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Someone out there must be able to tell me what ground chalk is and where to get it. So many of you mention it in your messages.
Julie Tretakoff
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Sorry, I don't know where these artists get ground chalk. I have never used it before. But chalk is basically calcium carbonate. So one option may be to purchase calcium carbonate from a chemical distributor such as VWR or Fisher Scientific. Pure chemicals, in small quantities, are not particularly inexpensive. So the larger the bottle or drum that you buy the cheaper it will be per pound. Now, I have never used pure calcium carbonate in place of "ground chalk." Heck, I have never even used ground chalk before. So I don't know if this would work. Chalk may have some other mineral impurities in it whereas calcium carbonate reagent is essentially pure calcium carbonate without these impurities. Anyway, this is my perspective, as someone with a chemical background since it appears as though you have been having trouble finding an answer to your question. Here is a link to VWR's website for calcium carbonate. If you decide to go this route I would suggest simply using the least expensive product you can find:
http://www.vwrsp.com/psearch/Controller … rtgrp=null
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I have no idea where to get hold of it either. Luckily I had a HUGE supply of chalk sticks which I ground to powder for my last project. None of the online art suppliers I've checked sell the stuff. Now I'm on the lookout for another type of filler. There's always sawdust!
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Whiting = Ground chalk = Calcium Carbonate.
I just spoke to a local supply of fine art and pottery supplies. They said they can order it for me in one-pound, five-pound and larger amounts & it is very cheap. (Ahem! "Inexpensive")
They said they get it from a place in Tacoma, WA, called the Clay Art Center, but they are sure there must be other suppliers around the country. And England.
It is apparently used for painting and for pottery, so you might try checking local sources for fine arts materials. I doubt that Michael's & others like it would have it, and if they did, they probably wouldn't know it. (Did I hear a sneer just now? I'm not sure...) :shock:
Sue
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While I was at my local art supply store today I thought of your question and asked them if they carry chalk. They do and said it should not be difficult to find at professional art supply stores (not AC Moore's or Michael's). They said it is known as "whiting" or gesso powder. I did a quick search for it online and found several places to get it. I also asked them about my idea to use calcium carbonate and said it would work but that it would be far too expensive, as I had originally guessed. I would try finding it at your local high-end art stores or buying online. Here are some links for purchasing chalk powder online:
http://www.iconofile.com/detail.asp?PRO … 490:121000
http://www.naturalpigments.com/detail.a … 10-11WHCLC
I think I am going to start making my own gesso instead of re-mortgaging my house every time I need a gallon. That crap is ex-pen-sive...
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I have wondered if Kilz primer could replace gesso for surface smoothing effects?
Sue
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A good source for an excellent ground chalk in UK is Omya UK
http://www.omya.co.uk/
but they only deal in quite large quantities, although if you work it out per kilogram it is very reasonable.
Bag size: 25Kg
25Kg lots @ £2400/mt delivered (25kg order value - £60.00)
100Kg lots @ £1000/mt delivered (100kg order value - £100.00)
200Kg lots @ £750/mt delivered (200kg order value - £150.00)
1000Kg lots @ £400/mt delivered.
You can certainly make your own gesso. I don't know the primer you mention but most water based primers would work, particularly if they have some thickening (which is likely to be a calcium carbonate base). Otherwise you can mix some in yourself, into any water based wallpaint to give a sandable finish.
DavidO
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Sebrink, the expensive version is a pigment for paint. You don't need that.
Here are some of the things it's used for, maybe it will help: Plastics, rubber, coatings, inks, adhesives, and soil conditioner, building products, plastic filler, ceramic flux, asphalt filler, chemical processing, glass ingredient, water treatment, pesticide granules, dusting agent, welding rods coating, thermosets, thermoplastics, paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, rubber, pharmaceutical, toothpaste, and food additives.
Sue
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