Metal film reels and loading

zanxion72 · Apr 15, 2015

After using plastic reels for developing my films for a few years, I have decided to give the steel spirals a try. I have bought one on the cheap on ebay and the problem is that whenever I try loading film on it it always gets caught somewhere in a way so that the next layer touches the previous one.
Could it be that the reel has some sort of damage that prevents the smooth loading of the film on it? I have also tried an LPL film loader with it but I get the same problem.

Dave Ludwig · Apr 15, 2015

Started with plastic 40 years back shortly after went to metal. It requires the film to be evenly spaced between the spirals at the core or clip, this is the trick and takes a little practice. Just take a bad roll of film and practice will watching TV. Never used a loader and always felt doing it by hand gave a better feel if something is going wrong. Now a word of advise, do not buy used reels, a metal reels life span is right up to the point when you drop it. I test reels by rolling them across a table, if it wobbles, or the ends of the spiral do not touch the table at the same time the reel is not square and the film will jump the tracks. Best metal reels are made by Hewes, I feel they are little heavier and better built.
Good Luck

Guillaume Zuili · Apr 15, 2015

Hewes. Loading is very easy and they are sturdy. From bad experience, used cheap ss reels are a waste of money.

Rick A · Apr 15, 2015

If you are having the problem in the same place no matter which method you use for loading, then it's a dinged reel.

frobozz · Apr 15, 2015

Just to restate the obvious: Hewes are the only SS reels worth buying at this point. The two biggest problems with SS reels are: bent spiral wires causing loading problems; the film not being square and centered to start, causing loading problems farther along.

Hewes brilliantly has little tangs in the center to hook the 35mm perforations, absolutely guaranteeing the film starts off perfectly square and centered. And their spiral wires are about thick enough to drive a car over and not get bent, all but eliminating that as a problem.

Duncan

winger · Apr 15, 2015

I echo the "use Hewes" sentiment. Some things are not worth buying on the cheap. Somewhere on the web, there was/is a video by APUGer jbrunner on how to load a SS reel - most useful video for me.

bdial · Apr 15, 2015

Have you tried loading the reel with a sacrificial roll so that you can monitor what's going on in the light?
Metal reels, especially the 35mm ones look sturdy, but are actually fairly fragile, one drop on a concrete floor is all it takes to tweak it enough to be unusable, even though it will look just fine.

Hewes reels aren't the only ones that work well, but their design and construction is superior.

As stated, it sounds like your reel may be bent, if the film kinks no matter what you do, it probably is, and the best solution is to ditch it and find a known good one. The easiest way to do that is to buy a brand-new Hewes.

480sparky · Apr 15, 2015

The biggest trick to loading SS reels is to twist the reel to load the film, not move the film across it.

If the reel is in your left hand and the film in your right, your right hand stays still and you rotate/move the reel.

Jim Jones · Apr 15, 2015

I've used cheap SS reels for many hundred rolls of film with little trouble. The flanges on reels that have been dropped can be straightened. Occasionally the flanges are straight and parallel, but not concentric. This, too, can be corrected with enough effort. The spring clip that holds the film on the core of some reels was a bad idea. It works well if the film is perfectly centered between the flanges, and causes problems if the film is slightly off-center. I remove the clip, double the end of the film over, and insert it between the wires of the core. Then the film automatically centers itself between the flanges. The discarded spring clip can be used to block off all but the proper core slot. When film becomes crimped on SS reels, we can usually feel it jammed flush against the outside surface of the spiral. It also makes a faint sound when it crimps. If one still has problems loading SS reels, load a full length of scrap film and see where the problem is.

Gerald C Koch · Apr 15, 2015

Rick A said:
If you are having the problem in the same place no matter which method you use for loading, then it's a dinged reel.

+1

Never buy used reels without trying them out with scrap film. They may look fine but have been bent enough not to work. Also don't buy very cheap reels. They are often too flimsy and easily damaged. 120 reels are usually made with thicker wire and hold up better.

Mainecoonmaniac · Apr 15, 2015

I've used metal reels for a long time and I still struggle sometimes in the dark. I've discovered that you don't have to use the metal clip that attaches the film to the reel. You can roll the film around it one revolution and the film will stay on the reel. Sometimes using the clip is a hinderance because if I inserted it cockeyed, the film won't load. The film should freely float between the wires when it's loaded. If you shake a properly loaded reel, you should hear a rattle. I have metal reels that I've owned for over 30 years. If you don't drop them, they'll last a lifetime. Can't say the same for plastic reels. You can't load plastic reels when they're wet either.

M Carter · Apr 15, 2015

I'll throw in another vote for Hewes for 35mm. Worth every penny, and they're not exorbitantly priced.

