Loading a Hewes 120 reel

[warrennn]

I received my Paterson and Hewes/Arista (tank) systems and have another beginner question. First, using a sacrificial roll of 120 film, I practiced with both reels and found little difference in difficulty. Once they were started, both loaded easily (with my eyes closed). The problem is in starting the film. With the Paterson, getting the film past the ball bearings is really difficult. I have heard that cutting the corners helps.

I am more interested in using the Hewes reel, since I will be developing E6, mostly. I find it very difficult to attach the end of the film to the clip - the film curls and gets caught on a number of places, preventing it from getting under the clip. I suppose that cutting the corners might help here also.

Finally, some people recommend leaving the tape on one or both ends of the film. Will that be a problem - can the tape react with the chemicals in some adverse way?

Thanks!

Warren Nagourney

 

[Sirius Glass]

I put one thumb on the end of the spring clip. I place the end of the film on the clip and put my thumb on the film end. I slowly drag the film way from the clip, when it crosses the bar, I move my thumb to press the spring clip and ease the film towards my thumb. After a few tries the film goes under the bar and I release the clip. Then I curl the film longitudinally and start winding the film on the reel. I use the hand that was on the clip to move along the rolled on clip to feel that the film is winding on correctly with no kinks or jumping coils.

Stevve

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

clipping the corners helps with the Hewes as well, at least in my experience. Shawn

 

[dnk512]

Note: this is hard to put in words, my apologies.

I roll the edge along the long axis. This makes the film narrow and easy to lay along the axis of the reel. I allow the film to open, and, pull the film so only about half an inch is past the axis of the reel. This centers the film between the reel's sides. Then turn/roll the reel (so the clip comes from the long end of the film) and stop rolling once the edge of the film is just past the clip. Then I press to open the clip and slide the film back under the clip just a bit.

 

[warrennn]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll give them a try.

wn

 

[Sirius Glass]

Note: this is hard to put in words, my apologies.

I roll the edge along the long axis. This makes the film narrow and easy to lay along the axis of the reel. I allow the film to open and pull the film so only about half an inch is past the axis of the reel. This centers the film inside the reel sides. Then turn/roll the reel so the clip comes from the long end of the film and stop rolling once the edge of the film is just past the clip. Then I press to open the clip and slide the film into the clip just a bit.

This is another way of describing what I was talking about. Between the two, I think you will get the idea.

 

[warrennn]

I think I am getting the idea - I practiced it a bit while we had company over for dinner (it gave me something to do with my hands). I notice one can't help getting a number of fingerprints on the non-emulsion side - I hope these are not too much of a problem. One also touches the last .5 inch or so of the emulsion side. Would some kind of (very thin) gloves help?

Thanks!

wn

 

[Ian David]

Hi Warren
Getting a few fingerprints on the shiny side is not a problem, but you should not need to touch the emulsion side at all (although it wouldn't normally matter if you touched the last inch or so as you would not normally have any image recorded there). Just requires a bit of practise!
Ian

 

[warrennn]

@iandavid: Thanks - I think I am ready to do some B&W developing. I'll start with some Tmax100 (using Tmax developer) at the appropriate temp.

I am looking into some temp. control for my future E6 - I might try a waterbed heater, some of which claim very precise control (0.125 C error). There are a jillion PID controllers on ebay for <$75 but I am trying to keep things simple (though a PID controller - adjusted right - would be nice).

Cheers,

wn