WoodFinishing Enterprises



45046904191001729 North 68th Street Wauwatosa, WI 53213Phone: 414-774-1724Email: woodfin49@40000200001729 North 68th Street Wauwatosa, WI 53213Phone: 414-774-1724Email: woodfin49@TECHNICAL BULLITENMADDER ROOTMadder (Rubia tinctorum) is one of the oldest dyes known and its color fastness is among the best. It is such an excellent source of red that its name (rubia) means red in several languages. In Holland, during the 15th-17th centuries it was the principal source of wealth. By 1792, encouraged by Charlemagne, France was the top grower. We are told that the French Revolution ruined the farmers; they were later revived by a decree of Louis Phillipe that made red caps and trousers mandatory for his army. Likewise, in England, imported madder was also used for their army uniforms (redcoats). When alizarin, or synthetic madder was synthesized in 1869. A world madder production of 70,000 tons yearly declined to nothing. In preparing the dye from the roots be sure not to use too much heat or boil it too long as the color may shift to a muddy brown.To extract the color a good procedure is to soak the roots overnight in water. The soaking water should be discarded. Add fresh water and slowly bring to a simmer, about 185-190 degrees F. Let simmer for 1-2 hours. The colors that can be expected with various mordants are red with alum, garnet with chrome, orange/red with tin/alum, dull garnet with iron/chrome.Synthetic alizarin is much easier to use and readily available and gives colors that are indistinguishable from madder root. For a detailed procedure for making the madder lake see the article by David Rubio at .For a golden color from madder proceed as follows: Dissolve 2 grams of lye (sodium Hydroxide) in twenty ounces of water. Moisten 2 grams of alizarin, stir with a little water and then pour into the lye solution. Add to the alizarin a solution of 4 grams of tartaric acid dissolved in 15 cc of water. The precipitation is the yellow color. ................
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