Chemical Water Recipes

[steve]

Just mixing a batch up, so I thought I would share my recipe!

1 gallon hot water
1 cup urea
2 round TBS alginate
2 round TBS isopropyl alcohol[/list:u]
Mix the urea in water until dissolved (Since I use fertilizer grade, I pour the solution into a new bucket leaving the few insoluble pieces behind). Meanwhile make a slurry with the alcohol and alginate--it won't dissolve. With a mixer going (I use an electric hand mixer with a whisk) I begin to add the slurry to the water. Mix until it looks dissolved. Ready to use in 2-3 hours or less.

Steve

[dancingbearmama]

I've been mixing as well!  I am sensitive to urea and isopropyl alcohol, so for my thin dyes (background colors) I just use dye & cold water.  For my thickener, here is my recipe:

1 qt. lukewarm water
1 T alginate
1 t water softener

I use a blender, and don't seem to have troubles with clumpy alginate or anything like that.  I used to use 1 t alginate/quart, but have been increasing it for my mandalas.  If I need it a little thinner for other uses, I just mix with some of my thin dye.

The one thing I've noticed about not using urea is that my greens are elusive.  They are greenest in the first couple days (I don't add soda ash to my dye), and after that they go more towards the pale turquoise end of the spectrum.  Disappointing, as green is my favorite color.

peace,
nicole

[tiedyejudy]

Well, I have really simplified my mix the past few months, based on what I have read from others... I stopped using urea, and have found no difference so far.  I tried (several years ago) alginate, and did not like it, so went for a long while not thickening my dye.  Finally tried Superclear, and love it.  Very easy to use, no 'clumping' problems since it comes in liquid form.  I also was using bottled water for awhile, and have gone back to tap water.  My water is pretty hard here, but it doesn't seem to have a negative impact on my dyes.  I do keep the unused dyes in the spare fridge, which in my neck of the woods isn't even turned on yet!  That's how cold it gets here, but they are not freezing anymore...

Judy

[steve]

As far as urea goes--I use it. I think it does help dissolve dyes, but little else.  If I ran out of it, I wouldn't worry about it--but it's so cheap by the 50 pound sack that I use it regularly. Besides--I think I have about 70 pounds kicking around!

Steve

[tiedyejudy]

As far as urea goes--I use it. I think it does help dissolve dyes, but little else.  

When you run out, try a whisk on the dyes that are a little harder to dissolve, like lemon yellow, fuschia, etc.  I have always started off with a small amount of water and a spoon to mash the dye powders into a paste, but if I get 'floaties', I use the whisk.  Same thing for making gravy!

Judy

[mysticmountainsmama]

Oh, this post is good news! I have been wanting to eliminate UREA because of the ammonia smell it produces when I can't rinse within 24 hrs. I have just finished  the Organic Master Gardener Coarse where we learned about urea as a fertilizer and how aweful it is for the life of the soil. I couldn't stop thinking of my septic system....Also fetilizer companies use their toxic waste as 'filler' in these types of chemical products. I have used about 25lbs in the past 3 years and would LOVE to not use it!! I'm going to mix my next batch of dye without urea and hope I can't notice if I wrap in plastic, I already use newspaper and live in a humid climate near the ocean...