Loading Stainless Reels?

Today I acquired some darkroom stuff, i got a Watson Bulk Loader (probably wont ever use it)

some Kodak Wratten Safelite filters (big square things, dont know what they do.

some Developing reels

and a set of large trays and small trays and some tongs.

and a thing that a lightbulb goes into to make it a safelight.

 

i am trying to practice loading film onto these Stainless reels (i think they are omega) but i cant

seem to get it right, the film gets stuck on the little things holding the reel together, and it just

doesnt seem to want to work.

 

Any suggestions?

 

also, what else do i need to start my darkroom adventure?

 

Thanks!

 

Blake.

Make sure everything is very dry. Trim the tounge off and clip the end on the center of the reel. Pinch the film slightly and roll the reel on a tabletop.

 

There are a number of books that show the process so head to a big bookstore and take a look.

I started off with a plastic tank and reel (after sitching from trays), never really got the hang of loading stainless reels. The plastic reels were much easier. Blake, the safelight filters probably fit a specially designed safe light, red would be for developing orthochromatic film in a tray so you could see the image form and know when it had been developed enough. Not used for developing film in a tank.

Practice loading stainless steel reels in the light until you can do it flawlessly. SS reels are loaded from the inside out. Most have clips to hold the film in the center, but I find using the clip buckles the film, making it hard to load. I just hold the film straight, in the groove, from the sides of the reel. Once you have a couple of turns, you don't have to hold the film end any longer. Cup the film slightly as it goes through your fingers so that it slides between the flanges. There are loading aids which may help, but may scratch the film.

 

Your hands tend to sweat if you use a changing bag, which makes it hard to let the film slip properly. If so, use cotton photo-finishing gloves.

 

Plastic reels seem easy, but present a number of problems. First, you are pushing the film from the outside, like pushing a rope. The reel must be bone dry for this to work (SS reels can be damp and still work). Secondly the plastic becomes crazed and etched from the chemicals, which further increases the friction in loading.

 

I get the impression some people try to push film into a stainless reel from the outside. I'd pay to see that :-) The film end would definitely get tangled in the "thingies" that hold the reel together.

Hey guys! thanks for the advice, after your tips, i got the film reels figured out. i was

indeed trying to feed the film into the reel. instead of winding it in from the center.

 

Now, i need to go get some chemicals, i think ritz has developer, but not fixer.

 

is that all i need? just Fixer and Developer and some jugs to put keep in to develop

the film?

 

and then of course i need an enlarger, does that use a different chemical for the

paper? or can i use the same developer and fixer from the film for the paper too?

 

Thanks.

Blake.

You need developer, stop bath and fixer. You can use the same stop bath and fixer for both film and paper. For film developer you can use D-76 or HC-110 to start. For paper developer you can use Kodak Dektol.

 

Those are for black and white film and paper.

check out this video on youtube which shows you how to load a steel reel.: