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-----How to buy or make ferrous sulphate for oak gall ink
Q. Hello
I am an artist who wishes to make up a couple of quarts of oak gall ink. I have the oak galls but I need to obtain some ferrous sulfate ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] . Can you advise on how to prepare or make this chemical.
Many thanks.
Andrew M [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]artist - London, UK
2004
A. Hi Andrew. As for making it, I suppose you could get some fine, pure 00 steel wool ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] and dissolve it in pure sulfuric acid--but that leaves you hunting for the sulfuric acid -- which is probably harder to find and probably more heavily regulated than the ferrous sulfate ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] :-)
I think the answer to this is that you don't make commodity chemicals, you buy them. I don't know the supply sources in the U.K., but there must be houses that sell scientific chemicals, and it's possible that someone who sells water treatment chemicals would have it. Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
2004
A. If you are having problems finding any chemicals I suggest checking WardSci.com. Normally laboratory supply for small quantities, I THINK they will ship overseas. I got most of the stuff to do my Rokusho patina from them.
Marc Banks- Elizabeth City, North Carolina
2004
Q. I was wondering how your search on finding ferrous sulfate ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] was going. I also want to make oak gall ink, and am based in London.
Melissa M [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]- London, UK
2005
A. Iron sulphate is readily available in large quantities at your local garden supply retailer. I purchased a 5 lb (2.2 kg) box of ferrous sulfate ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] yesterday for about $6 US.
Thomas Bragg- Walnut Creek, California, USA
June 1, 2008
A. ferrous sulfate ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] is a fertilizer you can get at most garden shops.
kenneth colepercussion instruments - kennewick Washington usa
February 16, 2014
Q. Hi. Thanks for these replies about fertilizer ... but I don't know enough about gall ink to know whether it might discolor or otherwise be sensitive to impurities. Since the ink is made from pretty "casually" defined natural ingredients like oak galls, I'm pretty sure it would be fine, but has anyone made gall ink with ferrous sulfate ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] garden fertilizer? Thanks.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
February 2014
A. Hi, the purest grade ferrous sulfate ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] I've found can be purchased on amazon from Minerals-water.ltd at the time of posting! Hope that helps!
James Newton- Glasgow, UK
February 18, 2015
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