March 15, 2008, from Lloyd Erlick,
I use Jobo 1501 plastic developing reels that
adjust to accept either 35 mm or 120 format
film. I find the problem you describe occurs
with both, but mostly 120. I think it is
caused by the leading corners of the film
binding against the spokes or ribs that make
up the structure of the reel. The sharp
pointy corners at the leading edge of the
film strip are the culprit, I think.
I have found the (more-or-less) fix for it. I
use a variant of the corner-snip -- I fold
the leading corners of the film just before I
feed it into the opening of the spiral groove
(this way we remain groovy even in the
digital era ...).
The 'amount' of film folded up is the
smallest possible to grasp with my bare
fingers. ('Up' meaning the folded corner
points away from the centre of the reel, or
away from the emulsion side of the film.) I
try to create a little equilateral triangle
at each leading corner. I squash it flat, but
do not expect it to stay there. However, it
slopes 'backwards' (towards the hand)
slightly, and that is enough to permit it to
slip nicely under the 'top' of the groove.
There is discernable resistance when the fold
goes into the spiral, but it is only slight.
Since adopting this procedure, I've had close
to zero snags while loading film.
Making the small folds is quick and easy in
the dark, since the film is right there in
the hands. I don't know if the snipped corner
method works as well or better. I hate the
fumble in the dark of finding the small tip
of the corner with a pair of nail clippers.
I'm also not thrilled to fantasize about
where those little corner snippings have got
to. I worry about Murphy ...
regards,
--le
________________________________
Lloyd Erlick Portraits, Toronto.
website: www.heylloyd.com
telephone: 416-686-0326
email: portrait@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Sat, 15 Mar 2008 11:32:37 +0100,
Christopher Loffredo <me@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>
>When I try to reel film onto my developing tank reels (Jobo and
>Patterson, both 35mm and 120), the film jams and, even tapping or
>knocking the reel, I often can't get the whole film loaded.
>
>And, yes, the reels are perfectly dry.
>
>Any other suggestions or tricks?
>
>Thanks!
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