SvenW
Hello there,
A parcel from Berlin arrived today. It contained an AP reel.
This reel runs much more smoothly than the two Paterson reels that came with my System 4 Tank.
With the AP reel, you can wind the film onto it with one hand – you can practically just let it flow onto the reel with a flick of the wrist.
I was fascinated that it’s even easier than winding film onto a Jobo spiral.
The Paterson reels, on the other hand, are very stiff and don’t seem to fit quite as well. When winding, I have to pull the two halves
of the reels slightly apart, and even then the film bends very slightly. It seems the reel is a bit too narrow for 35mm film.
This is less of a problem with one of the two reels supplied than with the other.
If you’re not careful, the film pops out of the reel just behind the beads. Winding is only possible with very small movements. The reels really groan and creak as you do so.
The Paterson reels look a bit more high-quality, with no casting burrs and a completely smooth surface. The AP reel seems a bit rougher in terms of processing; a few small burrs were visible and the surface isn’t 100% smooth.
I picked the burrs off with my fingernail and I don’t care about the surface; it’s dark in the darkroom and I can’t see the part in the tank anyway.
I’m really annoyed that I didn’t order a second AP spiral straight away.
My question: Is this normal? Are Paterson reels always so fiddly compared to AP reels?
cfb_de
No, that’s not normal. Paterson manufactures to British standards, whilst AP tends to follow Spanish ones. The answer to your question lies in the respective local manufacturing processes.
Jobo, on the other hand, manufactured its products exactly in accordance with the film specifications, even including curve radii designed to prevent crease exposure (*designed to*, as this doesn’t always work).
Best regards,
Franz
Patrick
Hello,
Well, based on my long experience with AP and Paterson reels, I can say (or rather, write) that the Paterson ones are slightly stiffer, but they shouldn’t be too narrow for the film... I’m surprised you’re having so much trouble with them. However, it is easier to wind the film onto the AP reel because of the larger ‘winding aids’ (the plastic pieces at the start of the reel, which are much larger on AP reels than on Paterson ones).
There is one thing to watch out for with AP reels, however: they do not sit as firmly on the core in the tank as the Paterson reels, so they can slip upwards if you perform less development than the tank can hold – this could result in a streak on the film if you are using the intended amount of developer per film. So you either have to wait until you have enough films to fill the tank, or insert an empty Paterson reel over the AP reels to hold everything down.
I’d say buy a couple more second-hand reels at a reasonable price; that should sort out your problem!
All the best and good luck, Patrick.
SvenW
Thanks for the replies.
So it seems the British are a bit more precise but, unfortunately, also a bit more uptight, whilst the Spanish are a bit more laid-back, albeit a bit more edgy. ;-)
My solution will probably be to buy another Ap spiral and set the Paterson spirals aside. Especially with films that have a thinner base, winding them onto the Paterson spirals isn’t much fun, is it?
Actually, I have two Jobo tanks: a small one (for a 35mm film) of a more recent date, and an old System 1000 tank for two spirals, though the lid drools over the thread like a Great Dane at the sight of its food bowl.
The Paterson can was the much cheaper option and the tank is really airtight. I only need the large can when I want to develop two films at once or if I otherwise run into problems with the minimum developer quantities.
Best regards,
Sven
