Problem with my Magic Mix (Future Floor Wax)

[Shady Character]

My Magic Mix was done according the recipe on Painting Clinic which is ordinary water and future floor polish. I also added a spot of dishwashing detergeant which itself had some additives (next time I will use a cheap brand).

The problem is it has something like algae growing in it. I fished it out first time and of course it came back, I was expecting that. Next I tried ammonia as I knew it would be fine on the paint but that did not stop it either.

I don't know if it was the detergeant or my water. I use rain water collected from my roof and stored in a tank, which is virtually polution free where I live.

My questions are, has anyone had a similar problem? Do you think it is either my water or my detergeant? Finally, what would be best to clean out the bottle I have that will kill any remaining bacteria?

 

[kathrynloch]

It's your water Shady. Even tho it might not have pollution, it will still have microbes. That's why Einion told me to use distilled water. I had a thread about that awhile back. Use distilled water and you should be okay.

 

[Shady Character]

That was my feeling too. I went as far as to research using distilled water and I found out for some people distilled water can be worse than using their tap water with it being harder than the stuff from their tap which gave me pause. It also seems obvious in hindsight but I needed another another's opinion before I went to the expense and effort.

Thank you for your time

 

[QuietiManes]

You could also boil the water rapidly for 10 minutes. Should kill anything in it. Tap water is usually very good, depending where you live of course, but generally it isn't problematic. If you get that scaly calcium/lime/rust buildup around your taps, it'll be best to avoid it.

 

[internal38]

I have the same recipe for magic wash from the painting clinic. I used regular tap water myself with no ill effects. I am using city water I should add, I am not positive as to what might occur with well water. I would imagine you could just use hot water and dish soap to clean out the bottle. I must agree with Quiet, boiling the water does give a viable solution without giving you the extra cost for something that hasn't been 100% proven effective.

 

[Shady Character]

There is a small amount of build up but I am fairly sure that is from the town/tap water. The rainwater shares the same tap. It is a hug tank, 1000 gallons and it is only for drinking so there is (literaly almost 4 ton iirc) tons to spare. I will boil up some and try it out. Thanks both.

 

[Einion]

I went as far as to research using distilled water and I found out for some people distilled water can be worse than using their tap water with it being harder than the stuff from their tap which gave me pause.

I don't think anybody using distilled water is actually having that problem, because it's distilled water - zero mineral content.

Boiled water is definitely worth trying before heading out to get distilled and conventional wisdom says 10 minutes of rapid boiling is the mark to aim for, as QuietiManes has already said. If you'll be using the same container it would be wise to sterilise it before reuse.

Einion

 

[airhead]

There is no way that distilled water is harder than tap. Distilled has virtually no dissolved solids.
Double Deionized is virtually pure water as well if you can not find distilled.

Next I tried ammonia as I knew it would be fine on the paint but that did not stop it either.

I don't think ammonia would be fine on the paint. This is a very caustic thing to add to your painting solution.

Question:
Are you dipping from this magic wash to your pallet with your brush? If so, that is the source of your contamination.
Transfer your magic wash to a large dropper bottle. (find a friend with contacts). This will minimize any further contamination.

 

[Einion]

I don't think ammonia would be fine on the paint. This is a very caustic thing to add to your painting solution.

Ammonia is generally fine to add in to a watery solution of acrylic or vinyl paint since they are already alkaline. Plus the higher pH (compared to just dilution with water) is supposed to help suppress microbial growth according to one or more of the paintmakers.

Good tip on not dipping the brush into the container; dropper bottles or transferring with a clean tool of some kind are the way to go to prevent transfer of contaminants to a bottle of medium or whatever.

Einion

 

[QuietiManes]

"There is no way that distilled water is harder than tap."

I don't think the purify methods are all that regulated, I know it's a consumable so it is probably strictly monitored for harmful contamination but aside from harming people who drink it...and doesn't every city pretty much have its own special water treatment method so there might be some really good tap water, somewhere, I'd imagine, no? People saying that might be talking more about the taste or something though.

Isn't ammonia a large part of window cleaner? Common airbrush colour thinner and cleaner (for the non-chromed brushes, ammonia free for those).

Anything that is touched by something that has touched a mouth will grow nasties if you aren't really diligent on the clean up. A mouth is a bio-battleground, in all species.

 

[Shady Character]

Einion, yeh that is what I thought about distilled water but I read otherwise. Short of it, I have to stop listening to the wrong people . Your right QuietiManes there is very little regulation. It is usually possible to distinguish tap water by taste. Mineral content is the relative factor so from what I understand, 'good' tap water may be able to match distilled, but it can't really be better.

Airhead, Yeh I always wet my brushes before use so they could easily contaminate my new sterilized bottle but I have taken to using the other end to transfer small amounts of the magic mix to the pallete. Before I sterlized it all the water itself was already contaminated so there was no need to be careful before, or more accurately, I hadn't identified the need.

Happily there is no sign of growth though it is a bit early yet.

Thank you everyone for the replies.

 

[Wicksy]

"There is no way that distilled water is harder than tap."

I don't think the purify methods are all that regulated, I know it's a consumable so it is probably strictly monitored for harmful contamination but aside from harming people who drink it...and doesn't every city pretty much have its own special water treatment method so there might be some really good tap water, somewhere, I'd imagine, no? People saying that might be talking more about the taste or something though.

Isn't ammonia a large part of window cleaner? Common airbrush colour thinner and cleaner (for the non-chromed brushes, ammonia free for those).

Anything that is touched by something that has touched a mouth will grow nasties if you aren't really diligent on the clean up. A mouth is a bio-battleground, in all species.

Distillation will be, in theory mineral free. Distilled water has been vapourised then condensed. Therefore very little mineral content will be taken up with the distillate. Its never 100% but if you distill over softer water or one that has already been pretreated to remove minerals it'll be near as damned 100% clean.

I dont tend to have too many issues with algae growth and i use tap water. I live in a very hardwater area (Essex, UK - kettles fur up instantly!) and i havent seen any problems yet. I presume that the relative quantities of hard water used arent going to be enough to affect the blend in any way.

 

[Chris S]

Hello

Try this no water required.

I use this as a base.

5ml of flow enhancer
25ml of the floor polish

I then add the required inks, pigments.

 

[Einion]

Einion, yeh that is what I thought about distilled water but I read otherwise. Short of it, I have to stop listening to the wrong people

Let us know the trick to telling 'em apart online :curl-lip: It's not always easy at the best of times.

Einion