Sizing / Hardening

ianh · Feb 21, 2010

I've switched over to gelatin/formalin for sizing my paper for gum printing - gel coat, dry, formalin soak, dry and repeat. I'm having much better results with this method than with gelatin/alum. Formalin is one of the few chemicals that really bothers me - one wiff and my eyes, nose and throat are on fire.
I got creative and tried using a plastic container in a method similar to drum-processing. So far, so good! I'm using a polyethylene wide mouthed container that protein-powder comes in. I curl the paper to the inside of the plastic container, add just a few ml of formalin sol'n, put the lid on, and swirl, rotate, roll etc., for a few minutes. NO Fumes and only a small amount of hardener solution is used.
Thought I'd pass this along in case anybody else wants to try this method.

walter23 · Feb 22, 2010

Where do you get formalin? I'm just getting into gum printing and I am curious, in case I find I need to start sizing my own paper.

ianh · Feb 22, 2010

walter23 said:
Where do you get formalin? I'm just getting into gum printing and I am curious, in case I find I need to start sizing my own paper.

Most chemical supplies firms carry formalin - around here it's Canadawide or Fisher Scientific. I was fortunate enough to get a small quantity of formalin from a veterinarian, rather than having to commit to purchasing a large quantity.

walter23 · Feb 22, 2010

Just figured out that formalin is another name for formaldehyde. Thanks for the sizing tips; if I find I need to size the paper it'll be useful advice (not sure yet, but since so many people seem to do it for gum printing I figure it might be inevitable!).

Colin Graham · Feb 27, 2010

I was able to find foramlin locally in a pet supply store. It's used to control fish parasites. Avoid the product called Formalin 3- this is only 3% formalin and much too dilute. The solution I got is around 37% and was ~$30 per 500ml.

ianh · Mar 8, 2010

Hardeners

I'm wondering if anybody has tried some of the higher aldehydes like propanal (and beyond) as hardeners for gelatin. Formalin is working okay for me, but I am finding that it's action continues over a period of days, sometimes resulting in a rather brittle gelatin.

carioca · Mar 8, 2010

vapors..

IanH said:
I've switched over to gelatin/formalin for sizing my paper for gum printing - gel coat, dry, formalin soak, dry and repeat. I'm having much better results with this method than with gelatin/alum. Formalin is one of the few chemicals that really bothers me - one wiff and my eyes, nose and throat are on fire.
I got creative and tried using a plastic container in a method similar to drum-processing. So far, so good! I'm using a polyethylene wide mouthed container that protein-powder comes in. I curl the paper to the inside of the plastic container, add just a few ml of formalin sol'n, put the lid on, and swirl, rotate, roll etc., for a few minutes. NO Fumes and only a small amount of hardener solution is used.
Thought I'd pass this along in case anybody else wants to try this method.

Nice idea, but I don't really see an advantage in your technique.
I've tried hardening with formalin once in my bathroom, the vapors released during the drying process were reason enough for me to never do it again, inside.

Sidney

ianh · Mar 8, 2010

Sidney said:
Nice idea, but I don't really see an advantage in your technique.
I've tried hardening with formalin once in my bathroom, the vapors released during the drying process were reason enough for me to never do it again, inside.

Sidney

When it's -20 degrees here, 'outside' work is not an option - inside with fume is the way to go - anything that reduces the amount of formalin is advantageous.

Loris Medici · Mar 9, 2010

Two options:

1. Try adding formalin into the gelatin solution and use it one shot. I usually prepare 100ml 3% gelatin solution and add 0.5ml formalin into it, keep the solution warm on a coffe cup heater, coat the papers and hang. That way, you'll finish the job in one step. When done, I pour the gelatin, wash the vessel and put 1:5 diluted bleach in it - which dissolves the non-washed remainder hardened gelatin completely. I coat 10-20 15x11" sheets and hang indoors, you can feel formaldehyde outgassing (if in a small room) but it's way more manageable than using a separate hardening bath. Just don't stay in that room and definitely use a room that can be ventilated with a transom window (vasistas/fortochka)...

2. Use Gamblin PVA size (or any other PVAc based bookbinding glue diluted to your liking; just look at the specs and make sure it's pH neutral, transparent, flexible and waterproof...). It's quick, and very effective.

Regards,
Loris.

Colin Graham · Mar 9, 2010

I've tried glutaraldehyde, which worked ok for gum, but I couldn't build up enough of a layer for carbon transfers and have it harden properly without yellowing. I also have used gyloxal quite a lot, but it's also has a tendency to yellow for some users.

