There are a lot of recipes for making print paste, the seaweed-based mixture used to thicken dyes. I have always made mine from scratch, using some combination of sodium alginate, soda ash, urea and water. I've been frustrated over the years because it seems to go bad quickly. By "bad", I mean that it becomes thin and watery. I'm lucky if mine lasts for a month in the refrigerator. So how come people talk about it lasting indefinitely?
While in New Jersey, I was discussing print paste with a friend who says that hers lasts months at room temperature. I asked how she makes it, and found that she uses the Print Paste Mix from ProChemical and Dye that includes calgon and metaphos. Hmmm - could those other ingredients make a difference? I decided to find out. I'm going to do a side-by-side comparison. Today I will mix up my usual recipe and a batch of the ProChem print mix and see how long they maintain the right consistency. I plan to check them every week to see how they are holding up. I'll report back as soon as I have the results.
How do you make your print paste, and how long does it last?
I think you and I probably use the same recipe, and mine lasts for months in the fridge in my studio.
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Hmmm - maybe its me. I should give you some of my print paste next time you're in town and see how long it lasts in your fridge!
DeleteIn my fiber surface design course, we only use urea water and sodium alginate since we always soak the fabric in soda ash water. If you aren't pre-soaking the fabric and you add the baking soda and soda ash to the print paste, then it will shorten the shelf life of the print paste. But with just urea water and sodium alginate, it should last on the counter/fridge for longer.
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for your comment. Even when I don't add soda ash, the print mix will not last long at room temperature. Now, over a year later, I'm sold on the print mix from Pro Chemical and Dye. I find it lasts much longer than plain sodium alginate and urea, even on the counter in the summer heat!
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