Penners
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How do you make distemper, Nigel?
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Hall Lantern
- Thread starter Nigel Watts
- Start date
How do you make distemper, Nigel?
Nigel Watts
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Home Made Distemper
I forget the exact proportions (I will have to look them up), but you need whiting (powdered chalk) and rabbit skin glue. Both are readily available from artists suppliers if you cant get them from decorators shops (I believe artists prime their canvasess with these).
The whiting should be soaked overnight, as should the rabbit skin glue, which comes as dried flakes. The distemper is made by diluting the glue with warm water to make a size, then adding the soaked whiting. Pigment can be added for nonwhites. The whole thing needs to be kept warm as you are using it - I keep my paint kettle in a bucket of warm water - otherwise it jellifies. The best brushes to use are those fat round ones. The distemper should be made freshly for each batch. If you leave it for a few days it becomes foul smelling and mouldy.
In my opinion there is nothing to beat distemper for that soft ultra matt finish. It is also much friendlier than emulsion (if not for the bunnies) as it can be washed off.
I forget the exact proportions (I will have to look them up), but you need whiting (powdered chalk) and rabbit skin glue. Both are readily available from artists suppliers if you cant get them from decorators shops (I believe artists prime their canvasess with these).
The whiting should be soaked overnight, as should the rabbit skin glue, which comes as dried flakes. The distemper is made by diluting the glue with warm water to make a size, then adding the soaked whiting. Pigment can be added for nonwhites. The whole thing needs to be kept warm as you are using it - I keep my paint kettle in a bucket of warm water - otherwise it jellifies. The best brushes to use are those fat round ones. The distemper should be made freshly for each batch. If you leave it for a few days it becomes foul smelling and mouldy.
In my opinion there is nothing to beat distemper for that soft ultra matt finish. It is also much friendlier than emulsion (if not for the bunnies) as it can be washed off.
Jocelyn
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- North Norfolk
Colefax and Fowler used to do stone block wall paper as well.
As I recall the blocks are a good size and very convincing. Phone up and ask for a sample piece.
Have you thought of doing the paint effect? Laborious but very effective. See Jocasta Innes book Trade Secrets and Kevin Mcloud's Decorating book. I have seen a hallway done this way by a friend and it was well worth the effort.
Fab cornice by the way.
Jocelyn
As I recall the blocks are a good size and very convincing. Phone up and ask for a sample piece.
Have you thought of doing the paint effect? Laborious but very effective. See Jocasta Innes book Trade Secrets and Kevin Mcloud's Decorating book. I have seen a hallway done this way by a friend and it was well worth the effort.
Fab cornice by the way.
Jocelyn
Penners
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- 17,294
- Location
- Suffolk, England
Thanks for that interesting bit of alchemy, Nigel.
Doesn't it become foul-smelling and and mouldy on the walls? Or is it OK once it's dry?If you leave it for a few days it becomes foul smelling and mouldy.
Hi Nigel,
a few more lanterns for consideration:
http://www.antiquelights.co.uk/lanterns.htm
regards
Rob
a few more lanterns for consideration:
http://www.antiquelights.co.uk/lanterns.htm
regards
Rob
http://www.belowstairs.co.uk/
for more lighting
Your paint recipe, I would call that limewash. AIUI distemper contains fat, quicklime is slaked with fat and water to make it. I gather its somewhat more durable than glue type limewash. Hot water and detergent will wash it off quite quickly.
NT
for more lighting
Your paint recipe, I would call that limewash. AIUI distemper contains fat, quicklime is slaked with fat and water to make it. I gather its somewhat more durable than glue type limewash. Hot water and detergent will wash it off quite quickly.
NT
Nigel Watts
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- London N7
Limewash and distemper are different. Limewash sets through carbonation. The whiting (chalk) in distemper is already fully carbonated, hence the need for the size.