Loading 35mm, 120 or 220 Roll Film With Stainless Steel Reels
Introduction
There are many people who prefer to use stainless steel reels for processing. This is the procedure for loading these reels that is specifically for using the JOBO stainless steel reels.
Procedure
JOBO introduced a new 35mm stainless steel reel in the Fall of 1999. The #1565 reel fits directly onto the normal plastic center core of the 1500 series tanks. No special accessories are needed to accommodate this reel, and it will also fit into standard stainless steel tanks for hand inversion or basket-line processing. Loading this reel is the same as described below. It just has a larger opening and a spring in the center of the reel to fit over and properly grip the plastic center core of the tank. (120 reels to fit the plastic center cores are expected to arrive sometime in 2000.)
Caution:
JOBO's other stainless steel reels (#1555, 1557, 1559) and center cores (#1561, 1562,
1563, 1564) are designed to connect to each other. The center core and the reel are locked
together, preventing the reel from rotating independently from the tank. Do not substitute
other reels or center cores. Using non-JOBO components will likely cause damage to the
film or inferior processing.
The procedure is the same as for the plastic 1501 or 2502 reels with these exceptions:
There are three different reels; for 35 mm (# 1555), 120 (# 1557), and 220 (# 1559). The reels do not come apart or ratchet. There are no red tabs on the reels. The reels only work with the 1500 series tanks and modules equipped with special accessory fixed-length center cores. It is necessary to place a stopper (provided with the center core) securely into the funnel of the lid, hollow side towards the core.
Loading film on the stainless steel reel
Film is loaded from the center of the reel, outward. On the center posts of the reel are two teeth for catching the perforations of the film (35 mm), or a spring-loaded clip (120 or 220). Secure the lead end of the film to the center post of the reel. The emulsion side (inside of the natural curve of the film) should face the center of the reel. Hold a length of film about 6"(150 mm) straight out from the reel. Bow the film slightly (across the width), just enough to clear the width of the spiral. Rotate the reel in the inward direction of the spiral. The film should uncurl across the width, and slip into the spiral. Hold the next length of film straight out and repeat this spiraling procedure. Do this until the entire length of film is loaded onto the reel. If at any time the film kinks or feels like it is not going on the reel smoothly, unwind the film as far as necessary, and start again. If the film is loaded correctly on the reel, you should not be able to feel any raised or buckled film protruding slightly out of the spiral sides. If you feel any irregularities when running a finger across either side of the reel, remove the film and load again. With reel loading, you may need to practice before becoming proficient. If the reel has been dropped, the spirals could be bent. If the reel is bent, loading it properly may be impossible. Replace the reel.
Caution: Do not load a 220 stainless steel reel with 120 film. The film may unwind from the reel or uneven processing may result. It is not possible to load two 120 rolls on one 220 stainless steel reel.