Re: [APML] Developing Reels

[Bert Katzung <katzung1@home.com>]

Hi Jon:
Sometimes what should be the simplest turns out to be the most difficult!
I'm very familiar with that syndrome.

You say you think you're using Paterson reels? If it's the Paterson
autoloading type that I got with my Lumicon hypering chamber, I don't think
you can load it except with the autoload feature. If it has a little lip
protruding from the start of the slot and a tiny beebee-sort of ball in a
slot, then it's the Paterson autoloader. The other characteristic of the
Patersons is that they swivel back and forth (the top vs the bottom reels).
For the stainless steel wire type (I use Nikor, apparently not a Nikon
product) and holding it between the thumb and the middle finger while
guiding it with the index finger, seems to work best.

As suggested by others, the best approach, regardless of what kind of reel
you have is to practice in daylight. I keep several rolls of different kinds
and lengths of very well exposed film around for practicing; they have paid
for themselves many times over. In fact I keep them in their cassettes and
use a little grabber gadget to pull the tongue out of the cassette. You can
buy the grabber in photo stores; I use it when I want to change films (ie,
rewind one) in the middle of a shooting session and want to come back to the
original film later.
Good luck!

Bert

Bert Katzung
katzung1@home.com
www.astronomy-images.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Jon Kolb" <jkolb@mindport.com>
To: <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2001 8:17 PM
Subject: [APML] Developing Reels


> APML,
>
> Having read the books, practiced in daylight, practiced inside a changing
> tent, and repeatedly practiced again and again, I'm still unable get 35mm
> Tmax on the dang reel correctly for development.  I always wind up
creasing
> it or doubling it in the same reel channel.  I'm using Tmax because I
don't
> want to waste my small supply of commercially hypered 2415 that's in the
> freezer on pre-development fumbles until I'm positive that I can handle it
> correctly.  The few rolls that I have developed have shown quite obviously
> my mishandling of the film whist trying to get the stuff on the reel.  I'm
> really frustrated in that I'm not learning anything about development
while
> I'm still fumbling with the preliminary activities.
>
> Now, it's true that my hands have a lot less dexterity than they would had
I
> not abused them so badly in some of the jobs that put me through college
(my
> cursive handwriting is barely legible, and my once-proud draftsman's
> printing is now graffiti-like), but I can't believe that it should be so
> hard to get the film on the devloping reel.  A colleague at work gave me
> something he calls "lasagna" to use instead of the wire reel, but I
haven't
> tried it yet mainly because I'm determined to learn to use the reels I
have.
>
> I realize this is a pretty open-ended problem, but if anyone can give me
> some advice on what is apparently a simple undertaking for most Tech-Pan
> users, I'm all ears.  I don't have the boxes now, but I believe that I'm
> using Patterson reels.
>
> Advice, anecdotes, derision, or humor are all welcomed or tolerated at
this
> point in my frustration,
>
> Sincerely,
> Jon Kolb
> Adventures in Astrophotography
> http://home.datawest.net/jkolb/
> jkolb@mindport.com
>



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