Dev tank plastic vs stainless, I'm done pretending they're equal

I spent 3 years struggling with plastic Patterson tanks, fighting with reels that would jam up halfway through loading a roll of 35mm in the dark. Last month I finally picked up a used stainless steel Hewes reel and tank setup for $45 at a camera swap in Portland, and I swear the difference is night and day. Loading the steel reel takes maybe 2 minutes of practice, but once you get the hang of the ratchet motion, it's SO much smoother and the film never overlaps. Plus the steel tank holds temperature way better, my last roll of Tri-X came out with zero uneven development streaks. I know people swear by the plastic tanks for beginners, but honestly they just made me hate developing. Has anyone else made the switch and found the steel reels ruined other tanks for them too?

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the_claire1mo ago

Temperature control is better in steel but Patterson reels jam less if you dry them fully.