This may be a dumb question but...

I recently ran out of Ilford Universal fixer. In my haste I picked up a bottle of Ilford Multigrade paper fixer instead of Universal fixer. Can Multigrade be used to fix film(FP4)? What would happen if I did use it? What is the difference between Multigrade and Universal fixers?

Thanks

Rob

-- Rob Kunz (rlkunz@quadrant.net), January 13, 2002

Answers

My experience has been with Kodak fixers. Generally, the one I use now recommends mixing at half the strength, when used for films, as when used for paper. You might try diluting some of yours 1:1 and trying it on a film leader to see whether the time required to clear is about normal for film, say, 2 to 4 minutes or so. But since it's sold for paper, with apparently no instructions for film, I think I'd limit this to emergency use until you know more.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), January 13, 2002.

Oh, wait, wait, don't do it. I said it backwards. Senior moment. Kodakfix is mixed TWICE as strong for film, not half as strong. SO: If you do try using the multigrade fix on a leader tongue use it full strength,and it will require longer than normal to clear, if it clears at all. Sounds like a risky business. Sorry for the backwards info.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), January 13, 2002.

Of course, if it comes as a concentrate, you *could* mix it to double strength.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), January 13, 2002.

Ilford Multigrade fixer is a very good fixer for hand processing film and paper. The main difference is that it is not compatible with hardening additive agents. But this allows Ilford to make it a bit more concentrated compared to hardening or hardner-compatible fixer packages. You simply mix it 1+4 and use it for film or paper.

-- Ryuji Suzuki (rsuzuki@rs.cncdsl.com), January 13, 2002.

Rapid fixer is rapid fixer; I don't recall if MG fixer is mixed 1:3 or 1:4 but either way as long as you fix for two to three times the clearing time it'll work fine.

I don't believe hardener can be added to MG or Universal, but you don't need it anyway.

-- John Hicks (jhicks31@bellsouth.net), January 14, 2002.

Is this Ilford 'Hypam' rapid fixer? That's what it's called here anyway. I use it 1:4 for film, 1:9 for paper. Only fixer I've used in 20 years!

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@unite.com.au), January 14, 2002.

You can get this sort of information for any Ilford product from their web site at http://www.ilford.com/html/us_english/homeng.html.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edb@unblinkingeye.com), January 14, 2002.

ILFORD Multigrade fixer is suitable for using with film or paper. For film, it is recommended to dilute 1+4, and fix for 2-4 minutes (3-5 minutes for Delta or T-Max films). In other words, use it just like Universal Rapid Fixer.

Multigrade fixer is not compatible with a hardener, but as others have stated, you don't need one anyway.

David Carper ILFORD Technical Service

-- David Carper (david.carper@ilford.com), January 24, 2002.