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liquid chalk


manacubus

27-May-2004
3:32:03 PM

Can anyone please tell me the approximate mix. i.e. 1 part chalk to X parts metho.

Also, where can you buy ethanol?


Clancy

27-May-2004
4:17:55 PM

just to be slightly difficult most pubs sell ethanol...didnt you know?

on a more helpful note most chemistry suppliers sell high concentration ethanol, or if you know any chemistry students its pretty plentiful around most labs

27-May-2004
4:42:49 PM

methylated spirits contains about 90-95% ethanol, 5% methanol and some dye. The dye is to stop people drinking it. Methanol is poisonous if you drink it. If you are considering using either of these alcohols in liquid chalk methylated spirits is probably your best bet.
A high proof spirit may be an expensive alternative.

I dont think you can buy pure ethanol very easily. I think it is a restricted substance but I am not sure. Their may also be tax issues. If ethanol was freely avaliable it could be used to make cheap untaxed drinks. We use lots of pure ethanol at work and it is actually very cheap.


manacubus

27-May-2004
5:01:27 PM

Cool. I might experiment with metho.


nmonteith

27-May-2004
5:17:51 PM

trust me - it tastes like shit even when mixed with 'proper' drinks. oh the joys of youth....


oweng

27-May-2004
5:24:42 PM

I recall being poor in uni, and buying 500ml bottles of 'vodka essence' or 'bourbon essance' from bottle shops. It was intended for cooking, and could be bought for $5 or so i think. We used to water it down by 50% and it still seemed to be about 40% alcohol. So it might be about 80% alcahol. Perhaps it could be an option?

James

27-May-2004
6:09:28 PM

kent - tell your mate about all the funky bacteria that can grow in home 'stills (ie the ones that people died from before 'dot.gov' banned home 'stills). Making super-strength home brew beer is safer, cheaper, easier, tastier & just as effective.....

joemor

27-May-2004
6:23:15 PM

bacteria isnt the major worrie... the first however mm of distilate is the methanol and various other ols' that are poisonous!

28-May-2004
11:05:19 AM

You may want to consider the possible health effects when using alcohols in liquid chalk. It’s a lot to read but worth considering before you put these things on your hands. Some of the effects below may only occur with repeated high concentration exposure but other effects may only require limited exposure. I was thinking about making some but I have changed my mind.

The data below is taken from material safety data sheets.

Methanol / methyl alcohol

Potential Health Effects
Eye: Produces irritation, characterized by a burning sensation, redness, tearing, inflammation, and possible corneal injury. May cause painful sensitization to light.
Skin: Causes moderate skin irritation. May be absorbed through the skin in harmful amounts. Prolonged and/or repeated contact may cause defatting of the skin and dermatitis.
Ingestion: May be fatal or cause blindness if swallowed. May cause gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. May cause systemic toxicity with acidosis. May cause central nervous system depression, characterized by excitement, followed by headache, dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea. Advanced stages may cause collapse, unconsciousness, coma and possible death due to respiratory failure. May cause cardiopulmonary system effects.
Inhalation: Harmful if inhaled. May cause adverse central nervous system effects including headache, convulsions, and possible death. May cause visual impairment and possible permanent blindness. Causes irritation of the mucous membrane.
Chronic: Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause dermatitis. Chronic inhalation and ingestion may cause effects similar to those of acute inhalation and ingestion. Chronic exposure may cause reproductive disorders and teratogenic effects. Laboratory experiments have resulted in mutagenic effects. Prolonged exposure may cause liver, kidney, and heart damage.

Isopropanol, isopropyl alcohol

Warning! Flammable liquid. May cause skin irritation. Hygroscopic. May cause central nervous system depression. May cause kidney damage. May form explosive peroxides. May cause reproductive effects based upon animal studies. May cause severe eye irritation and possible injury. Causes digestive and respiratory tract irritation. Target Organs: Kidneys, central nervous system.

