This is the neatest IKEA gadget. (chem mixing)

[xkaes]

. Also, frothing won't occur if you use non-fat milk.

So THAT'S the reason I haven't added it to my developers! I was always wondering. Yet, I've heard it creates a very smooth, milky tonality.

[j.e.simmons]

Costs me like $1.99.

What is "like" $1,99? More, or less?

It’s all like basically literally and stuff.

[ericantonio]

So THAT'S the reason I haven't added it to my developers! I was always wondering. Yet, I've heard it creates a very smooth, milky tonality.

And it will rise good in the film dryer!

[LabRat]

But it is nice to use a magnetic stirrer while mixing because it frees up your two hands and allows you to multitask while your solution stirs away... If you mix from scratch while using a scale, you can be weighing away while mixing pixies into your solution... ;-)

Some hard to mix agents like phenidone seem to mix in well using my stirrer, and chunky stuff (I got lazy about breaking up beforehand) will usually dissolve in (unless it is hard as rocks), and seldom have to raise the temp to aid it... (Only with some very old, chunky raw chems...)

Most mixers and stirring will introduce oxygen into the solution, but you can avoid most oxidation in solutions by adding a pinch of sodium sulfite or boiling off the oxygen before mixing developers... Packaged or pre-mixed stock developers will usually mix clearer (and I assume last longer) if you do this... But try not to use the higher speeds where it creates a vortex "tornado" to the bottom of the mixing vessel...

A good tip while hand mixing is in the northern hemisphere to mix the solution clockwise, where there is a less than natural flow, but "pushes" the dry ingredents against the flow where they can more readily dissolve, but to our friends "down under", mix counter-clockwise... This also tends to whip less air into the solution..

Steve K

[xkaes]

It's best to keep the vortex/tornado small so as not to suck in too much air.

[LabRat]

Also, it is best to place the magnetic stirrer bar/mixing vessel off center, near the wall of the mixing vessel, and it tends to suck less air in, and you can use slightly higher speeds...

Steve K

[Doremus Scudder]

Costs me like $1.99.

What is "like" $1,99? More, or less?

Just replace "like" with "about" (its accepted and common meaning in this context) and you'll have your answer.

Keep cool,

Doremus

[John Kasaian]

What did Ansel Adams use?

[seezee]

A good tip while hand mixing is in the northern hemisphere to mix the solution clockwise, where there is a less than natural flow, but "pushes" the dry ingredents against the flow where they can more readily dissolve, but to our friends "down under", mix counter-clockwise... This also tends to whip less air into the solution..

Just in case you aren't joking.

[drew.saunders]

Somebody had to look the thing up in the current catalog:
PRODUKT
Milk-frother, black
$2.79
Article Number: 303.011.67
For US customers: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30301167/
Everyone else gets to search by the article number.