Patterson plastic spiral question

[garry71]

How do you remove the film from the spiral? Does it pull apart, and how?
I bought a developing tank, and am trying to familiarise myself with how it all works.

Thanks a lot
Garry

 

[FruitFlakes]

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^Line up the take up tabs like that

Then twist one half while holding the other half (h) still in this direction:

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You then have notches to select your film size, twist it the other way to click the spirals back in place.

 

[MatBin]

Once its developed, fixed and washed I used to just pull the leader from between the channels I find it just spirals out easily.

Matt

 

[NickT]

I think it's best to have the film clip that you are going to hang the film from in place in a door frame say. Then tweak a small amount of the leader free, attach the clip and just squeeze the edges of the film as you lower the spiral downwards, turning it as you go. It's easier to do than to describe. It will be obvious what to do once you start. The las thing you want is a length of wet film coiled up on a flat surface picking up dirt.

 

[garry71]

|    |
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^Line up the take up tabs like that

Then twist one half while holding the other half (h) still in this direction:

H    
|    |^
|    |^
|    |^
|\  /|^

You then have notches to select your film size, twist it the other way to click the spirals back in place.

Thanks for taking the trouble to type all that out

Still not having any luck yet.
I take it I do the same action as if winding the film onto the reel, but twist even further? I tried it, but felt that I was starting to force it, so I chickened out incase it broke! It's a nearly new tank, so it might just be a bit stiff still.

 

[garry71]

Once its developed, fixed and washed I used to just pull the leader from between the channels I find it just spirals out easily.

Matt

I did try that, but it seemed I might crease it pulling it out from the tabs. It does go easy after a couple of turns have come off though.

 

[garry71]

I think it's best to have the film clip that you are going to hang the film from in place in a door frame say. Then tweak a small amount of the leader free, attach the clip and just squeeze the edges of the film as you lower the spiral downwards, turning it as you go. It's easier to do than to describe. It will be obvious what to do once you start. The las thing you want is a length of wet film coiled up on a flat surface picking up dirt.

That's a good idea as well, I'll try it out later. Good job I've got plenty of scrap films to practise with!

 

[garry71]

Done it now Just took a deep breath and gave it a good twist, it's quite stiff and squeaky being fairly new.

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

 

[TheBigYin]

One thing to remember is that when you've actually processed the film, the film itself is usually a little softer than normal dry film, having been dunked in the various liquids for a while - this does make it slightly easier to un-spool the film, but also means it's easier to put slight kinks/creases in it...

I tend to do the same as NickT mentioned, clip the unweighted film clip on the tail end of the film, hang the clip on a nail, and run the film off the spool, finally clipping the second, weighted film clip on the bottom end of the film.

 

[FruitFlakes]

I twist it apart while holding the spiral horizontal, then it's a simple matter of pulling the film up and clipping it.

 

[Cistron]

Aren't there two types of Patterson reels? One goes apart, the other doesn't. My 135 spiral is fixed and the producers recommendation is two slightly arch the film and pull it out of the reel. For me the reel doesn't turn and the film slides out quite comfortably.