Lock 'n Load (practical)

[6x6TLL]

Same here. Reels must be completely dry (btw I've been told never to use PhotoFlo on the reels, so I strip the developed film off the reel before dunking it in a second sink/tray with PhotoFlo), I separate the film and backing paper by rolling it backwards, remove the tape fastening the paper, then bend the end of the film backwards to make it as flat as possible and trim the corners so they are rounded.

Then I feed the end of the film onto the reel holding the rest of the film (in a tight roll) between ring and pinkie fingers, holding the reel between my other fingers. The pinkie fingers pull the rest of the roll back to provide a bit of distance so the film feeds onto the reel more or less straight. I do sometimes have problems when going past the first stop to load two films on one reel, but after overlapping films were ruined I stick to one film per reel.

Hope this helps.

[koraks]

@6x6TLL indeed, whenever 120 gives me trouble, I also try loading it with the other end first, i.e. the end that is at the center of the core when the roll comes out of the camera. Usually that's much easier than the other way around, since the curl is a little less on that end.

[Martin Aislabie]

I always start with the loading gates of the reel at the 9 o'clock position (ie with the entry gates nearest to you) when I am loading the start of the film.

Once I have the film engaged (2~3 ratchets) I move the entry gate position to between 10 and 11 o'clock to allow the film to follow the curvature of the reel before going in to the entry gates.

I also keep my thumbs very lightly touching the film - to make sure it is actually being pulled on to the reel and not just stuck.

I agree with the need for chamfered leading edges of the film.

Martin

[neildw]

Yes, that's the thing. If I hold to roll of film at the loose end (not at the reel end) and put it between two fingers it sometimes has trouble rolling up onto the reel and even sometimes rolling back off the reel.