Paper to line an enlarger mixing box

[David Home]

Hi all.
I just got a used Ilford MG 500H system and the 4X5 mixing box liner is very dirty.
My guess is it wasn't stored properly. I cannot find anyone offering a kit to replace the paper. Is there a special paper for this purpose? Will a top quality 100% rag 2-ply paper do the job? Thanks. Regards, David

[Rafal Lukawiecki]

Odyssey Sales in UK, former DeVere people, can usually help with Ilford MG heads. They got me boxes, filters and a few other bits over the years. Have a look at http://www.odyssey-sales.com/company/service.asp

Rafal

[Robert Hughes]

My enlarger has a metal mixing box, coated with some special super-white paint, I don't recall what. As for paper, try to get an acid-free paper, as standard sulfite papers yellow with age and light exposure.

[percepts]

Silver foil. It won't catch fire if it gets hot. Otherwise zinc oxide paint if you really want white.

[Drew Wiley]

Paper is out of the question (flammable). Many mixing boxes are lined with a high grade
of white styrofoam. You can attach this with high-temp silicone glue. Or you could use
a very bright white paint, barium being slightly brighter than zinc - make sure it's heat
resistant. Edmund Scientific sells a pure barium white but at an exhorbitant price.
Polished stainless or aluminum foil is better in some ways, except diffustion. Not all
mixing boxes work well with silver lining - you might also have to change the diffuser
below. Just takes a little experimentation, then testing with an actual print to see
if things are working properly. Use a high contrast paper and print it to a medium gray
to see how even your field of illlumination is, and if there are any hots spots. Some
falloff toward the corners can simply be burned in when you're printing, if it's consistent corner to corner.

[David Home]

Hi and thanks for the replies.
The 500H has a separate mixing box for 35, 120 and 4X5.
All of them are lined with the same type of paper and it looks stock.
Can another 500H owner confirm that the paper lining is stock?
Thanks and regards, David

[wfwhitaker]

The original lining for the Ilford 500 mixing boxes is paper. Card stock or 2-ply mat board should work fine, but get one that's bright white if possible.

[Bazz8]

Just checked my mixing boxes and all are lined with a card material which looks to be mounting board 2mm or so, in each case the bottom 30mm has reflective foil glued to the card the foil is adjacent to the diffuser.
Gets pretty hot with 2 lamps burning and the globes 30mm away from the small aperture each side, the internal fan gets rid of most of the heat I guess, if you could source a heatproof product it would be worthwhile exercise.:)

[Drew Wiley]

Paper???? In an original factory mixing box?? How cheap can they get?

[bob carnie]

KHB in Mississauga can help you out on this with the proper foam.


Hi all.
I just got a used Ilford MG 500H system and the 4X5 mixing box liner is very dirty.
My guess is it wasn't stored properly. I cannot find anyone offering a kit to replace the paper. Is there a special paper for this purpose? Will a top quality 100% rag 2-ply paper do the job? Thanks. Regards, David

[Bazz8]

Paper???? In an original factory mixing box?? How cheap can they get?

Drew I imagine that the card has some fire retardent qualities although how do you know I have used my head for almost 10 years and no issues.