Originally posted by grhazelton Since you're a film guy and fellow ME-Super user, do youi do your own BW, and if so, any tips on loading the Omega/Nikor stainless steel reels? Its very frustrating, even more since years ago I used the 35mm size all the time without trouble. I despair of loading 120 on one. The film seems too floppy. Grrrrr.
The floppiness sounds like either too low tension while loading... see below or the reels is not straight.
I know that there are lots of youtubes on that, but the reels should always be checked to make sure they are straight. I've gotten from the bay a few that were made wrong or bent from abuse. Hewes reels, the few I own are high quality and I use them to compare against the bent reels to straighten them out.
My chief thing I do to load is first to make sure I am used to holding them in the right orientation.
SS reels at the outside opening have the wire ends pointing at my film loading hand.
I extend my thumb and index guide the leading edge to help pull it to the center and clip it in and not worry about the center yet.
A half turn on to the near center of the reel I check with my finger tips that the two edges are on the rails and adjust the film by sliding.
When all is good I start winding but only with the reel hand and the film hand is actually putting resistance on the reel... A tug of war of sorts.
Allow some constant tension of sorts and keep in sync with the reel, but not over tension or it will pull out film
The film is curved as it moves across the spirals and will expand straight when it comes to the correct rail.
I check along the way for buckling and listen for the smooth slide of the edge of the film as it slip along the reel.
Any crinkle sounds I investigate and unroll and try again.
Now a days I go very fast and rarely have a problem.
I'm sure many folks have their own descriptions on how to do it, but I'm just trying to say what I see or hear when I do it.
Hope that helped?