Blackest Black?

[KEV]

Could somebody tell me what is the blackest black that procion has? Also, can you make the black you have any blacker by mixing another color into it? Tom and martine recommend salt, but is there any other way. I bought some (Black CWA) and it does not seem black enough. What is the difference between (Black CWA and Black CWNA)    Thanks.      Kev.

[2D4]

Hi Kevin,

I buy most of my dyes from Dharma. For my blacks I buy, #250 Jet Black, #300 New Black, & #44 Better Black and  I
use a thickener when I dyeing with black. (using the 3 might be overkill, but it works for me....)
If I'm mixing up 16oz., I add 2tbs. of each, to premixed, thickened urea water. (I sprinkle alginate in the urea water at
least an hour before I'm going to mix my dye so I don't get blobs that clog up the spout. I like it a smooth, slightly thick consistency)
I've tried adding salt but it didn't seem to make much difference in my direct dyeing applications. In tub dyeing I
use 2tbs. Jet Black, 6 cups salt, 3 gal. warm water.

Hope that helps,
Jo 

[hometowntiedye]

I know this is an old post, but thought I may be of some help still

I use Dyes from Dharma for my black. I mix 50/50  Better black and New Black and it has given the best real black color, we actually get lots of compliments on our black. 

In an 8 oz bottle we use 4 TBS of each kind though so it can be rather expensive.  ALso once you have made your bottle of dye, I suggest slowly pouring the made bottle of dye into an empty bottle and rinse all of the sediment out of the bottom and then transfer it back into the first bottle, this will get rid of the fuscia that seems to pop out in the black. 

[tiedyejudy]

ALso once you have made your bottle of dye, I suggest slowly pouring the made bottle of dye into an empty bottle and rinse all of the sediment out of the bottom and then transfer it back into the first bottle, this will get rid of the fuscia that seems to pop out in the black. 

A suggestion on the fuchsia - I started straining all my dyes through the toe of a nylon stocking a few years back, and no longer get fuchsia freckles... since so many dyes are mixes of other dyes, I just do it for every color to be safe.   

[mustdye]

I think I have a post somewhere else showing this...but I filter all my mixed up dye through on of these coffee things.



Fine mesh screen and being a hard good you only have to buy it once...

[Jaja]

Gee, that's marvelous idea. Gotta try it on my ceramic glazes as well.