What is it about Fomapan films...

[s162216]

Why is that whenever I try to load a roll of 35mm Fomapan onto the developing reel it jams and refuses to advance any further when theres about 20 - 30 cm to go? Its a pain as all three times I've deved the stuff this has happened and I
usually find that its kinked at one or more points after developing.

The first time the kink was so big I ended up having to cut the it out and load the other end separately; the last two times after trying and failing to load it multiple times I've just wrapped it around the spiral and hoped for the best, this worked fine the first time but not when I tried it again last night (nice little 5mm strip of under development on the last 4 frames!) It doesn't seem to matter how it wind it onto the reel (fast or slowly), but does anyone have any tips as to how I could avoid it when I next shoot some Foma?

 

[RaglanSurf]

It is a bit bendy and delicate, what reels are you using. I've used quite a lot of Fomapan but always with Jobo reels and never had a problem.

 

[s162216]

A standard Paterson auto-load reel that was with my dads film developing gear, all of the other types of film that I've used with it have gone onto the reel fairly easily.

 

[Asha]

I've only used fomapan roll film in 120 format so of course the length is cosiderably shorter than 35mm, nonetheless i've never had a problem loading it on standard paterson auto-load reels.

Tbh I find it goes on easier than some other makes such as Adox CHS and Ilford Pan.

Obviously any film can foul up but if your having nothing but problems with fomapan then perhaps time to try a diiferent brand unless of course you're set on the result it offers.

 

[s162216]

I like the end results that I get with Fomapan (plus its quite cheap!) and the older style images it produces. The only problem I've had with all three is this reel loading.

I've pretty much settled on Kodak Tri-x now for 400 speed and probably Agfa APX100 for 100 as my two 'standard' films after trying quite a few B&W films but I'm not above trying other films as well, I've certainly got at least some good results out of all the B&W films that I've tried and I do quite like the Paterson Aculux 3 developer as it does give nice all around images with most films and is fairly sharp but fine grained.

 

[Simon photo]

I've burned through lots of fomapan recently and as bendy as it is I haven't had much trouble reeling it, are you meticulously cleaning your dev tank/reel and drying it after use?
You won't see the powdery residues left on the reel as they are white
Before your next soup give your reel a good clean with some hot soapy water and a nail brush, and make sure it's totally dry before you try your next roll, a little scribble from a graphite pencil onto the ball bearings helps things along too

 

[freecom2]

Cut 45 degree angles on the leading edge (so it almost would be like an arrow head) - I find that significantly helps loading.

Cheap and I learnt a lot about B&W 120 film from Fomapan, but the delicacy of the emulsion and bendiness pushed me to Fuji/Ilford/Kodak fast.

 

[s162216]

Hi,

I've had an interesting experience now with my reel as it did the same thing with a roll of Tri-X, a film which has previously gone on very easily. I almost got all of it to go on and eventually just hoped for the best. Although the images themselves have come out nicely developed there was an unfortunate 'streaking' of the perforation holes, presumably from the new agitation method I tried (dead simple, just rotate the spiral for 10 secs as Paterson recommended), I think I'll just go back to inversions :bang::bang:

Later after loading a spare length of colour neg on the reel in the light, I think I may have solved the problem. As the film is wound on, the film leading in catches on the other curls of the rest of the film and pulls the film firstly out of the first part of the left hand track and then subsequently out of the bearing trapping the film in so the film is unable to advance. I did suspect something like this as sometimes I could feel the film had come off the track but thought I had put it back on, not realising that I it was also actually off the ball bearing so it couldn't advance. I've realised now that for the last 2 films I cut the film spool off before loading it so of course it was as curly as hell. Previously I had cut it off when it was loaded on the reel so this problem didn't happen :bonk: