Loading film into stainless steel reels.

M Carter · Oct 29, 2015

I know you purists will hate me, but I never looked back after getting the plastic reels with the "big ears". I can load a roll perfectly in a minute, crank-crank-crank. I like that I can snap 'em apart and blow dry them if I'm doing a bunch of film. They're really easy to use for snip tests, too, if I just want to run a frame or two. And they're about $10 a pop brand new. I do clean them every few months, toothbrush and soapy water, make sure the ball bearings are free. I have a plastic combo reel that I've used for 15 years. (though for 35mm I use a Hewes quite happily).

Richard S. (rich815) · Oct 29, 2015

M Carter said:
I know you purists will hate me, but I never looked back after getting the plastic reels with the "big ears". I can load a roll perfectly in a minute, crank-crank-crank. I like that I can snap 'em apart and blow dry them if I'm doing a bunch of film. They're really easy to use for snip tests, too, if I just want to run a frame or two. And they're about $10 a pop brand new. I do clean them every few months, toothbrush and soapy water, make sure the ball bearings are free. I have a plastic combo reel that I've used for 15 years. (though for 35mm I use a Hewes quite happily).

The need for the blow drying and regular toothbrush cleanings ruin it for me...

Sirius Glass · Oct 29, 2015

M Carter said:
I know you purists will hate me, but I never looked back after getting the plastic reels with the "big ears". I can load a roll perfectly in a minute, crank-crank-crank. I like that I can snap 'em apart and blow dry them if I'm doing a bunch of film. They're really easy to use for snip tests, too, if I just want to run a frame or two. And they're about $10 a pop brand new. I do clean them every few months, toothbrush and soapy water, make sure the ball bearings are free. I have a plastic combo reel that I've used for 15 years. (though for 35mm I use a Hewes quite happily).

I only use those when I am using the Jobo processor.

M Carter · Oct 30, 2015

Richard S. (rich815) said:
The need for the blow drying and regular toothbrush cleanings ruin it for me...

Well, I have to blow dry my hughes reels if I want to run some more film dry is dry after all, and a towel has never cut it for me on plastic or steel.

I do have the sort of "gear love" for a steel reel vs. plastic but convenience for 120 wins for me on this one.

Mike Bates · Oct 30, 2015

I'm not sure I understand the need for a blow dryer for stainless reels. I can load Hewes reels underwater.

Sirius Glass · Oct 30, 2015

I let the Hewes reels and Jobo reels air dry.

Richard S. (rich815) · Oct 30, 2015

Mike Bates said:
I'm not sure I understand the need for a blow dryer for stainless reels. I can load Hewes reels underwater.

I don't do that but towel drying is plenty with Hewes and the prongs.

M Carter · Nov 2, 2015

Mike Bates said:
I'm not sure I understand the need for a blow dryer for stainless reels. I can load Hewes reels underwater.

Yep, with steel reels they can be loaded wet - I get squeamish about loading unprocessed film with water drops since the emulsion feels soft/sticky in those spots and i'm afraid of damaging it, but I pat the hughes reels on a towel and a quick hit with the dryer and they're bone dry.

Far as I know, loading plastic reels when wet is a pain, and again, it's how the film feels wet that worries me, so i don't take a chance and dry stuff. I do need to get a 2 or 3 reel tank for 120 though.

ColColt · Nov 2, 2015

I do need to get a 2 or 3 reel tank for 120 though.

I have the two reel 120 Paterson tank I bought long ago. It will also do three 35 rolls. It looks just like this one...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...-Cd8sgCFZQ6gQodP_cJ3Q&is=REG&m=Y&A=details&Q=

Mainecoonmaniac · Nov 2, 2015

Yep

Mike Bates said:
I'm not sure I understand the need for a blow dryer for stainless reels. I can load Hewes reels underwater.

Plastic reels the film is snaked between the plastic channels so film will stick if they're wet. Stainsteel reels are laid down on the wires in the reel. I prefer stainless steels even though they've aggravated me throughout the years.

Thomas Bertilsson · Nov 2, 2015

Hewes SS reels are so easy they load themselves. Even if damp.
I use a large hot pad in the darkroom for keeping print chemicals at temp (darkroom is 45 degrees F in winter), and when I develop film I spread a towel on it and place the wet reels and tanks on top to dry. Since I rotate two or three tanks when I process I always have dry reels, but even if they're a bit damp that has never caused any problems. With plastic reels - forget it. They have to be bone dry.

baachitraka · Nov 2, 2015

I am practising and its is getting better.

Once the film is straight then its easy to load with or without clipping the film.

Thomas Bertilsson · Nov 2, 2015

That's a Hewes reel on the left. Like so many others I struggled with stainless reels until I tried Hewes. What a remarkable difference it is.

I take the film leader (in a changing bag, by the way), and jamb it under the stainless spring, making sure the film is centered such that equal amount of film is on right and left inside the reel. Then I secure the film under the spring and hold the reel in my left, while unrolling the film a bit with the right, and then I straighten the film so that the angle is good for it to get on the reel.
Finally I cup the film slightly as I load it onto the reel, rotating the reel with my left, and keeping moderately loose tension with the right hand.

Their 35mm reels are completely fool proof and even better.

Richard S. (rich815) said:
Here you go:

newtorf · Nov 2, 2015

I had always used the one on the right side for many rolls till one day I got one (hewes) on the left side. I did not noticed the difference. One day when I wanted to develop a roll, I accidentally grab the one on the left side. You can image the struggle I went through to mount the film on the reel. It just did NOT work regardless how hard I tried! Eventually, for some odd reason, I decided to flip the film and mount it on the opposite way after clipping it to the center, and it worked magically! After developing the film, I took a close look at the reels, and noticed the difference. They are exactly the opposite! What the h**k (/cough cough, excuse my language)!

Loading film into stainless steel reels.

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