Why throw away perfectly usable reels, especially if they're not particularly cheap? Some photochemicals stain plastics anyway, so it's not necessarily an indication of calcium deposits. But even if it is calcium deposits, immersing them in dilute acid (hydrochloric for instance) would remove them. I don't do anything special with my Jobo reels, except from not immersing them in the wetting agent solution. From time to time I will scrub them with soap, hot water and a toothbrush and that's all.... In nine out of ten cases, however, these problems begin when the spiral has collected calcium from hard water and the walls are not as smooth as before. You can check this by comparing the spiral to a new one. If it is light brown throw it away...
I trim the corners in daylight - use a film retriever to pull the end out, trim then wind it back in.The night vision sounds like a great idea. I'm never wild about the idea of using scissors in the dark, I do value my fingers!
I wonder if I could build a trimmer where I stick the end of the film in, push down and it rounds off the corners? I'll have to think about that.
Why throw away perfectly usable reels, especially if they're not particularly cheap? Some photochemicals stain plastics anyway, so it's not necessarily an indication of calcium deposits. But even if it is calcium deposits, immersing them in dilute acid (hydrochloric for instance) would remove them. I don't do anything special with my Jobo reels, except from not immersing them in the wetting agent solution. From time to time I will scrub them with soap, hot water and a toothbrush and that's all. .....
Hi, Craig,Send all your trash Jobo reels to me! Especially calcium caked units. Thanks.
Don't know where you get that from, I have a lot of both jobo and paterson reels, I have had them for far longer than 2/3 years, I never scrub my reels, haven.t ever in nearly 60 years of developing film, all I ever do is empty the tank after the final wetting agent rinse, I do not wash my reels after this, just dry them ready for next film, all I ever do and ever have done is to run my pencil lead around the groves in either my patterson or Jobo reels, and at least 2 of my Jobo reels are at least 15 years old, my paterson reels are even older, some came with the original systen 4 tanks, indeed I still have and use the system 4 tanks, along with my super system 4 tanks,I have yet to have a problem with sticking film, just run a pencil lead around the groves and no problems, I suggest you try it, instead of tossing good reelsGood luck trying to remove calcium from your reels, even with specialized household chemicals. I don't waste my time on that.
Scrubbing your reels with soap has the same effect as using photo flo. I actually scrub my reels with a toothbrush after each use (before flushing them in demineralized water), but I don't see a noticeable effect on the lifespan.
A set of two reels from Jobo will cost you 25 Euro (US Dollar), they are good for 2..3 years of use. Very affordable actually.
.... just run a pencil lead around the groves and no problems, I suggest you try it, instead of tossing good reels
Richard
Hi, Craig,
I'm brand new to the forum, but I had to register just to answer your question about Jobo reels. I've used them for over twenty years and, once I got the hang of it, have had absolutely no trouble, although, admittedly, they can sometimes seem recalcitrant. I don't clip the film ends either.
If you examine the two reel sections, you will notice that each has an indented area on the outside flat edge. When you load the reel, use the palms of your hands to walk the film onto the reel while you place your two index fingers on these indented areas. This will allow you to feel the edges of the film as it walks on to the reel. Loading problems arise because front edge of the film gets cocked as it goes on the reel, and you can feel this with your fingers. If you just press on the cocked area, the film will straighten and continue to load. You will move your fingers toward the middle of the reel following the front edge of the film as it loads so that by the time the film is completely on the reel, your fingertips will be almost at the center hub of the reel.
I find this works all the time, but sometimes it takes multiple tries to get the film straightened out. It' tougher with 120.
I hope this helps..
Thank you all for the suggestions! A big "duh" to me for not thinking of the retrieving the leader and trimming it in daylight, I've always just opened up the cassette and trimmed in the dark.
No not a problem, all it does is leave dry graphite on the groves, I don't wash the reel afterwards, I run the pencil around the groves, load the film,(or films if it is 120) and process the film, wash, give a wetting agent rinse, hang the film up to dry, and put the tank and reels to dry untill they are needed again, I do not scrub my reels, I do not wash the wetting agent out of the reels, all I do is dry them, and use again, I have been doing thing this way for nearly 60 years and I have never had a problem loading film, and I was taught this trick by a older photographer who had been doing this for many years, he gsve me this tip after my first film, which I had trouble loading, you need to do nothing more than use a pencilWhen you are running a pencil lead around the groves don't you get carbon dust over there? Or are you washing the reels afterwards?
No not a problem, all it does is leave dry graphite on the groves, I don't wash the reel afterwards, I run the pencil around the groves, load the film,(or films if it is 120) and process the film, wash, give a wetting agent rinse, hang the film up to dry, and put the tank and reels to dry untill they are needed again, I do not scrub my reels, I do not wash the wetting agent out of the reels, all I do is dry them, and use again, I have been doing thing this way for nearly 60 years and I have never had a problem loading film, and I was taught this trick by a older photographer who had been doing this for many years, he gsve me this tip after my first film, which I had trouble loading, you need to do nothing more than use a pencil
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