[Ravensfort] question for the artists

[Jacinth de Warwick]

Not sure where to find actual lampblack for sale locally, but you might be able to make a reasonable substitute with vine charcoal from the artstore by grinding it in a mortar.  It tends to be rather soft and might work for you until you find something better suited.  As a fishkeeper, I can also suggest activated charcoal if you grind it up until is it extremely fine... however actually making lampblack seems easier due to the work involved.

I've read that charcoal can also be used as a colorant:
http://www.zipworld.com.au/~zebee/tablet.htm
http://www.randyasplund.com/browse/scribepg/tablets.html

If you happen to peruse the artstore, you might also ask for carbon black, as that is the modern name for it, if you want something more like lampblack.

I also found this interesting from a technical standpoint:
http://chestofbooks.com/home-improvement/repairs/painting/Paint-Making-Color-Grinding/Carbon-Black-In-Form-Of-Charcoal.html

Happy hunting!

Regards,
-Jacinth-

--- On Tue, 5/12/09, James Northfolke <jamesnorthfolke at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: James Northfolke <jamesnorthfolke at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Ravensfort] question for the artists
> To: "Ravensfort" <ravensfort at lists.ansteorra.org>
> Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 3:03 PM
> I'm going to try to make some wax
> tablets.  Some of the documentation that I have seen
> lists lampblack for coloring the wax.  Is there a place
> close that I might pick some up--other than acquiring some
> the old-fashioned, uh, period way?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> James
> 
> 
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