Paterson Plastic Reel Jamming

I

Ian-Barber

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Ive noticed this one or twice before both with 120 and 35mm that half way through winding on the film, it gets tighter and tighter and then jams.
The ballbearing are free and dry, infact th etank has just been sat on a shelf for about 6 days. I always clean it thouroughly after each use under hot running water.

Now, thetank and reel ws bought as a pair about 7 years ago second hand from eBay so I hav no idea as tohow old it is.

Do you think it's probably time to invest in a new reel to see if that helps.
 
What's your water quality? There could be a buildup on the reel causing this issue.

CaCO3 in hard water, unlike other chemical compounds, is less soluble in hot water than cold. Our water here is just like the local "air," namely, "crunchy." I always give a final rinse in distilled water to all processing equipment after use and washing in cold tap.
 
The reels build up gelatin from the film's emulsion super coat, every so often I clean mine with Sodium Hyperchlorite bleach) (Domestos or supermarket own brand), and hot water. It does help significantly , it happens with all makes.

I was using some System 4 reels that I've had for 50 years, but they are getting quite stained now, they were a lower density plastic. Paterson changed to a high density plastic by the early 1970s, and they are much better, at some point they changed again.

Sal's point about rinsing the reels is important, wetting agents can accumulate with the thin patchy gelatin build up, I actually rinse mine with hot water but tap the reels to remove the water droplets between the spirals. My water supply is particularly hard.

Ian
 
Thanks, I will do as suggested and clean them in some bleach and then a final rinse in cold water and see how that goes
 
Camerashy said:
Take out the ball bearings!
Click to expand...

All that will do is (hopefully) allow you to wind the film back in the event of a jam and possibly have another go. It does nothing to address the jamming problem which in my experience is is caused by one or more issues, e.g. ; damp reels, reels contaminated with gelating rubbing off the film, damp (sweaty) fingers tranferring moisture to film edges etc. Thorough cleaning of the reels to remove any trace of wetting agent after use with a soft brush and rinsing well will keep reels working without hassle for years. The ones I am usisng at the moment are of early 1980's vintage and. still going strong.
 
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Keeping the reel clean is essential to success, but I've never had a sticking problem since I changed my technique. I had been taught to load the reel by twisting both sides, but then tried holding the left static and only moving the right side to load the film. It seemed to me to make the loading smoother/easier, and obviously it's free to try!
 
I assume that the jamming happened when you attempted to load the film in the darkroom or inside the darkbag. Have you tried loading a practice/waste roll in daylight (or lights on) and does the film get jammed even then?

Do you trim the corners of the film before loading?
 
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Not quite sure about the unjamming effect of daylight. Is this to enable inspection?
I’ve found that all films jam from time to time, but a smart bash or two of the flat side of the spiral seemed to work. Sometimes both sides.
Perhaps the mechanism of jamming is that some small impediment (as described by others above) causes the film to buckle within the groove and create mechanical jamming. Subsequent attempts to feed the film by turning the reels will then only tighten that jam, or create new ones.

Apart from that, even the slightest dampness was the enemy. I wonder if loading spirals in a changing bag in an unprecedented heatwave might increase the humidity inside the bag.
 
Many years ago I read (John Hedgecoe?) If the reel jams during loading, turn it on its side and gently rap upon the work surface. This re aligns the film and frees it. Works a treat.
Cheers
Diz
 
Diz said:
Many years ago I read (John Hedgecoe?) If the reel jams during loading, turn it on its side and gently rap upon the work surface. This re aligns the film and frees it. Works a treat.
Cheers
Diz
Click to expand...

Interesting tip, i shall try that the next time
 
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