Adding Soda Ash to Premixed Dye

[steve]

I was wondering if anyone has added soda ash to premixed dye? How easily does it dissolve in a thickened dye/chemical water solution at room temperature?

What I envision is to have the thickened dye chemical water solution ready in squirt bottles and adding the soda ash at the last minute and shaking it up manually--especially in workshops where every second counts.

Thanks,

Steve

[LiveFreeorDye]

I have made a concentrated soda ash solution and added it at the last minute. This works well because the dissolving is already done, and it is easy to get the right amount by volume.

take it easy
Sue

[Kathy]

Another vote for the soda ash concentrate. I've used it with my dd and friends and also dyeing at her school.

Kathy

[steve]

Great idea! Could either or both of you give tell me how concentrated you make the soda ash solution?

Thanks,

Steve

[Kathy]

For the stock- 1 tbs. soda ash in 12 tbs of water(I usually make larger batches so I increase based on these ratios. I also use thickened stock)

Here is the breakdown of amount of stock to actual soda ash.

Amt of stock Actual Soda Ash
1 tsp-----------1/12 tsp
2tsp------------1/6tsp
1tbs------------1/4tsp
2tbs------------1/2tsp
3tbs------------3/4tsp
4tbs------------1tsp
5tbs------------1 1/4tsp
6tbs------------1 1/2tsp
7tbs------------1 3/4tsp
8tbs------------2tsp
12tbs-----------1tbs

(*thanks to Karren K. Britto for sharing this info   )

Like I said above I usually dbl. the recipe.

Kathy

[steve]

Thanks! So for 7 ounces of dye, I'd need to add 2 Tbs solution to make 8 ounces.

So---

1 cup water would need 4 tsp or 1 heaping Tbs of soda ash
1 quart water 5 Tbs

Steve

[LiveFreeorDye]

Thanks, Kathy, for posting that. I remembered it was Karren Britto, but I couldn't find that whole table!

Sue

[pburch]

I was wondering if anyone has added soda ash to premixed dye? How easily does it dissolve in a thickened dye/chemical water solution at room temperature?

What I envision is to have the thickened dye chemical water solution ready in squirt bottles and adding the soda ash at the last minute and shaking it up manually--especially in workshops where every second counts.

Isn't this the exact technique in Michael Fowler's 'Art of Tie Dye'? He mixes everything but the soda ash in his blenders, then pops in one teaspoon of soda ash into each one pint bottle of dye mixture, then shakes it up. Or am I remembering incorrectly?

Paula

[steve]

Isn't this the exact technique in Michael Fowler's 'Art of Tie Dye'? He mixes everything but the soda ash in his blenders, then pops in one teaspoon of soda ash into each one pint bottle of dye mixture, then shakes it up. Or am I remembering incorrectly?

Paula

I don't recall what he did in the dvd exactly--but I do recall what he did in person at the workshop I attended. I'll have to review the dvd now that you mention it! Perhaps then solubility is not a big issue.

Nonetheless--I don't want to have to deal with vigorous shaking of multiple bottles at the workshops. It might seem minor, but all these little bottlenecks in individual dyeing are raised an order of magnitude in a workshop--particularly a workshop with kids!

Steve

[pburch]

Nonetheless--I don't want to have to deal with vigorous shaking of multiple bottles at the workshops. It might seem minor, but all these little bottlenecks in individual dyeing are raised an order of magnitude in a workshop--particularly a workshop with kids!

I agree. Stock solutions seem like a better idea.

Remember soda ash dissolves most easily in warm water, 96°F or 35°C. (Dharma has finally changed the instructions on their site - for years they said to dissolve soda ash in hot water, but now they say to use warm water!)

Paula

[Kathy]

[Remember soda ash dissolves most easily in warm water, 96°F or 35°C.

Yup...sometimes just pouring the water in the container over the soda ash does most of the job dissolving it. I use plain tap water that is roughly room temp and it dissolves much easier than in hot h20.

As far as solubility, I do remember awhile back adding soda ash powder to my thickened dyes and having minor difficulty with it dissolving(though it did). The concentrate just makes everything much easier

Kathy

[Sevda]

How long can you keep the solution?

[pburch]

You can keep soda ash that has been dissolved in water indefinitely. (Before storing it, mark a line on the side so that you can add more water to make up for any evaporation.)

Once you have added soda ash to dye, the dye will stay good for only an hour or two.

Paula

[ecilA]

but keep in mind that you will find that plastic jugs with soda ash solution degrade.  The soda ash solution will last, the containers may not, you don't want to keep them without keeping an eye on them.

[Lelia187]

Why would you add Soda Ash to your dye? Would this be a way around the pre-soaking? So, you don't presoak anything at all because the soda ash is in the dye.

Also, how many of you guys add Soda Ash to your pre-wash?