Stainless Hewes reel question

Truzi · Jun 23, 2013

I don't mean to start yet another thread on this, but my question is very pointed and I could not find the specific info. I've read enough threads, and used different brands, and just need a tiny piece of information. I am NOT asking for opinions on what is best.

Are Hewes stainless reels pretty much the same, or do they have different models?

Most of my darkroom equipment is used, and while it works, I'm at a point where I want to purchase new (when my car allows me, as repairs are tapping me out at the moment). I've decided on Hewes stainless reels.
We've no shops that sell these items locally, so I'll have to buy online, which means I can't hold it and make sure it is what I want. Pictures don't always show the right angle, and can be stock images that don't always reflect the product sold.

I like how the 220 reel holds the film with a clip, but the 120 appears to have a spring (from photos I've seen). Is it as good/easy as the 220 in this respect?
I like how the 35mm reel holds the film by the perfs, are all new Hewes of this design, or is it a specific model?

Basically, I want to make sure I buy what I intend.

Sparky · Jun 23, 2013

i think the springs and clips are reels by different manufacturers - i have both types (also both types of 220 reel) but I prefer the springs personally. No idea who makes which brands though...

Ross Chambers · Jun 24, 2013

My Hewes 120 have the spring but I find it easier to ignore it as it seems difficult to attach the film straight. Hard to explain but positioning the film end in the centre and wrapping it on works fine. The pins for the perfs on the 35mm reels are great, by definition the perfs hold the film square.

mooseontheloose · Jun 24, 2013

Ross Chambers said:
My Hewes 120 have the spring but I find it easier to ignore it as it seems difficult to attach the film straight. Hard to explain but positioning the film end in the centre and wrapping it on works fine. The pins for the perfs on the 35mm reels are great, by definition the perfs hold the film square.

What he said. Spring for 120, pins for perfs on 35mm. I use both, and unless I'm having a really bad day with the film, I always use the spring for 120 and it goes on great.

frobozz · Jun 24, 2013

And to answer the original question: new, used, doesn't matter, the Hewes design hasn't changed, and they only have one model of each size. And while it's always possible to buy a used reel that's been dropped and bent, that's much much rarer with Hewes, because their spiral wires are *massive* compared to everyone else's. (Which is why they stack up a little taller in the tanks, meaning you have to choose your multiple-reel tanks carefully or you won't be able to get the cap on.)

Duncan

Aron · Jun 24, 2013

For 35 mm I couldn't imagine using anything but the Hewes reels, but for 120 for me the winner is the design used by Kindermann: a spring clip that grabs hard or punctures the film right in the middle. Before getting a second-hand Kindermann reel I sometimes had problems with my Hewes for 120, not anymore.

It's still usually easy to load a normal Hewes reel for 120, however.

nbagno · Jun 24, 2013

They actually have more than one model for each size. The have a version for Jobo tanks with a one inch center core.

frobozz said:
And to answer the original question: new, used, doesn't matter, the Hewes design hasn't changed, and they only have one model of each size. And while it's always possible to buy a used reel that's been dropped and bent, that's much much rarer with Hewes, because their spiral wires are *massive* compared to everyone else's. (Which is why they stack up a little taller in the tanks, meaning you have to choose your multiple-reel tanks carefully or you won't be able to get the cap on.)

Duncan

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ac12 · Jun 25, 2013

As with Ross, I NEVER use the spring clip in any of my reels. For me it creates more problems than it solves. I learned that you HAVE TO clip the film in center. If you are off-center just a bit, the film won't roll properly and may/will kink. And you have to be careful to not push too much film under the clip or it will not roll well. So I just slip the end of the film into the center of the reel and start winding.

MattKing · Jun 25, 2013

ac12 said:
As with Ross, I NEVER use the spring clip in any of my reels. For me it creates more problems than it solves. I learned that you HAVE TO clip the film in center. If you are off-center just a bit, the film won't roll properly and may/will kink. And you have to be careful to not push too much film under the clip or it will not roll well. So I just slip the end of the film into the center of the reel and start winding.

I agree with this, with one qualification.

Don't try to use rotary processing if you don't clip the end of the 120 roll. Otherwise, the film tends to walk itself out of the reel.

Photograph of my homemade rotary processor setup attached:

ac12 · Jun 25, 2013

Matt
That is cool.
But I can't do that easily with my all SS Nikor tanks. While I normally tape the cover to the tank, just in case, I don't do similar to the small cap, and that is a leak point. The Nikor tanks were not made to be kept on the side w/o leaking.

I wonder if someone sells plastic tank covers that will fit onto a Nikor tank?

MattKing · Jun 25, 2013

ac12 said:
Matt
That is cool.
But I can't do that easily with my all SS Nikor tanks. While I normally tape the cover to the tank, just in case, I don't do similar to the small cap, and that is a leak point. The Nikor tanks were not made to be kept on the side w/o leaking.

I wonder if someone sells plastic tank covers that will fit onto a Nikor tank?

I've used it with an all-steel tank and a very wide rubber band. But mainly just to try it - it is a bit of a hassle.

I do have steel tanks with plastic lids, but I don't think they are Nikor.

Sparky · Jun 25, 2013

ac12 said:
I wonder if someone sells plastic tank covers that will fit onto a Nikor tank?

yes - you can get them lots of places.

Dead Link Removed

frobozz · Jun 25, 2013

nbagno said:
They actually have more than one model for each size. The have a version for Jobo tanks with a one inch center core.

Ah OK right, forgot about those. (Is it "those" or "that one"? I've only ever seen the 35mm version.) If you're hand-processing in a stainless tank, either will work fine though. I picked up some Hewes reels cheap on ebay because they were in sealed Jobo boxes and the seller didn't make it obvious what they really were. But I knew!

Duncan

zsas · Jun 25, 2013

In late to the discussion, but I am a huge 35mm-Hewes-reel'ite; though, I love the 120 reels that LPL makes that have 'the clip' instead of a 'spring-thing'

http://r.ebay.com/TOxgd5

zsas · Jun 25, 2013

^Disclosure, no connection w seller above linked, that link was my 1st google response...

Truzi · Aug 7, 2013

I finally ordered a couple 35mm Hewes reels. They arrived today and I've been practicing with an uncut strip of developed film. I really like how the pins work, and the reels seem fairly robust. I've not used them yet but like them already.

zsas · Aug 7, 2013

Once ya Hewes, ya never lose

semi-ambivalent · Aug 7, 2013

zsas said:
Once ya Hewes, ya never lose

BAM! T-shirt.

Truzi · Aug 18, 2013

I finally used it for real (in a changing bag). Wow, this was the fastest and easiest load I've ever done. The pins make it easy to start and align, which are the two things that cause me grief with stainless reels.

Stainless Hewes reel question

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