6 replies to this topic

[seymour]

I have noted that in some very old comps "Kauri powder" is used. Could Red gum be replaced with Kauri gum? Because Kauri gum would be much easier to obtain for me as all I would need to do is walk down to the nearest Kauri forest and dig some up! as oposed to the hassles of international shiping for Red gum, It would be much cheaper too!

[paul]

oposed to the hassles of international shiping for Red gum

Hey, which hassles do you mean ?! Red Gum is widely available and sold by paint and artist stores!

But I think you have to try it....

[seymour]

Wow! Fast reply!

Hey, which hassles do you mean ?! Red Gum is widely available and sold by paint and artist stores!
But I think you have to try it....

But it still costs money...

I am planning on going to the art soply shop to get some shellac and a many litre bottle of cheap pva (geting sick of expensive small bottles from the supermarket) and I might then add Red gum to the list (any other things to add?) and compare it to Kauri gum.

[chris17]

I know this goes a bit offtopic, but what do you think about using Arabic Gum as substitute?

[alany]

Not without significant modifications of the composition, and the result will be poor. Gum Arabic has a different oxygen demand and is generally less reactive than red gum. It also has higher mineral (Sodium) levels, which is one of the reasons why red gum and shellac are prefered organic fuels for colour compositions.

Shellac is the closest 1:1 replacement but is relatively expensive and harder to mill.

I know one of the major exporters of red gum in Australia and can get you some if you can't find a cheap/local source. It is where I get all of mine from now and it is cheaper than all the pyro suppliers I've seen.

[Kembang Api]

alany:
Shellac cost me US$ 7 per Kg in 100 mesh form, but shipping is too costly, I think!

In KCLO4 base star composition is slow when you used shellac, I used resinox instead.

[alany]

What's resinox?

Google tellsme it is a kind of adding machine from the 40s, a Xerox macro language, a kind of abrasive/cutting wheel, and perhaps a kind of composite fibre?