Pandemics threats are inconvienient

mark · Mar 7, 2020

I live in a small town. I was going to make my first ever batch of glop today. We have no Isopropyl alcohol. There is not a single bottle to be had in this entire town. The nearest other town is a 2.5 hour drive away. Guess I'll try to find some next week when the shipments come in.

BAC1967 · Mar 7, 2020

I’m sure when this all blows over there will be a lot of debate and criticism about how everything went down, government response, people overreacting. The really sad thing I see right now is this hoarding of hand sanitizers, face masks and such. It’s preventing high risk people and medical professionals from getting what they need.

Right now I’m working in Hawaii where they just confirmed the first case. I live a few miles from the nursing home in Kirkland, Washington that has been in the news. My wife tells me there are a lot of products she can’t get from the grocery store. She’s pretty happy about her bus commute into Seattle right now, the busses are so empty nobody sits next to her and the traffic is very light. The economic impact is going to be big, many restaurants and other businesses are closing down because many large businesses in Seattle are having their employees work from home or just not come in. Many service employees live paycheck to paycheck and don’t have medical insurance, this will be especially hard on them. The biggest impact may end up being the response, not the disease itself.

Vaughn · Mar 7, 2020

Vodka -- only 40% alcohol, but adjust for the extra water.

I ordered some 99% Isopropyl alcohol online several months ago.

Deleted member 88956 · Mar 7, 2020

As media says it, people have the right to know they don't know.

mark · Mar 7, 2020

Vaughn said:
Vodka -- only 40% alcohol, but adjust for the extra water.

I ordered some 99% Isopropyl alcohol online several months ago.

Thanks vaughn and I am quite sure there is nothing wring with this but for my first go I want to go absolutely by the book. I'm patient.

Helios 1984 · Mar 7, 2020

What about Global 94%?

Steve Goldstein · Mar 7, 2020

You can order 99% isopropanol fro McMaster-Carr.

nmp · Mar 7, 2020

Let inconvenience be the biggest problem we have.

mshchem · Mar 7, 2020

Paint departments sell denatured alcohol. People hoarding need to be given a swift kick in the *#!

Fujicaman1957 · Mar 7, 2020

If you can get it where you live, try Everclear-195 proof. Another brand is Golden Grain.

Cholentpot · Mar 7, 2020

Distillation for non consumption is totally legal. And if it tastes good too it's a side benefit.

mshchem · Mar 7, 2020

There are billions of gallons of corn based ethyl alcohol produced in the US every year. Shortages will be temporary. Makes good whiskey too.

Vaughn · Mar 7, 2020

Fujicaman1957 said:
If you can get it where you live, try Everclear-195 proof. Another brand is Golden Grain.

Not here in California...but my next trip up into Oegon I might pick some up for emergencies.

Only a small amount of alcohol is needed to help break the surface tension in any bubbles in the glop...and not absolutely needed if one allows enough time for the air to leave the glop. Vodka is basically alcohol and water...not much extra to worry about. Most people work with 70%, so doubling for 40% and leaving a little water out should have no difference. I think I made carbon prints for a decade or so before I heard about using alcohol.

Andrew O'Neill · Mar 7, 2020

mark said:
I live in a small town. I was going to make my first ever batch of glop today. We have no Isopropyl alcohol. There is not a single bottle to be had in this entire town. The nearest other town is a 2.5 hour drive away. Guess I'll try to find some next week when the shipments come in.

Technically, you don't need isopropyl alcohol. I ran out once and went ahead and made a batch of glop without it. The tissue poured nicely. I routinely allow glop to sit in warm water for a few hours to gas out. The gassing out stage is important. I don't bother with alcohol anymore.

Vaughn · Mar 8, 2020

Probably the biggest reason I use alcohol is so that I can be a little less careful when mixing the pigment with water before adding it to the glop -- I shake it up and get it well mixed, but it does add a bunch of bubbles. I mix up the pigment first thing and let it sit (with a little alcohol) while I start mixing up the glop...which will take about an hour before I am ready to add the pigment.

One finds the easiest method of working based on one's working environment (temp, humidity), space, equipment and experience. Giving workshops in other places is always an interesting challenge.

Deleted member 88956 · Mar 8, 2020

I am also less carefull whenever I use alcohol.

Pandemics threats are inconvienient

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