Want to Buy Wanted: Your empty 620 spools

j-dogg · Aug 15, 2022

I have a Medalist II and taught myself how to spool 120 to 620.

I'm in 32780 in Florida.

Donald Qualls · Aug 15, 2022

These are readily available on eBay for a few dollars each (in batches of 6-10) or around ten bucks a pop for singles, or you can buy already spooled film from B&H or Film Photography Project to get new spools.

guangong · Aug 15, 2022

A post that appeared a few days ago offered a solution that I am going to try. Instead of rewinding 120 to 620, use a snip to reduce diameter of 120 film spool edges to that of 620, so as to fit and turn freely at feed. To ensure proper spacing a 620 spool is required for take up.
What I like about this idea is that there is no need to guess far in advance what films to rewind.

pbromaghin · Aug 15, 2022

Donald Qualls said:
These are readily available on eBay for a few dollars each (in batches of 6-10) or around ten bucks a pop for singles, or you can buy already spooled film from B&H or Film Photography Project to get new spools.

Not a bad idea. Get 620 FP4 on sale at B&H for 15.99 compared to the 7.89 for 120 and keep the spool. Other films seem comparable

Sirius Glass · Aug 15, 2022

Moderator, I think "reels" in the title should be changed to "spools".

MattKing · Aug 15, 2022

Thread title corrected

Donald Qualls · Aug 15, 2022

guangong said:
Instead of rewinding 120 to 620, use a snip to reduce diameter of 120 film spool edges to that of 620, so as to fit and turn freely at feed. To ensure proper spacing a 620 spool is required for take up.

I've used this method for years with my Kodak Reflex II (one of the very few 620 cameras other than a Medalist that people actually bother to convert to 120). If the trim is just right you can even get the trimmed spool to work on the takeup side (handy if you want to shoot more rolls than you have spools). This last works on the Reflex II because the counter is driven by a friction roller and measures actual film length past the gate, vs. number of turns of the spool (is that really how Medalists count frames?! No wonder they're expensive to convert!).

DWThomas · Aug 15, 2022

It's no doubt quite camera dependent, but one problem with takeup spools is the substantial difference in size and configuration of the winding key interface between 120 and 620. Currently my only 620 camera is a Brownie Target Six-20, so the four or five spools I have managed to scrape up should suffice! It would appear to be almost dumb luck if a 620 winder engages a 120 spool well enough to work.

(An Authenticke Kodak metal 620 spool in the center.)

Donald Qualls · Aug 16, 2022

DWThomas said:
one problem with takeup spools is the substantial difference in size and configuration of the winding key interface between 120 and 620.

Won't argue -- just reporting what I've found with my Reflex II. I did NOT actually try to run film through onto a 120 spool, so I don't know if it would start okay and then fail partway through the roll. I used to see inserts for 120 spools to correctly fit 620 drive keys, but those are very spool dependent (due to the large variance in 120 drive sockets).

Sirius Glass · Aug 16, 2022

My Kodak Brownie Hawkeye will only take 620 film but will accept a 120 reel for the exposed film. So I too am looking 620 spools.

j-dogg · Aug 16, 2022

For the record, I was checking here before I go to the auction site, I know I can get them there but I always try to help the locals at Photrio/APUG before I go to the auction site.

Also, found 3 more reels locally. Still looking though.

Disconnekt · Aug 16, 2022

If you don't happen to get any from here, Film Photography Project does sell 620 spools (single spool & 4-pack).

etonephoto also sells them in various packs (2, 4, 6, & 10) for decent prices (free shipping too, here: https://www.etonephoto.com/products...-loaded-hand-roll?_pos=2&_sid=457fb666f&_ss=r). I had got some from them not that long ago (for my Kodak Special 620) & it didn't take that long to get here from China, maybe 2 weeks (if that).

jonmon6691 · Aug 16, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
My Kodak Brownie Hawkeye will only take 620 film but will accept a 120 reel for the exposed film. So I too am looking 620 spools.

Funny timing on this thread! I just bought a Hawkeye at a thrift store 2 weekends ago. And last night I learned the hard way that it doesn't work to have a 120 spool in the take-up side for exactly the reason stated above. The winding key cams out of the spool and just strips like a poorly fitted screw driver. It'd be cool to have some type of adapter but I don't think its too much trouble to have a handful of 620 spools for take-up and just ask the lab for them back, or re-wind them onto the original 120 reel for processing. I have a dark bag for loading sheet film so I'd just toss a few in there and doo them all at once.

spoolman · Aug 20, 2022

If anybody is interested, I have 20 620 spools I don't need. I'm selling them in two lots of 10 for $12.00 Cdn. per lot and shipping is $15.00 Cdn.
I accept Paypal and my Paypal email is : trainmandoug@yahoo.ca

Either reply here or PM me.

Doug

ProfessorC1983 · Aug 20, 2022

These can also be very easily 3D printed and there are a number of open-source design files available e.g.: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:44749

If anyone is in need I'm always happy to print a few at cost of materials plus shipping.

Want to Buy Wanted: Your empty 620 spools

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