Potential Health Effects

Eye:
Produces irritation, characterized by a burning sensation, redness, tearing, inflammation, and possible corneal injury.
Skin:
May cause skin sensitization, an allergic reaction, which becomes evident upon re-exposure to this material. Prolonged and/or repeated contact may cause defatting of the skin and dermatitis. May cause irritation with pain and stinging, especially if the skin is abraded.
Ingestion:
May cause gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. May cause kidney damage. May cause central nervous system depression, characterized by excitement, followed by headache, dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea. Advanced stages may cause collapse, unconsciousness, coma and possible death due to respiratory failure.
Inhalation:
Inhalation of high concentrations may cause central nervous system effects characterized by headache, dizziness, unconsciousness and coma. Inhalation of vapor may cause respiratory tract irritation. May cause narcotic effects.
Chronic:
Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause defatting and dermatitis. May cause allergic skin reaction in some individuals.


manacubus

28-May-2004
4:49:56 PM

>Laboratory experiments have resulted in mutagenic effects

Hmm, great taste, slight monsterism.

>Prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause defatting

Excellent! Perhaps this will be a quick way of trimming down for summer!


The Blond Gecko

28-May-2004
5:18:41 PM

If you were going to do it, I'd be leaning towards isopropyl alcohol rather than methanol (it doesn't absorb anywhere near as much). Easily available at pretty high concentrations under the trade name of Isocol...


trent

30-May-2004
7:54:08 AM

yeap metho does work. youll be standing around for a while waiting for it to evaporate. i tried iso p alcohol but it isnt as god as ethanol either. I acquire my from our geo chemistry lab. 20 litre drum.


oweng

30-May-2004
10:49:19 AM

Kent wrote:

"owen you crazy cat that sounds horrendous. My mate at uni is searching for investors for his distilery operation. Pity im sober now."

Kent, make sure your mate distills good home brew. If you drink the stuff and you get your eyesight back after only three days, youll know as home brew goes, its pretty damn good!


manacubus

8-Jun-2004
10:00:52 AM

Just to follow up, I made my own liquid chalk as promised. Very easy.

1. Pour metho into a mixing container
2. Pour chalk into mixing container
3. Mix with a handheld barmix. It needn't be too thick, so if it is, add more metho.
4. Pour completed mixture into whatever you're going to use to keep it in. I'm using an Ice Magic bottle.

Have fun!


runnit

8-Jun-2004
9:59:55 PM

How's it go? Does it cake up holds more than normal chalk?


nmonteith

3-Mar-2005
6:18:00 PM

I used Liquid Chalk for the first time at the gym last night. What a revolation! Normally i have to chalk up 20 times to get ot the top of the AME wall at Cliffhanger. With new liquid chalk I got to the 17m mark and only required a quick dip of the chalkbag to get through the top crux sequence. It dried my hands, left little residue and seemed to last for a solid hour of climbing. I am one sold customer. What i worry about though - is like any drug - the first time you try it is always the best. Will it just be a downhill slide back to sweaty palms in the future?


billk

3-Mar-2005
6:38:33 PM

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has found formaldehyde to be a 2A carcinogen, ie: probable. In other words, it aint a good chalk substitute.

Great to be able to get work and play together on this


hatman

3-Mar-2005
6:50:43 PM

I have worked with isopro alcahol in the electronics industry in spray on bottles, I noticed it drys out the hands nicely however it flaked the skin around my nails and caused a bit of hair loss on my overgrown nuckles. The stuff is in a spray bottle maybe you could use a spray aplicator for the liquid chalk?

You can get isopro at any electronics (dicko's, tandy, jaycar) store in both spray and liquid forms. (some cammera shops to)

Or could you use a thick solution and pop it in one of those roll on deoderent bottles? hang it off your harness upside down and wip your finger tips across it?

James

3-Mar-2005
9:29:17 PM

>What i worry about though - is like any drug -
>the first time you try it is always the best. Will it just be a downhill
>slide back to sweaty palms in the future?

most likely. You'll need more & more & more. You won't be able to wait long enough until the next hit - you'll be trapped in a visious downward spiral forever chasing that magic feeling of dry hands you experienced for those sweet sweet 17metres that will soon be but a sweaty blurry memory ....

There are 39 messages in this topic.