What am I doing wrong here? Mangled negs

You aren't really trying to squeeze the film as it goes into the reel. All you are really doing is keeping it level, so it isn't canted one way or the other as it goes in. Let it push against the spirals as it goes in, when it bends to curve it gets wider and goes into the groove. You also want rather neutral tension, you want just the slightest pull from the reel, and can push the film towards the reel occasionally to put some slack in it.

Also, really check that the reel is absolutely parallel between the sides, not bent, not twisted, not in any way out of square or symmetry. Lots of the modern stainless reels made in China come ruined straight from the factory, not worth the powder to blow them to hell. If it's a used reel, and it isn't a real Nikor, Omega, or Kindermann, it's almost certainly junk. The only quality new reels are the Hewes ones.

The Hewes ones are made much more rugged than the classic ones. The downside of the Hewes reels is that you can't stack two of them in a 16 ounce Nikor tank, which you can do with the Nikor reels. Two of them will fit in a 16 ounce metal-with-plastic-lid tank.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I ran a roll through today and I'm pleased to report that I have just about sussed the problem - I only had one tiny spot with an issue and almost all the edge is undamaged. I could sort of feel the one spot that went wrong but couldn't get it quite straight. Anyway, a much better effort than the previous ten rolls

I've just loaded my first bulk roll in a loader I was given - HP5 seemed the most appropriate choice given it's flexibility, so I'll have plenty of rolls to get practising on! Hoping to grab some better reels later on as just about everyone has suggested...

Thanks all (again) !!

My first post after lurking for close to a year. Thanks for all the knowledge shared! As mentioned earlier, get the Hewes reels with the tabs that catch the film sprocket holes instead of the spring. I went through two weeks of mangling film just like you, practice some more, think I got it down, then back to mangling film. The Hewes reels fix problems instantly, they are better aligned and have a larger wire diameter in the spiral. It makes all the difference in the world. I wish the 120 reels had the tabs instead of the springs, but 120 is much easier (for me at least) to load. I still struggle with the plastic Jobo 120 ones, mine seem to be backwards, they are only capable of unreeling the film... I'd like to be able to do multiple reel 120 with the Jobo on a roller base to save chemicals, but I still don't trust myself to load the reels...and I understand steel!

I need to try and find a 120 reel, might ask if they can track me down some better 135 reels. I'm pretty happy that my skills are improving, hope to be doing this for a long time to come...

bsdunek said:

Are you taking the spool our of the cassette? It sounded like you are just pulling the film out of the cassette. The causes excess tension and can make the film 'jump' the grooves. I take the cassette apart (in the darkroom or changing bag, of course!), so the film will pull easily. After that, all the above advice is excellent. I have more difficulity with the clips, as if you don't get the film centered precisely, you will never get it to spool on right. Letting the end float works better for me. I've been using metal reels for more that 55 years, and I still occasionally mess up. Hate it when that happens!

Click to expand...

Always take 135 out of the cassette.

It is a good idea to take 120 out of the cassette too.

Steve