processing issues with sprials

[dangerous dave]

hello guys having finished uni and now lost access to my darkroom im forced to use a changing bag and paterson tank the issue is the film is jamming and kinking on the spiral ive lost 3 rolls due to jamming n kinking in 2 days and in 2 years in a proper darkroom i lost none. im getting very fed up of loosing work due to this can anyone help me out with this

 

[markbarendt]

FWIW with my JOBO reels I snip the leading corners of the film at an angle and pinch/fold the film back to straighten it out some.

I'm also patient with it.

 

[Paul Green]

Are the reels completely dry when you’ve tried to load the film? After a while your hands can get rather hot and sweaty in a small changing bag, maybe try to figure a way of wiping them with tissue or something. I had somewhat of a similar problem, switched to SS reels and haven’t looked back.

 

[Ian Grant]

Make sure the ball bearings are loose on the spirals, they sometimes jam, also check the spiral is totally dry. Give the spirals a good soak with some washing powder & hot water, then wash them well before drying.

Ian

 

[dangerous dave]

ive been told stainless steel spirals are easy to load in the bag in comparison to the plastic paterson ones any truth in that

 

[Ian Grant]

No, Paterson are just as easy to load in a changing bag, if not easier in my experience.

Ian

 

[z3guy]

In my experience both of Ian's suggestions, about the reels being dry and making sure the ball bearings are free, should solve most loading problems for Paterson reels.

Paul

 

[KenS]

Dave,
Over a period of time and use, plastic reels tend to acquire a build up of 'crap' in the grooves.
With the slight increase in humidity while in the bag the 'grooves' become somewhat 'tacky' and
loose some of the smoothness. Might I suggest you use your mother-in-laws softest toothbrush
and a dilute chlorine bleach and give the spiral a light scrubbing to remove the build-up.

My enthusiasm for problem-free processing of 120 film increased when I followed that regular
'keep-em-clean' regimen and.... using a pair of small scissors to cut about a 1/8 inch corner
off the leading edge. The more expensive but better cure would be an investment in a few
Hewes steel reels.

Ken

 

[Ian Grant]

Ken's highlighting my comments about cleaning earlier. Each time a film's removed while wet a small trace of gelatin ends up on the spirals, over time it builds up and it doesn't take long for it to get sticky.

Ian

 

[AlanC]

In my experience if the film is curled it can jam - and it usually is when it comes out of the cassette. I always do the same as Mark suggested above, and bend it back to get the first few inches flat.

Alan

 

[MattKing]

Others have success with changing bags but I've never been able to use a changing bag. It is the humidity that gets in the way.

I know that some people find it useful to have a small frame or box inside the bag, so that the bag doesn't get in the way. Personally, I find it much easier to load in a fully darkened room.

If you have a room that you can make dark, I'd suggest using it.

It is worthwhile noting that it doesn't hurt to load reels and tanks at night and then do the processing the next day (or even later).

 

[Rich Ullsmith]

All of the above, and also maybe looking into lightproofing your bathroom and getting rid of the bag. I can see the increase in humidity in the bag causing problems, especially if the reels and bearings are not spotless.

 

[R gould]

I have used patterson tanks and spirals for years,and an old photographer gave me a tip for any plastic spirals, run a sharp pencil around the groves every 2 or 3 loads, the pencillead lubricates the spirals,and no more problems, I have done this for almost ever, and no problems,try it it works,Richard

 

[Nancy Gutrich]

You can also take a tooth brush with a little baking soda solution to the reels, especialy the ball bearing parts. Every now and then soak the reels in baking soda and rinse after using.

 

[markbarendt]

A good friend of mine says that popping the bearings out can also help, it makes the reels work like JOBO's where your fingers do the pushing and allows you to backup when needed.

 

[RobertV]

Give the spirals a good soak with some washing powder & hot water,

Tooth cleaning tabs is the easy way to clean them, NO Chlorine while this will damage the plastic Polymer.

Indeed the balls must be loosen. The weakest point in Paterson reels.
In the Jobo type they are even not in. I find them loading more easy then the Paterson version but both should not be any problem when they are clean and especially DRY.

Even loading a 120 roll film: Less then 30 seconds and it should be done.

 

[dangerous dave]

the spiral is brand new if it was second hand i could expect some issue i think it could be down to the bag never had this issue in the darkroom

 

[RobertV]

Depending on the type changing bag it can be a problem of moisture. Spooling in the darkroom is preferable then any changing bag.
Again: I can put any film on a Jobo/Paterson reel within 30 seconds. When you have a Tri-Acetate base you can cut manually, when having a Polyester base film you always need a scissor. And any scissor in a changing bag is not really practical.
In that way roll films are easier.

 

[guitstik]

Dave, in the dark room, did you use the Paterson reel's or SS? Have you used the Paterson before, if not it might be a good idea to practice with a test roll several times before you try doing it in the changing bag. It is always a good idea to familiarize yourself with any new process that differs from your normal routine before you do it for real. I have never had a problem when using a changing bag even with the humidity we suffer with here in the south. Good preparation is the key plus a small battery operated fan helps too.

 

[dangerous dave]

used the paterson tanks and spirals all thru uni with none of this im hoping i can black my room out to save this issue

 

[RobertV]

a good idea to familiarize yourself with any new process

For sure.

Do the spooling a few times by light for practising and then a few times in the dark. Most people are finding this step the most difficult one in self-processing. But if you know how to do it, it's very easy. All you need is confidence

 

[jerry lebens]

Not much help if you're using a changing bag (I'd never use them if I could help it), but if a film jams due to a damp Paterson reel, the best solution is to plunge both the film and spiral into water and continue to load normally - if carefully. The water, instead of sticking to small areas of gelatin, lubricates the spiral and ball bearings and gets the whole thing moving again.

NB It's a "get out of gaol" card that I don't like to use except in an emergency...

Jerry

 

[Gerald C Koch]

And any scissor in a changing bag is not really practical.

I keep a pair of children's scissors (with the rounded ends) just for use with a changing bag. I have never had a problem using them.

BTW, the only times I have had a problem loading a reel was with a plastic one. No problems after switching to stainless steel.

 

[Ronald Moravec]

If you got wetting agent or stabilizer on them, throw them away and get new. They will not load.

 

[MartinP]

If you got wetting agent or stabilizer on them, throw them away and get new. They will not load.

Or clean them . . .