lewelma Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 My ds went to a medieval lecture on making inks and paints from dye. The lecturer added "alum" and "potash" and the dye precipitated out. I assume it was an insoluble salt. She did not know the exact chemicals that she used and unfortunately "alum" and "potash" are both generalized terms. We have done quite a bit of internet research and cannot figure out what we are supposed to use. Can anyone help us? We currently have : Sulphate of potash which is Potassium Sulphate, and Alum which is potassium aluminium sulfate Thanks, Ruth in NZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 I guessing she used the readily available forms from dye companies. Here's one: http://www.spin-knit...s-mordants.html If she didn't even know what it was, I doubt if she bought anything from a chemical company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted January 23, 2013 Author Share Posted January 23, 2013 Thanks! I will have my son read that site. We did not even think to look at dye sites. He was trying to determine which 2 chemicals would react and produce a insoluble salt so was wandering around Wikipedia and chemistry sites! The lecturer suggested that we buy a crystal deodorant stick and grind it up for the alum. So I am not sure that she bought anything official. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 What IS potash? And is it pronounced pot-ash or po-tash? Anyway I have an Indian cookbook that claims one can make homemade Vimto using potash, and I have NEVER understood this. The author also claims that it is readily available in Indian grocery stores. I don't really need to perform this experiment, as I don't really drink truckloads of Vimto, and a bottle only costs like $5, but I have been wondering for years what potash is and how it would make a drink that tastes like black currant, without killing the one who drank it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Emailing this mob may help: http://www.sca.org.au/scribe/ Some of them use home made dyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dovrar Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 http://www.amazon.com/The-Science-Teaching-Natural-Dyes/dp/1419641042 Your son may be interested in this book as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahW Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 When I was in college I was a part of a group that did a "scribe" project. We made ink from a red wine base and some things from the chemistry professor. I think we also cheated and added some black fabric dye - we didn't have the time to boil down black walnut shells. We found the recipe on the internet. Sorry, I can't remember where exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pod's mum Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 As you are in NZ, try finding a handspinners and weavers club/guild. (Cos I hear there are a couple of sheep across the water there.) Mum did lots of wool dyeing and used various of these chemicals when I was younger, so they should be able to help you with sourcing etc. Otherwise maybe a potters club/guild, I made some glazes at school and TAFE forever ago that used potash etc. Anyway, extra leads can't hurt. Sounds like fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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