INTRODUCTION TO DARKROOM

Tanks and Reels

One of the most under-considered pieces of equipment in the darkroom are the tanks and reels that film is developed on. A good tank and reel set is something that you should definitely have for the long run. A reel is what holds your film inside the tank and a tank is the light tight container that is exposed to water, chemicals, hot and cold. Over the life span of your darkroom, tanks and reels will get much abuse. They'll be exposed to a variety of chemicals, dropped, banged on countertops, washed a thousand times, collect dust, and get thrown on shelves. Owning a good tank and reel is like owning a good pair of walking shoes - a good one should last a long time.

There are many different types of tanks and reels on the market. The two main categories are stainless steel and plastic. The plastic ones are less expensive and often easier to learn on. Some plastic reels are even self-winding which means that you can simply put the leader of the film through the opening in the reel and then ratchet the reel back and forth. The film will then wind onto the grooves without jamming. On the other hand, stainless reels are not self-winding and require more concentration when loading. Most people say they are harder to learn on. Everyone generally screws up his/her first roll or two when using steel. However, with a little practice and diligence, the technique will be mastered rapidly. Some stainless tanks come with a metal top while others are sold with a hard rubber lid. The rubber lids work fine although they can split from overuse or when put through undue stress. Relacement tops are sold separately.

The advantage of steel tanks and reels is that they are not only more durable but they transfer the heat of the chemistry to the film far better than plastic ones. This is a critical factor when doing negatives. Remember that consistency is the secret to processing negatives. Steel reels come in different designs. You will notice that some have a different gripping mechanism where the tongue of the film is first inserted into the loading slot Some have one long metal band that holds the film while others have a small, metal triangle that the film slips under. Ask ten photographers and you'll get ten opinions as to which reel is the best.

Tanks and reels may be bought in many configurations. One reel with one tank; double tank with two reels, four reel tank with four reels; eight reel tank with eight reels; individual tanks; individual reels; 35mm reels, 120 reels. The list is endless. Remember that a double 35mm stainless steel tank often holds a 120 reel and that a four reel 35mm tank can often hold two 120 reels.

Other factors to consider are making sure the fit between the top half of the tank and the base is snug. Also, make sure the top cap (where the liquid is poured in snaps on and off with ease. A bent or warped tank can jam preventing access to the reels. This can become a major catastrophe. If you close a tank, process your film and then cannot open the tank, the film will continue to overdevelop until you finally get the lid off and pour out the chemistry! Whichever tank and reel you buy, it is advisable to have an extra set on hand. After your shoot, you may have multiple rolls to process. The object is to enter the darkroom, roll ALL your film in one sitting and then move on to processing. When multiple tanks are involved holding different types of film, it is also a good idea to label each tank separately with a piece of tape so you know which film is in which tank.