Loading Efke KB25 onto reels

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srs5694

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To avoid fogging the last frames with a bulk loader, you can turn out the lights when you attach the film to the central spool, then seal it up, turn on the lights if you like, crank on, turn the lights off again, open it up to cut the film, and repeat. Of course, this means you've got to do it in a darkroom, not watching TV or something, but it does work. As to scratching, just try it for a roll or two and see what you get.

I seem to recall there are Hewes reels made to fit Jobo tanks, but I don't know if these would fit a Paterson tank. Note that one of the advantages of SS reels and tanks is that they require less solution volume. A typical 35mm SS tank takes 250ml to cover a single reel, whereas most plastic tanks take 300ml or more. There are also fewer parts to wash. Thus, I personally don't see much advantage to a plastic tank per se; most of the difference is in the reels. (Although the two materials do have different thermal properties, which can sometimes be important.)
 

mhcfires

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I have been using SS reels for close to fifty years. I still have my Nikor 120 reels which I purchased in 1962. They still are in fine shape. The biggest enemy to a stainless reel is dropping it. Mine are in fine shape. My biggest problem with Efke film is the curl. Love the film, hate the curl.
 
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xwhatsit

xwhatsit

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My biggest problem with Efke film is the curl. Love the film, hate the curl.

I see this written a lot -- I haven't found it to curl very much at all in the two rolls I've shot (and mostly ruined). Seems to dry really flat. Maybe that's because I'm using a bulk roll where it's not wound very tight -- but there's next to no lateral curl either.

I wonder if there's a lot of variability between batches...? Lots of the posts I see across different forums have people saying very different contradictory things about KB(25,50,100).

The flatness and thin, clear base seems to me like it is perfectly suited for that devil's technology, sc*nning! I haven't tried optically printing it yet.
 

Anscojohn

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I had the same problem with plastic reels. Using stainless steel I have no problems.
************
To OP. Recap--the reel must be very clean and very dry. I used to keep a short length of properly-cut width of blotter paper and would feed it in to ensure reliability.
I also scrubbed my reels after use with a small "vegetable" brush and Bon Ami and rinsed them very thoroughy.
And ditch the changing bag.
 

Leigh Youdale

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Reel Problem

I've only used Paterson plastic reels but I have used Efke film.Apart from any characteristics of the film itself, I found two things that generally make life difficult.
One was, and everyone else has noted, a changing bag is a BAD environment to load film, even for tank loading. For unloading a camera, fine.
Second, when I was once having trouble I noticed that I tensed up and tended to push the two sides of the reel together. Result - constant jamming.
I now make a mental note to myself to exert a very slight outwards pull on the sides of the reels while I rotate them and I hardly ever have a problem now.
 
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xwhatsit

xwhatsit

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No more changing bag then :smile:

Cheers guys.

Any opinions on the use of desiccant with a full 100ft bulk film roll? No danger of drying it out `too much'?

Thanks :smile:
 
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