Reeling of 120 Roll Film

Patryk · 18th May 2006

Been having problems reeling in my 120 roll film in the darkbag due to what i think is very high humidity.

The film in a matter of a few minutes gets slightly damp from the humidity probably caused by my arms and it gets almost impossible just to reel it it...

Anyone has encoutered this problem or have any suggestions to avoid it from happening?

sweat100 · 18th May 2006

I have a suggestion, try to get 1 bottle of silica gel, then before reeling the roll, dip ur hands in the silica gel. It really dry your hands till it feels like cracking. then after that start reeling, It helps too.

photobum · 18th May 2006

Usually, if you reel your film in an air-conditioned room helps. Turn on the air-con 30 minutes before you proceed. Then turn off the lights.

Some people got sweaty palm. This can cause problem also.

Patryk · 18th May 2006

Dang DID IT AGAIN....another roll of ugly looking negs... just a few seconds the humidity bumps up and it gets incredibly difficult...took about 1 hour + (while watching American Idol though) just to reel in a roll...arghh..will try with freezing air conditioning next time..

sabahan · 19th May 2006

I will try to push it in until it can't be push,than I switch to manual reeling.

moon · 20th May 2006

1) Best to reeling the film in an air-condition environment.
2) Set out the lead on the reel first
3) concentrate on what you are doing. (not american idol) So you are able to perform the task in the shortest time possible to prevent temperature build up inside the dark bag.
4) What REELS are you using? Plastic reels Kaiser and Paterson are ok.

Good luck.

photobum · 21st May 2006

In fact, I suggest that you use plastic reels. Much easier and faster.

mscommerce · 23rd May 2006

Plastic reels will get sticky and are impossible to load if they are damp or wet. Even 1 drop somewhere in the spiral can cause the film to stick/jam. This is particularly true of 120 film, which is paper backed and unwieldy.

Sticking is not a problem with stainless steel reels. However, you need to practise a bit to get the knack of loading them. But 120 is definitely easier than 135 in stainless steel.

Also, see if you can get a cotton/khaki changing bag/darkbag. A friendly tailor can make one for you-there is a guy on eBay who imports them from China and sells them for very little.

If all else fails, try wearing a pair of thin cotton gloves, the type used for film/photo handling.

fastshot · 23rd May 2006

1. Clean your reels carefully. Use toothbrush with toothpaste and scrub the ball-bearings area.

2. Dry the reel thoroughly. Use a hair-dryer if necessary and don't overheat the plastic.

3. Wear glooves if you got clammy hands (as advised by previous previous poster).

4. Trim corners of the film slightly - it will help feed through the reel more easily.

If all else fails, junk the reels and get another set.

yellowlemonie · 23rd May 2006

i think it certainly helps to cut the ends. i think it's not so much the humidity problem but just the curling at the ends. took me a while to get my first 120 roll reeled too.. hehe

i suppose having no film tracks doesn't help either...

student · 23rd May 2006

1 I never clean my reels (plastic) "carefully". I never use toothbrush, and toothpaste. I never scrub the reels.

2 I concur 100% with photobum that working in an aircon environment helps. If one does not have an air-cond environment, then try not to be too optimistic about one's ability to load a film. Do not try to load too many as swweat will certainly gets in the way after a while.

3 I dry my reels in my office. No need for a dryer

4 I never clip the edges of the film.

5 I have used my current reels for 6 years and they are still going very strong.

fastshot · 24th May 2006

Originally Posted by student

1 I never clean my reels (plastic) "carefully". I never use toothbrush, and toothpaste. I never scrub the reels.

2 I concur 100% with photobum that working in an aircon environment helps. If one does not have an air-cond environment, then try not to be too optimistic about one's ability to load a film. Do not try to load too many as swweat will certainly gets in the way after a while.

3 I dry my reels in my office. No need for a dryer

4 I never clip the edges of the film.

5 I have used my current reels for 6 years and they are still going very strong.

Good for you

Different strokes for different folks

enivre · 24th May 2006

i found using a dryer to dry the reels (even if they SEEM dry) is the one of the main factors...