Formalin works the best of everything I've tried, but I have a detached garage or probably couldn't use it. I got impatient over the weekend and brought some coated sheets into the darkroom to finish drying.. Even half-dry, the fumes gave me a headache that lasted for days.

Loris Medici · Mar 9, 2010

In my case, the papers are completely free of formalin odour in about 24 hours. (Maybe earlier but I coat and hang in the evenings and don't return back to the papers before the next evening...)

Definitely consider PVAc size from Gamblin (or an improvised PVAc size by diluting an ordinary PVAc glue that fits into the criteria I stated before) for gum prints...

donbga · Mar 9, 2010

IanH said:
I've switched over to gelatin/formalin for sizing my paper for gum printing - gel coat, dry, formalin soak, dry and repeat. I'm having much better results with this method than with gelatin/alum. Formalin is one of the few chemicals that really bothers me - one wiff and my eyes, nose and throat are on fire.
I got creative and tried using a plastic container in a method similar to drum-processing. So far, so good! I'm using a polyethylene wide mouthed container that protein-powder comes in. I curl the paper to the inside of the plastic container, add just a few ml of formalin sol'n, put the lid on, and swirl, rotate, roll etc., for a few minutes. NO Fumes and only a small amount of hardener solution is used.
Thought I'd pass this along in case anybody else wants to try this method.

Glutaraldehyde is the best gelatin hardening agent I've used. Paper sized and hardened with glut is ready to use in about 8 hours. Typically though I wait until the following day to use the paper.

I've not used PVA to size with paper yet so I'm not going to parrot what has been the buzz lately about it.

Don Bryant

ianh · Mar 9, 2010

Here's a twist - I'm picking up some various sizings from a local papermaker/artist. As it turns out, she's also giving me 25 kg of alum! (Leftovers from an order that was never picked up). Given that, I might just be trying the alum method again... just after I installed a fume hood / drying unit this afternoon.

Loris Medici · Mar 9, 2010

Ian if they have alkyl ketene dimer (AKD), it's a perfect sizing; non reactive and non toxic... Ask them!

ianh · Mar 9, 2010

Loris Medici said:
Ian if they have alkyl ketene dimer (AKD), it's a perfect sizing; non reactive and non toxic... Ask them!

Loris, AKD is indeed what I'm going to get. It was explained to me that AKD is usually used in the wet-end of the paper-making process, but it may work as an after-treatment. I'm looking forward to trying it out, although I don't have a clue as to what dilution, time, etc.,etc.,

Having just watched a beautiful gum print slide down the drain - probably from excessive Gamblin PVA sizing, I'm willing to try anything

Loris Medici · Mar 10, 2010

I don't use that particular product, but from what I've read, I think it's best to dilute it 1+2 or 1+3, in case you're a little bit heavy handed in coating the sizing; too much of it will behave right as you describe.

ianh · Mar 11, 2010

Got my little bottle of AKD. Instructions are "add 1.5 tablespoons to a litre of water, use 1/8 cup of this solution for each blender-full of pulp". Hmmm, interesting mix of units!
Any ideas out there how I should proceed - experience with treating with AKD?
I do have access to facilities to make paper, but, dang! I just want to get some decent prints done

ianh · Apr 22, 2010

Don Bryant said:
Glutaraldehyde is the best gelatin hardening agent I've used. Paper sized and hardened with glut is ready to use in about 8 hours. Typically though I wait until the following day to use the paper.

Don Bryant

I picked up some glut. WOW, that stuff is fast and furious. Seems pH plays no small role - I tilted basic with a pinch of carbonate - instant yellow gelatin (but it sure hardened up quick!), oh well, it's all research

My process is to size with gelatin, chill, dry and then harden (rationale being that it makes more sense to cross-link while gelatin is tightly coiled) - so far I'm liking the end product more than when adding hardener to the liquid gelatin. It does seem to be very 'touchy' using glut though.

Any ideas, tips are most welcome

-Ian

pschwart · Apr 23, 2010

IanH said:
I picked up some glut. WOW, that stuff is fast and furious. Seems pH plays no small role - I tilted basic with a pinch of carbonate - instant yellow gelatin (but it sure hardened up quick!), oh well, it's all research

My process is to size with gelatin, chill, dry and then harden (rationale being that it makes more sense to cross-link while gelatin is tightly coiled) - so far I'm liking the end product more than when adding hardener to the liquid gelatin. It does seem to be very 'touchy' using glut though.

