, 2010

Ahh, well no I remove the paper entirely first with whatever type of reel I use - I just end up getting tangled up otherwise

Kevin Caulfield · Mar 21, 2010

The usual method is to let the paper fall away and then load just the film. Work your way down from the end of the paper until you feel the start of the film. Grasp that and let go of the paper, and then proceed to load just the film. Then when you reach the other end, release the tape, and either remove that too, or just fold it over onto the end of the film (as I do).

Kevin Caulfield · Mar 21, 2010

skinnyvoice said:
I meant pulling the paper away as you load the reel as opposed to removing it completely first! Not loading the paper.

Oh, you were too fast. Yes, you can really do it whichever way works best for you. I believe most drop all the paper first, but if it works better for you to do it the other way then that's fine.

Q.G. · Mar 21, 2010

Kevin Caulfield said:
The usual method is to let the paper fall away and then load just the film. Work your way down from the end of the paper until you feel the start of the film. Grasp that and let go of the paper, and then proceed to load just the film. Then when you reach the other end, release the tape, and either remove that too, or just fold it over onto the end of the film (as I do).

+1

skinnyvoice · Mar 21, 2010

Kevin Caulfield said:
The usual method is to let the paper fall away and then load just the film. Work your way down from the end of the paper until you feel the start of the film. Grasp that and let go of the paper, and then proceed to load just the film. Then when you reach the other end, release the tape, and either remove that too, or just fold it over onto the end of the film (as I do).

Yep, that is what I do but occasionally I have trouble locating the film under the spring. Was just wondering if it was easier to push the folded over tape end under the clip.

Thanks for the replies

Konical · Mar 21, 2010

Good Morning, Charles,

Yes, folding over the tape makes it easier to get the film under the clip. Even better is to use reels (Kinderman) which dispense with the spring clip in favor of a puncturing pin to grab the tape/film.

Konical

bdial · Mar 21, 2010

I like to load from the taped end, the tape helps to keep under the spring, and the extra stiffness provided by the tape helps too.

Rick A · Mar 21, 2010

I unroll from the spool and separate the film from the paper before I load onto the reel. I feel it works easier for me to not have to mess with two different materials at the same time while loading.

Rick

lonelyboy · Mar 21, 2010

I remove the paper completely at first. Then starts loading film into the reel with the end with the splicing tape. So the metal clip will clip on the slicing tape on the film strip.

winger · Mar 21, 2010

I start from the end with no tape. That way I don't have a whole roll of film loose. I haven't had problems getting the end to stay under the clip.

dainmcgowan · Mar 21, 2010

I start from the end with no tape.
I don't separate the paper. I like to have the paper to hold onto instead of getting finger prints on the film.

DWThomas · Mar 21, 2010

I strip off the paper and load from the tape end.

Anscojohn · Mar 21, 2010

I keep the paper on the roll, the roll covered as much as possible by the palm of my hand. Keeping the paper attached meant that in case of a problem, it was easier to re-roll the film.

One thing I learned long ago, though: cross loading is obviated by not using any attachment device on the ss reel core.

Hold the end of the film close to the core, turn about a quarter turn or a bit more, and friction holds the film and it loads perfectly every time. I suppose that would work using the taped end as well.

agfarapid · Mar 21, 2010

I peel off the paper, removing the tape at the end. With the film in a tight curl in my hand, I load onto the reel, keeping a slight curl to the film as I load onto the spirals. It works for me.

fotch · Mar 21, 2010

DWThomas said:
I strip off the paper and load from the tape end.

Ditto.

jfdupuis · Mar 21, 2010

I hold the roll between the base of my thumb and the two middle fingers. I unroll the film by having the paper passing under the side of my hand and rolling over my small finger on the outside of my hand. While unrolling, I catch the start of the film with the index. I then clip the film with the left hand. I keep a slight bending of the film with my thumb and the index.

This is by far the most fastest way of rolling the reel. You avoid over manipulation of the film and you minimize the skin contact.

jmg1911 · Mar 21, 2010

BUT, if you use the spring clip you have to center the film perfectly in the spool. It is much easier to just touch the film with a finger, holding it in place while you make one revolution with the spool. From there a little push back as you feed will keep the film in place and soon even that is not needed.

CBG · Mar 22, 2010

One more for taking the paper off entirely first. Then fold tape over onto the film. The taped end is more resistant to unwanted squirming.

John Koehrer · Mar 22, 2010

I'm a paper taker-offer & probably load with the tape end first. Never noticed.

wclark5179 · Mar 22, 2010

"I'm a paper taker-offer & probably load with the tape end first. Never noticed."

Same.

I notice static electricity sometimes when pulling the tape off of the film. Little strip of dark after developing! If I'm loading at night, developing the next day I will keep the leader of paper where it id's the film. I write on the glue strip to fix the paper after exposure, the date, camera and ASA.

I load the film in the shower in the bathroom. Someone did a trick and threw a bar a soap into the shower and I had to get out! Ha! Just kidding. I'm almost ready for my monthly shower!

Hikingman · Mar 22, 2010

My first 120 reel experience is quickly approaching, and here's a video that I located a few minutes ago.

photoncatcher · Mar 23, 2010

I always strip off the paper completely, and load from what ever end is left. I guess that would be the tape end.

Loading 120 stainless reels

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