What dye resist do you prefer for painting on silk, cotton, or rayon? (poll)

[pburch]

I've used only wax, Elmer's washable blue school gel, DEKA Resist (currently not available in the US), and a couple of colored water-based resists that were supposed to be used straight out of the tube but made unexpected globs here and there. I'm trying to decide which to try next.

I've also placed this poll on the Dye Forum, but there, the software limits you to only one possible choice. Here, you can vote for two or more if you like. It will be interesting to see if the poll results differ.

Paula

[Jaja]

I prefer wax - just because it is easy to get anywhere and it resists even if submerged in dye. Plus, it could be used as a resist for my other hobby - ceramics.

[tiedyejudy]

So far, I have only used the soy wax, but love how it works.  I would love to hear how to use the Elmer's  washable glue gel, as I recently bought some... just haven't had time to experiment with it yet!

Judy

[Jaja]

Does anyone know what white glue paste consist of?
I've tried it once as a resist and I got feeling like it has eaten partially color undeneath itself.

[pburch]

Opaque white glue contains polyvinyl acetate. The MSDS says that it is a "PVAC BASED ADHESIVE". Look at this page at Sci-Toys: Vinyl acetate. No idea what else may be in it, in addition to the PVA. One site says propylene glycol. The formula is not acid-free, so people working in museums are advised against its use. Carol Soderlund, who has promoted the use of the washable blue gel as a resist in her classes, says not to use white glue as a resist. Not sure whether this is just because it does not work as well for her methods, or if it's because of the discharge effect that you observed.

The original formulation of white glue was a milk-based adhesive containing the protein casein, but the formula was changed somewhere around 1980. (source.) Other brands of white glues based on casein are probably still around.

Clear blue washable school gel also is based on polyvinyl acetate. The MSDS describes it as a "PVA BASED ADHESIVE". What makes it washable? Possibly the presence of some sort of detergent. Again, no idea of other ingredients.

Paula