What's a really good developing tank/reel combo for a noob to developing film?

Truzi · Feb 18, 2019

I started with plastic Paterson-style tanks and reels, but now prefer steel, especially Hewes.

However, I think Paterson may be easier to get started with. As others have stated, they are adjustable, so you have more flexibility without purchasing more equipment.

Oh, and if you get the right Paterson tank, you can get a Mod54 reel that fits it, and also develop 4x5 in the same tank.

summicron1 · Feb 18, 2019

if you don't do a lot, the plastic reels == patterson -- work fine for many.

If you do a lot -- say you come home from a trip with a dozen rolls you want to do in a busy afternoon -- then steel is the way to go for one simple reason: Plastic reels depend on sliding the film into the slot, which means if there is even the tiniest damp spot on the reel's track anywhere, the film will catch and jam and you will begin to emit many bad words, standing there in the dark, trying to get the damn thing to load.

It is impossible to dry the reel enough, by hand. A hair drier will melt the reel. I hate waiting a cupla hours between loads.

Steel reels, on the other hand, may be rinsed, dried quickly with a dish towel (do NOT tell your spouse you are doing this) and then into the darkroom, reload, repeat. Makes for a faster and more efficient operation.

Either way you go, sacrifice a roll and practice loading in the light, then in the dark, until it is automatic. The steel reels require a bit of "feel" for holding the film so it curves along the long bias just a tiny bit as it comes out of the film can or spool, then flattens out as it spirals onto the reel, usually achieved by holding thumb and forefinger on the sides of the reel where the film enters -- but it's like riding a bicycle, once you get it, it is automatic and you never get it wrong.

Either way -- practice makes perfect.

Deleted member 88956 · Feb 18, 2019

Others have said it, I'll just repeat it: Paterson all the way. You will have plenty of time later to "advance" to SS set ups, but more out of boredom than necessity. Just make sure reel is bone dry when loading film. Use hair dryer just before going to load film.

mshchem · Feb 18, 2019

Witold said:
Others have said it, I'll just repeat it: Paterson all the way. You will have plenty of time later to "advance" to SS set ups, but more out of boredom than necessity. Just make sure reel is bone dry when loading film. Use hair dryer just before going to load film.

And it's inexpensive. 28 bucks US gets you 2 nice new reels and a nice new tank, British Made . Then start watching garage sales. You will find tanks and columns. New reels are 9 bucks each. I checked on AP, the genuine, made in the EU, AP tanks and reels appear to be unavailable in the USA. B&H has something called AP that looks like 1st generation Paterson . Junk. You can find genuine AP at Maco direct, and other European dealers. I checked B&H, Freestyle, and Amazon.

macfred · Feb 18, 2019

Witold said:
Others have said it, I'll just repeat it: Paterson all the way.

Paterson for me too.

C Jensen · Feb 18, 2019

I will be the odd duck out.
For a beginner:

mshchem · Feb 18, 2019

C Jensen said:
I will be the odd duck out.
For a beginner:

Absolutely, live the good life I still have my Dad's Bakelite Elkay tank. Worked fine.
Mine has green O.D. friction tape on the core.

mshchem · Feb 18, 2019

C Jensen said:
I will be the odd duck out.
For a beginner:

There's one on the auction place. 18 bucks and change with the genuine thermometer stirrer The current unit doesn't include the thermometer.

ME Super · Feb 18, 2019

mshchem said:
Black and white slides, nice! Are you going to be projecting? If you want to really live the mid-20th century experience, you need a Carousel projector and a screen. Craigslist has projectors and screens cheap. Make some Jiffy pop popcorn, get some real sugar glass bottles of Coke, some flexi-straws. Bam you're living the American Dream.
T-Max 100 works perfect for reversal

Are you kidding me? Of course I project! Read my signature for a good laugh (but yet true) about loading slides into a projection tray. I've used DR5's developing services for B&W slides. HP5+ at EI 1600 looks wonderful in DR5. As for the projector, I'm using a Leitz Pradovit Color 250. It uses the 50-slide straight trays, and it's built like a tank! I was patient, and picked it up on eBay on the cheap a couple years ago. $25 for the projector, $25 to ship. The bulb was burned out, so I bought a new bulb for a few bucks and I was in business!

