Sorry if this has been asked before. Loading Patterson film tank spools

OK...I See...it gets crammed into an ever Smaller/Tighter diameter.?
Thanks

jeremy rundle said:

Just bought THIS on ebay

Looks identical ??????????????????View attachment 162484

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I bought the same AP reels from Freestyle, and used one today. First film I developed myself in 33 years

The film went onto the reel very easily and quickly, even though I was working in a changing bag.

I've been double loading rolls of 120, and generally if I'm going to notice any bind or issue it has been in the first half of the first roll. The second half, and the roll taped on and coming after it, has always gone smoothly for me. (except for one roll where I realized half way through that I didn't smooth the tape out properly... That one got 'interesting' to get on) So I'm rather curious what could be causing a that consistent of a jam for people.

Is there maybe less 'slop/play' in the reels when they're closed down to 35mm?

I will try the new ones, can always sell on ebay

Now that I am bulk loading I will load just 20 exposures anyway

There might be some crunge or a nick inside the rail that makes the film skip to another row .. inspect

CMoore said:

So Then.......why do we all experience trouble, with 36 exposure, when the roll reaches the approximate distance of 70% done.?

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I don't, however I clean the reels and do not crush them to death while loading.

I use wetting agent in the final rinse,empty out, take film out and hang up to dry, put the tank and reels to dry until next time needed.

Same here since 1978.......... I even load my film up from the bulk loader in a changing bag to save waste end shots.Open a problem camera and remove film all done in a changing bag.

Here's my advice if you still struggle..
Trim end
Try the toothbrush.
Try the pencil
Don't squeeze to tight.
Load only 25 from the bulk loader
Get a dummy reel of film and practice.(one of the most useful items in film photography)
Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before loading up..

Patrice practice practice.

Never ever warmed up a reel ever before loading up.

Heat and humidity makes a huge difference. I had a mammoth developing session and it became hot and humid in my changing bag. This caused the gelatin to become sticky like flypaper and it was a nightmare to load reels. I also had a roll of 120 that was slightly damp (from hiking in mountains) and that was even worse. The tip (already mentioned) to gently pull the reel apart does sometimes give a tiny bit of extra space to free a stuck film. Occasionally, I have had a film that binds badly and the edge gets kinked. If that happens the film will never load properly and the only solution is to cut a tiny piece of the edge out where the kink is.

Harry Stevens said:

I use wetting agent in the final rinse,empty out, take film out and hang up to dry, put the tank and reels to dry until next time needed.

Same here since 1978.......... I even load my film up from the bulk loader in a changing bag to save waste end shots.Open a problem camera and remove film all done in a changing bag.

Here's my advice if you still struggle..
Trim end
Try the toothbrush.
Try the pencil
Don't squeeze to tight.
Load only 25 from the bulk loader
Get a dummy reel of film and practice.(one of the most useful items in film photography)
Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before loading up..

Patrice practice practice.

Never ever warmed up a reel ever before loading up.

Click to expand...

And if your film does stick, then a sharp tap on a hard surface will 99% of the time losen the film and allow loading to carry on as normal, at least it has for me for 50 years or more

I just had this happen last week.
I let the reels air dry, and 24 hours is not enough. They need 48. Of the two i used previously, there was some water, as in a few drops, still in the other reel i did not use this time, so that is how i know they were still "wet". Was water the problem.? I do not know. I did not run dead film through the reel first, like i normally each time do before i load "real" film.
I tried tapping, banging the reels, but that did not work...tried pulling apart just a bit and that did nothing to help...i twisted them in two and reloaded the film, and it did it again at about the 70% mark.
What i did, for the first time, was to "short stroke" the reels. I only gave them a twist that was about 10-20% of their normal travel. Doing this, i was able to load the film all the way, and get those last 3-5 frames.
Who knows.......