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

[MattKing]

With respect to trimming the corners, nail clippers work really well.

And to reiterate a point already made, it is really important to hold the reels gently, in order to ensure that the two sides are always parallel.

 

[MartinP]

I recently helped someone who was having problems with Paterson reels. After watching him in daylight, with his eyes closed and loading a dummy film, the guy was squeezing the two halves of the reel towards each other so much his knuckles were white. The reels are made to be slightly floppy together and a millimetre oversized, so that there is plenty of space for the film to be pushed in by the ratchets. If there is any sort of stiffness just relax, wiggle the reel halves back and forth a few mm, maybe even tap one side then the other, and carry on loading.

If the hands are wet and sweaty then use nitrile gloves, perhaps also starting the film on the reel outside the changing-bag (only 135 of course). If the reels are wet and you can't dry them then you can always load underwater, giving 5 or 10% extra time to the film due to the pre-soak. I wouldn't recommend that except in 'emergencies', and getting a bucket of water in to your changing-bag isn't going to be a happy event.

Before trying again, soak the reels in a (weak) bleach solution to soften any gunk that might possibly be in the trackways, and scrub them out with a nail-brush. Rinse and dry carefully. Do this so that you can remove a/the possible problem before trying increasingly bizarre answers . . . Good luck

 

[jeremy rundle]

glad it isn't just me, now loading just 20 exposures from bulk

 

[pentaxuser]

I recently helped someone who was having problems with Paterson reels. After watching him in daylight, with his eyes closed and loading a dummy film, the guy was squeezing the two halves of the reel towards each other so much his knuckles were white. /QUOTE]
You would not have minded so much but it turned out he earned his living as a brain surgeon

pentaxuser

 

[jvo]

is this episode of Reel Wars worth viewing or shall I wait for the JJ Abrams reboot?

too late....

 

[mshchem]

I run the reels through the dishwasher, top rack and air dry. Seems to help. No damage to the reels yet!

You definitely get clean reels in alkaline dish washer detergent. I wouldn't do it with the ABS or polystyrene tanks.
Jobo and Paterson reels are tough stuff, I've washed mine thus way as well
Best Regards Mike

 

[MattKing]

You definitely get clean reels in alkaline dish washer detergent. I wouldn't do it with the ABS or polystyrene tanks.
Jobo and Paterson reels are tough stuff, I've washed mine thus way as well
Best Regards Mike

I run mine through either with no detergent or a very tiny amount of detergent.

 

[mshchem]

I run mine through either with no detergent or a very tiny amount of detergent.

Good call if there's no food covered plates in there just a smidgen of detergent would go a long way.

 

[BMbikerider]

Clean reels are always needed especially if you are processing a mixture of films at different time. Colour slide film will show odd colours with the slightest hint of contamination. But I think more importantly the grooves MUST be completely dry.

Loading a film from a camera which winds the film with a reverse curl to the one in the cassette was always a bigger challenge than one which uses the natural curl and the dry reel is essential .

 

[jeremy rundle]

Clean reels are always needed especially if you are processing a mixture of films at different time. Colour slide film will show odd colours with the slightest hint of contamination. But I think more importantly the grooves MUST be completely dry.

Loading a film from a camera which winds the film with a reverse curl to the one in the cassette was always a bigger challenge than one which uses the natural curl and the dry reel is essential .

This is VERY true, in fact only yesterday with my second film I curled the film in the other direction to straighten it, also with the comment above I wonder if without thought I and others do press tghe reels together will think about that next time

NEW shots from my Zenit Photosniper yesterday, 300mm lens

 

[John51]

I recently helped someone who was having problems with Paterson reels. After watching him in daylight, with his eyes closed and loading a dummy film, the guy was squeezing the two halves of the reel towards each other so much his knuckles were white.

This might be a major cause of the problems some have. If it gets sticky, you can gently pull the 2 spirals outwards while giving the film just enough pressure with your thumbs to stop it falling. Then carry on winding with relaxed wrists.

It's sort of a gentle floppy procedure, not forceful at all.

 

[R.Gould]

Clean reels are always needed especially if you are processing a mixture of films at different time. Colour slide film will show odd colours with the slightest hint of contamination. But I think more importantly the grooves MUST be completely dry.

Loading a film from a camera which winds the film with a reverse curl to the one in the cassette was always a bigger challenge than one which uses the natural curl and the dry reel is essential .

Today I loaded a film that I had just finished taking with my old Leica, the film was reversed curl, I never clean my reels, just the final wash, saok in wetting agent, remove film and dry the reel, this morning the reel was damp, I ran a pencil around the groves as normal for me, trimmed the end of the film, the film went in with no sticking, just straight in as per normal for me, I can see that pressing the reel might be a problem, but with relaxed hands, which comes with practice, and my pencil trick my films, both 35mm and 120 just load straight in, no cleaning,scrubbing, Ect, I have often loaded with a damp reel with no problems, not wet but damp, I can see problems with color and needing to clean for color, I don't do color, and I maintain that with B/W all you need is a bit of graphite from a pencil and no problems
Richard

 

[Terry Breedlove]

I never was successful loading 35mm on to Paterson reels. Get these and I'll bet you'll toss the Paterson reels in the trash:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...2_Universal_Adjustable_Multi_format_Reel.html

Yes absolute I own two of these tanks with reels and they are way better than my Patterson. The reels are way easier to load and I like the better designed lid as well.

 

[jeremy rundle]

Great if you live in the USA

 

[CMoore]

Great if you live in the USA

Do they not ship to The U.K. or are you saying it is Expensive for shipping.?

 

[jeremy rundle]

The cost is too high, BHP have a reputation over here as being the one shop WE WISH WE had, the videos and expertise is great but they are in the USA........................... bummer

 

[jeremy rundle]

THIS is why

Subtotal:$21.98
Shipping starting from$13.51
Duties & Tax $31.01

You Pay$66.50

 

[jeremy rundle]

Just bought THIS on ebay

Looks identical ??????????????????

 

[jeremy rundle]

Two more, hope these work, all three NEW are less than 1 from the US

 

[CMoore]

THIS is why

Subtotal:$21.98
Shipping starting from$13.51
Duties & Tax $31.01

You Pay$66.50

I have no idea what shipping would be.
Do the tax and duties apply if somebody from the usa ships it to you.?
Shipping (in the usa) is free, on 50 dollar orders.

 

[jeremy rundle]

Yes they do, we have to pay tax.

Never mind now I have found those three on ebay hope they work

 

[MattKing]

Just bought THIS on ebay

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

That is because AP are actually the Spanish manufacturers of these reels.

I've heard/read conflicting information about whether they are still in production.

 

[Luckless]

The excessively large tabs on those reels kind of worry me. I've come across multiple people online who ended up with excessive scratching on their negatives from reels with similarly large feed tabs.

The only time I've had problems with my Paterson reels so far has been when I've tried loading them while the humidity was too high. (Or it was too warm and allowed my hands/forearms to sweat a little inside a changing bag.) I was well aware of that being a problem, but honestly was kind of surprised at just how little it actually took to make a headache of things.

 

[CMoore]

So Then.......why do we all experience trouble, with 36 exposure, when the roll reaches the approximate distance of 70% done.?
Nobody seems to have trouble after the first 5-6-7 frames.

 

[MattKing]

The more film loaded on the reel, the tighter the curl at the leading end of the film.