I prefer plastic for 120 though. the Samigon and Omega reels with the "big ears" are really fast for me. If I'm doing several rolls in a day, I pull them apart, brush them out with a toothbrush, and take a blowdryer to the parts. You have to keep 'em clean, but there's not much to that.

480sparky · Apr 15, 2015

Over the years I've owned several SS reels, and 1. I've never paid one iota of attention who made 'em and 2. rarely have had any problems, even after dropping them.

Ken Nadvornick · Apr 15, 2015

One quick test which can be easily performed with suspect unloaded stainless reels is to simply roll them across a large, flat, level surface. Watch carefully how they roll. If the two spirals are not parallel it will be immediately apparent.

Good reels will not show any visually asymmetric appearances when rolled.

Ken

M Carter · Apr 15, 2015

480sparky said:
Over the years I've owned several SS reels, and 1. I've never paid one iota of attention who made 'em and 2. rarely have had any problems, even after dropping them.

The "who made them" thing applies more to Hewes vs. everyone else, for stainless anyway. I do think their little sprocket hole tabs are genius - as do many others.

removed account4 · Apr 16, 2015

sometimes the reason they are being sold CHEAP is because
they were dropped, bent, kinked, don't work

new reels are $$ sometimes but worth it, since they don't wreck your film

Rick A · Apr 16, 2015

I have this, the reel grabs the end of the film via two prongs that catch the sprocket holes in the film, the guide keeps the film in correct plane as you crank the film into the reel. I don't use it, never really needed it, SS reels are easy to load, kept it around for students.

frobozz · Apr 16, 2015

Looks like a Hewes loader and Hewes reel.

Duncan

Rick A · Apr 16, 2015

frobozz said:
Looks like a Hewes loader and Hewes reel.

Duncan

Made by LEL, Japan. Loads like a Hewes reel.

Saganich · Apr 16, 2015

Hewes. I've had the same 4 for the past 20 years with not one problem ever. The "other" reels were constantly a problem (even NEW) and almost made me quit film. Never buy used reels unless you try them out first...with the exception from another user who will take money back if not acceptable.

markbarendt · Apr 16, 2015

bdial said:
Have you tried loading the reel with a sacrificial roll so that you can monitor what's going on in the light?
Metal reels, especially the 35mm ones look sturdy, but are actually fairly fragile, one drop on a concrete floor is all it takes to tweak it enough to be unusable, even though it will look just fine.

Hewes reels aren't the only ones that work well, but their design and construction is superior.

As stated, it sounds like your reel may be bent, if the film kinks no matter what you do, it probably is, and the best solution is to ditch it and find a known good one. The easiest way to do that is to buy a brand-new Hewes.

A sacrificial roll is the best way I know to figure out where the problem is. It is worth every penny to make sure rolls you have real pix on go into place just right.

I do have reels that I believe have been dropped at one time or another, and yes they're a bit harder to get loaded.

Early on, before I had a significant amount of practice, these harder load reels we're really a pain, now meh.

Yes it is worthwhile to get a good reel that you can build your experience on, but don't toss the one you have until you have another to compare it with. The problem may be in how you're holding your tongue.

fotch · Apr 16, 2015

Used are OK if they are in good shape. The best ones are/were made by Nikkor, Kindermann and if you can find them in good shape, buy them.

Try loading with a practice roll first, before buying. If you have trouble, may be bent and hard to detect just looking at them.

Of course, if you buying from ebay, there is a high risk of getting garbage. If you buy new, get the Hewes. With good reels and some practice, you should not have any problems, ever.

rpavich · Feb 11, 2016

Hewes, Hewes, and only Hewes in my opinion.

I started on plastic because I got a couple of steel reels and could NOT reliably load them. In retrospect, I think that they weren't pristine, and/or the clip film retainer on the core just isn't a great design.

I used plastic for a while but when I saw this Hewes thing mentioned, I decided to give them a whirl.

My only comment is: Hewes is the one to use. Nothing but pleasure while loading. Reliable even for a noob, and you can even find out if you've loaded them correctly by the small amount of "backlash" that they will exhibit; if you can "back up" the negative strip by pushing it and it moves, then you haven't messed something up. If you cannot, you just unroll until you can...and then continue.
It's fool proof and noob proof.

frobozz · Feb 11, 2016

Another vote for Hewes, and nothing but Hewes. I don't think humanity ever would have needed to invent the plastic reels, and thus we wouldn't be having these discussions, if Nikor had thought of the designs features that were lacking for decades until Hewes came along!

Duncan

mgb74 · Feb 12, 2016

Hewes are the best. That said, I have some Kindermann reels that came to me used and are just as easy to load.

Metal film reels and loading

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