Since I've been giving all kinds advice I thought I better try some of it out myself.
**Loading spiral reels IS NOT like riding a bike.** You do forget how! Of course I didn't really give myself an easy task, I dug out a roll of film that was about a gazillion years old. (REALLY nice and curly!) Got out the only 35mm reel I have, an old Kinderman thing, and off I went! Eyes closed, feel it out, trim, pop the cap and load. Got it! (After only about 50 tries) :-( Maybe I should get some training wheels. (Good ole' self loading reel.) Nah! I'm tough, I can handle it! Anyhow, for those of you wondering if there is a "knack" the answer is still NOPE! Just practice and good film/equipment. I've loaded about 1000 rolls and I am having to start over. Kinda cool really, like a whole new hobby. ;-) BTW: Shel, I have done it without opening the cassette, works fine for me except I have trouble cutting the film at the cassette without getting some of the tape at the end in the soup. Mini Lab processed C41 B+W? We don't need no steenkin' Mini Lab processed C41 B+W!!! <vbg> Don > -----Original Message----- > From: Shel Belinkoff [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 2:45 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Loading Jobo spirals > > > I don't even take the film from the cassette. The leader is > pulled out and > trimmed in the light and loading is started, at which point the light's > turned off, and, after an appropriate interval, the film is > loaded onto the > reel as it unspools from the cassette. I'm not sure if this is a good > technique or not, but it's saved my butt a few times when there's been a > jam on the reel and the only solution was to back the film out part or all > the way. > > BTW, JObo makes some beautiful stainless reels that are designed to fit in > their hand developing tanks. They're made by Hewes and have a > set of hooks > at the core that grab the first sprocket holes of the film. > These are real > beauties, very well built. Never had a problem with them. They're a bit > spendy, so I don't have too many .... > > Shel > > > > [Original Message] > > From: Steve Jolly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Don Sanderson wrote: > > > IIRC I did used to cut the leader slightly rounded, > > > that seemed to help getting it started. > > > Cut before I opened the cassette, of course. > > > > Is there an advantage to cutting it before opening the cassette? I > > always do it afterwards... :-) > > > > S > >