18th May 2006	#1
Patryk Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 661	Reeling of 120 Roll Film Been having problems reeling in my 120 roll film in the darkbag due to what i think is very high humidity. The film in a matter of a few minutes gets slightly damp from the humidity probably caused by my arms and it gets almost impossible just to reel it it... Anyone has encoutered this problem or have any suggestions to avoid it from happening? __________________ if my camera is there at the right moment, click, all I have to do is accept it. -edouard boubat

18th May 2006	#2
sweat100 Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 711	Re: Reeling of 120 Roll Film I have a suggestion, try to get 1 bottle of silica gel, then before reeling the roll, dip ur hands in the silica gel. It really dry your hands till it feels like cracking. then after that start reeling, It helps too.

18th May 2006	#3
photobum Deregistered Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,080	Re: Reeling of 120 Roll Film Usually, if you reel your film in an air-conditioned room helps. Turn on the air-con 30 minutes before you proceed. Then turn off the lights. Some people got sweaty palm. This can cause problem also.

18th May 2006	#4
Patryk Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 661	Re: Reeling of 120 Roll Film Dang DID IT AGAIN....another roll of ugly looking negs... just a few seconds the humidity bumps up and it gets incredibly difficult...took about 1 hour + (while watching American Idol though) just to reel in a roll...arghh..will try with freezing air conditioning next time.. __________________ if my camera is there at the right moment, click, all I have to do is accept it. -edouard boubat

19th May 2006	#5
sabahan Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 329	Re: Reeling of 120 Roll Film I will try to push it in until it can't be push,than I switch to manual reeling.

20th May 2006	#6
moon Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 122	Re: Reeling of 120 Roll Film 1) Best to reeling the film in an air-condition environment. 2) Set out the lead on the reel first 3) concentrate on what you are doing. (not american idol) So you are able to perform the task in the shortest time possible to prevent temperature build up inside the dark bag. 4) What REELS are you using? Plastic reels Kaiser and Paterson are ok. Good luck.

21st May 2006	#7
photobum Deregistered Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,080	Re: Reeling of 120 Roll Film In fact, I suggest that you use plastic reels. Much easier and faster.

23rd May 2006	#8
mscommerce Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Orchard Area Posts: 304	Re: Reeling of 120 Roll Film Plastic reels will get sticky and are impossible to load if they are damp or wet. Even 1 drop somewhere in the spiral can cause the film to stick/jam. This is particularly true of 120 film, which is paper backed and unwieldy. Sticking is not a problem with stainless steel reels. However, you need to practise a bit to get the knack of loading them. But 120 is definitely easier than 135 in stainless steel. Also, see if you can get a cotton/khaki changing bag/darkbag. A friendly tailor can make one for you-there is a guy on eBay who imports them from China and sells them for very little. If all else fails, try wearing a pair of thin cotton gloves, the type used for film/photo handling.

23rd May 2006	#9
fastshot Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: 3rd Mile Stone Posts: 374	Re: Reeling of 120 Roll Film 1. Clean your reels carefully. Use toothbrush with toothpaste and scrub the ball-bearings area. 2. Dry the reel thoroughly. Use a hair-dryer if necessary and don't overheat the plastic. 3. Wear glooves if you got clammy hands (as advised by previous previous poster). 4. Trim corners of the film slightly - it will help feed through the reel more easily. If all else fails, junk the reels and get another set.

23rd May 2006	#10
yellowlemonie Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hobbitshire Posts: 299	Re: Reeling of 120 Roll Film i think it certainly helps to cut the ends. i think it's not so much the humidity problem but just the curling at the ends. took me a while to get my first 120 roll reeled too.. hehe i suppose having no film tracks doesn't help either...

23rd May 2006	#11
student Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3,091	Re: Reeling of 120 Roll Film 1 I never clean my reels (plastic) "carefully". I never use toothbrush, and toothpaste. I never scrub the reels. 2 I concur 100% with photobum that working in an aircon environment helps. If one does not have an air-cond environment, then try not to be too optimistic about one's ability to load a film. Do not try to load too many as swweat will certainly gets in the way after a while. 3 I dry my reels in my office. No need for a dryer 4 I never clip the edges of the film. 5 I have used my current reels for 6 years and they are still going very strong.

24th May 2006	#13
enivre Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,687	Re: Reeling of 120 Roll Film i found using a dryer to dry the reels (even if they SEEM dry) is the one of the main factors... __________________ http://www.ervinelin.com http://www.studiov.com.sg