Any ideas, tips are most welcome

-Ian

I have settled on a 5% gelatin size with either 2% formalin or 1% glyoxal mixed with the sizing. I apply one light coat with a paint pad, let set for a couple of minutes, hang to dry (very fast), and wait 1-2 days before using. I have not seen any yellowing with the glyoxal. This barely alters the matte finish or the color of the watercolor paper. Increasing the thickness/concentration of the gelatin sizing will add an increasingly yellow tint to the paper that I don't like.

donbga · Apr 23, 2010

IanH said:
I picked up some glut. WOW, that stuff is fast and furious. Seems pH plays no small role - I tilted basic with a pinch of carbonate - instant yellow gelatin (but it sure hardened up quick!), oh well, it's all research

My process is to size with gelatin, chill, dry and then harden (rationale being that it makes more sense to cross-link while gelatin is tightly coiled) - so far I'm liking the end product more than when adding hardener to the liquid gelatin. It does seem to be very 'touchy' using glut though.

Any ideas, tips are most welcome

-Ian

Ian, IMHO, you are going this the hard way. Add the glut to the hot gelatin and size in one step. If the gelatin is turning yellow instantly it sounds like you are using waaaaay to much glut.

PM me for more details about glut.

Don

Colin Graham · Apr 24, 2010

pschwart said:
Increasing the thickness/concentration of the gelatin sizing will add an increasingly yellow tint to the paper that I don't like.

Are you seeing this tint with formalin as well? I've used up to 200ml of 5% gelatin with 2% formalin (37% pet store solution) per 22x30 sheet and I can't tell the back from front, except for sheen of course.

ianh · Apr 24, 2010

Don Bryant said:
Ian, IMHO, you are going this the hard way. Add the glut to the hot gelatin and size in one step. If the gelatin is turning yellow instantly it sounds like you are using waaaaay to much glut.

PM me for more details about glut.

Don

The 'hard way' is a required workflow : hand-made paper being produced and gel-coated elsewhere, but not hardened - the paper-maker does not want anything to do with aldehydes and the like.

Turns out my 'instant-yellow' situation was caused by tilting the pH waaaaaay to far. My bad math:eek:

pschwart · Apr 24, 2010

Colin Graham said:
Are you seeing this tint with formalin as well? I've used up to 200ml of 5% gelatin with 2% formalin (37% pet store solution) per 22x30 sheet and I can't tell the back from front, except for sheen of course.

Gelatin is not water-white, it's got a strong yellow cast -- just hold a beaker full of gelatin up to the light -- so use enough and it's bound to change papers with a very white base. I use 10ml of a 5% gelatin solution per 8-1/2x11 (Artistico) and this barely alters the paper color or matte finish. I would use 70ml to size a 22x30, so 200ml is a lot!

Colin Graham · Apr 24, 2010

Well, if I fold the back of the paper over to cover half of the front of the sheet of FAEW that's been sized, I can't see a difference between the two under any light source- daylight or artificial. I wouldn't really consider gelatin a strong pigment agent, and 5% really isn't very much. A beaker of 5% size is a little cloudy, but without much color bias I can notice.

I did notice a strong yellow cast with glyoxal that seemed proportional to the amount of solution used, which is why I asked if you observed the same cast with formalin.

BTW, using extra sizing really helps with the gloss differential in carbon printing, so it's not superfluous. It also helps with building up relief on art papers.

pschwart · Apr 25, 2010

Colin Graham said:
Well, if I fold the back of the paper over to cover half of the front of the sheet of FAEW that's been sized, I can't see a difference between the two under any light source- daylight or artificial. I wouldn't really consider gelatin a strong pigment agent, and 5% really isn't very much. A beaker of 5% size is a little cloudy, but without much color bias I can notice.

I did notice a strong yellow cast with glyoxal that seemed proportional to the amount of solution used, which is why I asked if you observed the same cast with formalin.

BTW, using extra sizing really helps with the gloss differential in carbon printing, so it's not superfluous. It also helps with building up relief on art papers.

I use gelatin from BulkFoods.com, and if I hold a beaker of prepared gelatin up to the light it has a strong yellow cast compared to water. I use a 5% size precisely because it doesn't change my paper tint, but I know from experience that if I pour a heavy sizing coat, the paper will be distinctly yellow, and this is regardless of whether the sizing is hardened. This is a personal preference, so if you are happy don't be concerned

My experience is that a heavy coat of sizing is *not* required for relief, but this is another topic altogether. I take your point about gloss differential. I often deal with this by selecting a pigment based on the effect I want. Some pigments make dead flat glop while others create glossy shadows. It is also possible to add binders and flateners to glop to optimize for a particular effect.

Sizing / Hardening

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