A matter of millimeters

[aoluain]

Hi All,

I tried to load some 120 colour film onto both a Paterson and AP plastic
reel last night which took about 40 minutes.

After I had finished developing I realised the film had just wound
together just inside the outer circumference of the reel instead of
winding in towards the centre so I lost about half of the frames
obviously as they were touching together.

I realised after the neg had dried that the width of the film was
59.5mm but the normal width should be 61mm.
they just will not wind into the reel

I have another 4 rolls of this batch to develop - any ideas ?

[Rick A]

You can try stainless steel reels and tanks. I just measured my ss and plastic reels, plastic is definitly a no-go and the ss should go.

[markbarendt]

Although I curse a bit when loading my plastic reels for color film I have yet to see a film that wouldn't fit, regardless of brand.

Biggest problems for me have been with the leading corners catching so I bend the film back a bit to "flatten" it a bit and clip the leading corners at an angle. Smaller clips work better for me.

[Jeff Kubach]

I never had a problem loading my 120 film on to the Patterson tank. Did you load it in the right direction?

Jeff

[aoluain]

thanks guys, i never have problems loading 120 either but as this 120
is narrower than the standard 61mm, it just will not stay in the spiral channels.

im thinking of modifying a plastic reel to accomodate this.

Rick - you recon the SS reel would hold a neg 59.5mm ?

[kerne]

Out of curiosity, what type of film is it? I can measure my Hewes reel when I get home, but I've never had a prob with it.

[aoluain]

Hi Kerne - its Kodak Aerochrome, loaded from bulk.

[eddie]

Are you getting it from one of the sources that cuts it to 120?

[aoluain]

Hi Eddie,

Yes the roll was cut from bulk.

[eddie]

It sounds like it was cut just a bit too narrow.