is there a difference for tiedying or can i use either one? im just about out of soda ash and its really hard to find around here, but ive got lots n lots of salt
Hey no. I hope i caught you in time? I been tiedyeing since 1989, so here's the skinny. If you are using procion MX fiber reactive dyes, then what you need is definetly soda ash. Soda ash causes the ph of the water to climb radically to a ph of above 10, i never use a meter but it seems like 10.2 to 11.4 on the P.H. will cause a chemical reaction when applying the actual dyes, this is what bonds the dye to the fabric, and is the most important part of fastening your dyes to the fabric. salt, can be used to brighten up dyes with procion, or also is used in the fixing process of your suspension type dyes (rit is a suspension dye) But should not ever be used to replace the soda ash in a fiber reactive dye process. you can get it at http://www.dharmatrading.com and if you order by 11 am, they ship it that day. im close enough to them it reaches me the next day, not sure where you are or how long it would take to get there. Hope this helps, feel free to click me an e-mail if you need more info on tie-dyes tiedyebruce mysticdyes
NO SALT. Soda ash is sold in stores as washing soda, under the Arm and Hammer label. SAlt can give some odd textures to dyed silk, so when you get drawn in that far, have some noniodized sea salt about for grins and giggles. But as a fixer, SODA ASH. www.tiedyepaul.com
sepeaking of grins and giggles have you ever used casoline oil with procion and cotton? It can have some really interesting effects. i gotta go sell, we are down there cashwise. later tiedyebruce