Eric Rose · Feb 18, 2019

I can't believe there is so much discussion about reels!

pentaxuser · Feb 18, 2019

Eric Rose said:
I can't believe there is so much discussion about reels!

Yes and that man making comments like British Made and made in the EU which seems to extol such virtues may need to avoid any rallies where the theme is: "Make America Great Again"

pentaxuser

mshchem · Feb 18, 2019

pentaxuser said:
Yes and that man making comments like British Made and made in the EU which seems to extol such virtues may need to avoid any rallies where the theme is: "Make America Great Again"

pentaxuser

I have been a bullish on European darkroom gear since the US Patent office allowed Donald Paterson's reels to be sold in the US. I have accumulated enough Hewes reels to fill deep tank racks.

mshchem · Feb 18, 2019

I love this site everything you want to know about reels (spirals)
https://www.photomemorabilia.co.uk/Paterson/Developing_Tanks.html

GRHazelton · Feb 18, 2019

Back in dim prehistory I began my processing career with a Kodak tank which used transparent "aprons" which resembled clear lasagne noodles. Dead easy to load, and accommodating of the then current Ektachrome regimen requiring the reversal exposure via a photoflood lamp. Yes, really! Do note that 127 and 120 films often had tiny dots from the wavy edges of the lasagne noodles contacting the film. 35mm, no problem.
Later on I "graduated" to SS reels, successfully souping 100 feet of home loaded Ektachrome shot on a European trip in a five reel tank. After a long hiatus I'm back in the game, but for whatever reason SS reels and I aren't soulmates. So, on to Paterson. With 35mm all is well, with 120 I find it advisable to go to the end with the tape, that seems to stiffen the floppy film enough to ease the loading process. BTW, I run the reels through the dishwasher, seems to clean the reels thoroughly. Of course, YMMV.

jvo · Feb 18, 2019

i started with paterson, 2 rolls at a time... i switched quickly to ss when i realized i could process 2 120 rolls of film in less than 950ml of solution and use similar size bottles resulting in space saving - for me a real benefit!

mshchem · Feb 18, 2019

GRHazelton said:
Back in dim prehistory I began my processing career with a Kodak tank which used transparent "aprons" which resembled clear lasagne noodles. Dead easy to load, and accommodating of the then current Ektachrome regimen requiring the reversal exposure via a photoflood lamp. Yes, really! Do note that 127 and 120 films often had tiny dots from the wavy edges of the lasagne noodles contacting the film. 35mm, no problem.
Later on I "graduated" to SS reels, successfully souping 100 feet of home loaded Ektachrome shot on a European trip in a five reel tank. After a long hiatus I'm back in the game, but for whatever reason SS reels and I aren't soulmates. So, on to Paterson. With 35mm all is well, with 120 I find it advisable to go to the end with the tape, that seems to stiffen the floppy film enough to ease the loading process. BTW, I run the reels through the dishwasher, seems to clean the reels thoroughly. Of course, YMMV.

Those aprons and tanks were made with Eastman (Tennessee ) now fabulously successful Eastman Chemical, Tenite brand of cellulose acetate . Eastman Chemical has been a major player in polyester resins (Estar for one). When the public panicked about bis phenol A in polycarbonate. Eastman Chemical was ready with several PET resins. Tritan is what all the new clear bottles are made of. For a while Eastman set the market price.

http://www.innovationlab.eastman.com/materials/tritan-copolyester

AgX · Feb 19, 2019

mshchem said:
I love this site everything you want to know about reels (spirals)
https://www.photomemorabilia.co.uk/Paterson/Developing_Tanks.html

It omits the continenrtal tanks, their history not yet has been written about ...

What's a really good developing tank/reel combo for a noob to developing film?

Deleted member 88956

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