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Hi Judy,
The bubble thing is no big deal once you know how to tame the beast.
When Carmon is making her tissue make sure she observes the following and her
problems should resolve: 1, always let the gelatin+sugar swell for 30 min in
cool water before melting in the water jacket. 2, This is the real kicker;
use an "erlenmeyer flask" to do your melt in. The tapering cone shape of this
type of flask will concentrate any bubbles as they rise to the reduced
surface area at the top of the melt. Now it is a simple matter to eliminate
them. It is important to observe several things: make sure the flask is off
direct heat and surrounded by water and if you want a bubble free melt, don't
rush this step. After everything is initially melted (sans ink), cover the
flask mouth with aluminum foil and make sure the water jacket is stable @
103-105 deg. F. Now go do something else for 30 min or so. Remove the foil
and add a few cc's alcohol to the top surface, cover w/foil and go away again
for about 30 more min. Now inspect the body of the melt for the dreded
"bubbs", if you see them suspended it needs more time and another shot of
alcohol. I have alyways been able to remove all bubbles in 1.5hrs. this
included the initial melting. Now add your ink slowly, let it run down a
glass (or plastic, I want to be fair to our plastics friends) rod inserted
into the melt. No splashing around here, mix the pigment in slowly and
completely, a tad more alcohol+foil+10 min or so. At this point you are ready
to coat your substrate of choice. I usually add a few folds of material
clipped from old panty hose mit/runs (my small but significent attempt at re-
cycling to save the earth from excessive plastic pollution!). Pre-wet this
material in hot H2O and squeeze out the excess. Secure with strong rubber
band and pull it tight enough to open the fabric but not too tight or some
bubbles may get through if there are any (highly unlikely).
Go for it Carmin!
Michael Sandquist