Your favorite tank & reel

[Jersey Vic]

I totally agree with Alan and Brad-The Brand X reels that came with my 2 reel Beseler are by far the easiest, the fastest and the most trouble free I've ever loaded. I always recommend them to people having trouble with the Patterson reels especially for 120 work. I now have 5 that fit perfectly into my Patterson 5 reel tank.

Btw-How exactly does one break a Patterson tank without throwing it? Now THAT's agitation..
Victor

 

[Max Power]

Btw-How exactly does one break a Patterson tank without throwing it? Now THAT's agitation..
Victor

I'm almost ashamed to say it , but I was only cleaning mine when I cracked it. I was trying to dry the lid with a piece of paper towel and I must have pushed too hard; the 'funnel' section inside the lid cracked in two.

Oh well, it led me to use the four Kindermann reels which were collecting dust in my darkroom, so I suppose that I cannot complain!

Kent

 

[Jersey Vic]

I'm almost ashamed to say it , but I was only cleaning mine when I cracked it.

That's MAX POWER for you...ease up a bit!

 

[Changeling1]

I HAVE had problems when plastic reels are not completely dry. For many years I've just got them towel dried as best as possible followed by a thorough blow-dryer treatment. I've found that running the blow-dryer for 60 seconds at full power to each side of the real will render them safely usable. Sit them on towel while drying them as they will be VERY hot! A small bit of water on a reel, will create a loading disaster.

 

[lee]

steel reels dont have that wetness issue.

lee\c

 

[gnashings]

I think I will have to try those SS reels - but, frankly, they scare me! I keep thinking of the multitude of mistakes that await me...

 

[lee]

just practice with a spare roll of film in the light until you can do it and then with the same roll of film turn the lights off and practice some more. I would curl the film a tad as I push it into the reel. 35mm is much easier than 120 but 120 can be learned. Remember you start with the film in the center and you wind or Push the film in as you slowly spin the reel

lee\c

 

[MikeS]

I think I will have to try those SS reels - but, frankly, they scare me! I keep thinking of the multitude of mistakes that await me...

SS reels are really no different than the plastic ones as far as difficulty in loading. They're just different, I started out with SS reels, and when I went to try some plastic reels, I screwed up a couple of rolls, because I figured "heck, SS reels are harder to load than plastic, so I don't need to do practice first!" Well, I was wrong! To me, the idea of loading a reel from the outside, and basically pushing the film onto the reel just seems wrong, feels wrong, but it works!

-Mike

 

[srs5694]

I think I will have to try those SS reels - but, frankly, they scare me! I keep thinking of the multitude of mistakes that await me...

In addition to the practice suggestions of lee and MikeS, I'd suggest shooting a couple of test rolls with unimportant (throwaway) shots, just to be sure you've learned to do it right. Also, trust your instincts. If it feels like you're fighting the reel or that the film is just going on wrong, it probably is. If in doubt, pull the film off and try again. As a safety net, if you're used to a plastic reel, have it and its tank ready in case you hit a snag with the stainless steel reel.

 

[europanorama]

I've not been long in the developing world, but I am more than happy with my 1 euro Gepe 120 tank. It has an "easy loader" that looks like a plastic version of the Hewes loaders. I even managed to load a badly kinked roll and salvage some shots. You feed the film through the loader and close the holder on the centre of the reel. Then, just wind the reel and remove the loader. Reel (sic) easy!

I also use this tank to develop 9x12cm and 5x4" sheets one or two at a time.

I also have a Loadamat 20 which is like anm Agfa Rondinax tank. Daylight loading of the film as well as adding and draining chemistry. I've not really used it yet, though it may be worth sacrificing a roll.

I haven't got a 35mm tank yet (the Gepe only has a 120 reel).

it was called(dont know if it still exists) hp-combina.
film had to be clamped in the center and the loader helped.
only for manual rotating or on a rotating base. no 220 if i am correct. only 35mm and 120. they have/had also a 4/5-tank-system.

 

[srs5694]

I also have a Loadamat 20 which is like anm Agfa Rondinax tank. Daylight loading of the film as well as adding and draining chemistry. I've not really used it yet, though it may be worth sacrificing a roll.

I've spotted a few eBay auctions for Kodak tanks that sound like this (for 35mm film); the claim is that they can be loaded in daylight. They look like a cross between a Watson or Alden bulk loader and a developing tank. I've never actually seen one in person, though. Out of curiosity, I just checked on eBay and found this auction for one. (Standard disclaimer: I'm unaffiliated with the seller.)