coconut test...

Post by **PutzinVT** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 2:20 pm

For me the drying is important.

At first I tried drying in an oven.
This made it go brown.

Air drying worked much better. It kept the whiteness.

I was going to try a food dehydrator next, but I soon learned, the amount of time and effort.
It's better to get it pre done.

Was a fun experiment thou.

Oh, and use a new bottle of bleach. I tried on that had been open sitting in our laundry room. But it
was not as good as a new bottle.

Just me two cents,

Steve

Clinton · Post by **Clinton** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 2:56 pm

Post by **BrianB** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 3:15 pm

Thanks Will, I had a blast working on coconut. Sadly I have had no time lately to take part in the hobby like I would like...at least its not going anywhere!

I haven't made any coco for about a year and a half. When I was making it though, I used target brand bleach. We go through bleach pretty regular here at my house, so it was probably newer like Steve said.
I also agree with Steve, drying is so important...can't rush white like the other colors. I did use a dehydrator and here is a pic of my white coco on the dehydrator tray taken the same time as the previous pics. I tried drying stuff in the microwave in intervals and it works for a bunch of other colors...just not white.
I rinsed the coco, and then Howard gave me the idea of pressing out the excess water, which worked very well.

Clinton · Post by **Clinton** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:30 pm

Clinton · Post by **Clinton** » Fri Oct 30, 2015 5:44 pm

Post by **Howard** » Fri Oct 30, 2015 7:08 pm

Will wrote:Hi Howard,
When you dyed those samples, we're you using unbleached straw? What exact RIT dyes were they by the way? I have cherry red and emerald green. Thanks in advance sir!

Cheers,
Will

i used unbleached straw...as far as the rit colors...i'll get them from the shop and let you know...

the final color will depend on the intensity of the dye, the duration of time the straw is in the solution and the alignment of the stars and planets...my colors varied by batch and my chopping and sifting yields a coarser coconut than the premium coconut pete offers...

you might want to give the kool aid dye method a try as well...although it's not "authentic"...you might also want to experiment with dyeing sawdust...i got a grocery bag full of it from home depot at the cutting station...just sift, dye and dry...

howard...

Post by **Howard** » Sat Oct 31, 2015 9:59 am

will...

RIT dye colors i used...royal blue, dark green, cherry red and yellow...i don't have the empty bottle of yellow and i don't remember if there was a descriptive word in front of yellow...hope this helps...my very best regards...howard...