Re: [Leica] OT: loading 120 film

["Dan Post" <dpost@triad.rr.com>]

Pete-
First- fix out the film and wash and dry it--- it can still be of use! If
you didn't crumple it in frustration when you turned on the lights.
then, get some GOOD stainless reels. These are the ones with thick wire in
the spirals- less likely to jump since they are higher, and better all
around since they provide a wider space between the turns of film.
Then, go into the den with your 'blank film', sit under a good light and
load the reel. It is almost certain that with the lights on, you will get it
the first time. Keep doing it, perhaps while watching television, or
listening to some music. You fingers will 'learn' what a correct load will
feel like.  If it buckles at fist, you will learn to feel it, and after a
while, it will be as natural as getting into your car and starting it. I
refused to get the Stainless Steel reels, years ago- about 35- and clunk to
my o;d "Yankee" tanks until it got too inconvenient to do film one roll at a
time. Once youlearn it's like riding a bike- you never forget, and it sure
makes life a lot better!!
If you what my opinion about 35mm reels- the Hewes that I bought were a
great investment. The 'clip' that most reels use is a pain to use; with the
Hewes, and the little 'horns' it uses to engage the film are to me as a
siginificant advancement as disk brakes!! Safe and sure!
Good Luck- Loading film on a metal reel is just like sex and forgery---
practice makes perfect! :o)
Dan (Nimble and Quick) Post
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Pete Su" <psu_13@yahoo.com>
To: "leica" <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2001 9:42 AM
Subject: [Leica] OT: loading 120 film


> For most of my time doing my own darkroom work, I've worked in 35mm with
> plastic reels. I like them. They are easy to load since you can trim the
film
> leader with the lights on. They work.
>
> But, in the last year I've been branching out into 120, and I have a lot
of
> trouble loading. It's almost to the point where I'd rather just give the
film
> to someone else because handling it in the dark is just such a pain. What
I
> find typically happens is that even if I get the film on the reel (which
is
> iffy) it inevitably buckles or jumps the spiral somewhere in the middle
and I
> have to start over. At some point, I do this enough to mangle a good chunk
of
> the film.
>
> I've always avoided steel reels because they seem to require and extra bit
of
> manual dexterity in the dark, which I don't have. But, I wanted to see if
> anyone had ever played with this Kindermann device for loading steel
reels.
> Does it work?
>
> Alternatively, without getting into a steel/plastic religous war, is
loading SS
> reels with 120 any easier? I'm starting to think it can't be any worse.
>
> This message is really just a pathetic cry for help after I turned the
lights
> on at the wrong time yesterday with 3 rolls of 120 in my tank, but the
tank
> open. Sigh.
>
> Thanks
> Pete
>
>
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