I think Borax is added to the water to allow the paint to float so you can dip the guitar. Check projectguitar.com, I believe they talk about it in there.

Jimmy:smile:

 

Its suppose to make the paint lay on the top of the water better, break the surface tension they say....but I honestly can't tell a difference with or without it, regardless of the paint type used, but thats just what I've found.

 

Its a water softener. You dont really need it unless you have really hard water. It spreads the paint better.

 

just done a few test swirls... looks good. need to thin some of the paints now and try again.

 

just one thingy: look out
borax is toxic!

 

It isnt really, I dont know who said it was. You add it to your wash when you do you clothing.

 

Got me wondering, so I did some snooping...


From the EPA:

Boric acid/ Borax is considered moderately acutely toxic due to eye and skin irritation. In chronic oncogenicity studies using mice, rats and beagle dogs, boric acid and borax were found not to be carcinogenic; however, testicular effects and decreases in body weight resulted at extreme dose levels. EPA has classified boric acid as a “Group E” carcinogen, indicating that it shows “evidence of noncarcinogenicity” for humans. In reproductive and developmental toxicity studies using rats, mice and rabbits, maternal liver and kidney effects and decreased weight gain as well as decreased fetal body weights were observed. In two studies, at the highest dose levels, no litters were produced. Prenatal mortality occurred at the highest dose levels in the rabbit study. Boric acid does not cause mutagenicity.


Good news- Borax at toxic levels seems fairly hard to come by (if you trust the EPA...)

Bad news- that part about "testicular effects"... 8O

 

Bad news- that part about "testicular effects"... 8O

8O hell yeah!
thank God i don't use it to swirl!

 

Just keep your testicles out of the swirl tub and you should be ok.

 

The paint shop scene nobody ever expects (or wants) to see:

"Man, the swirl on that guitar came out awesome! Say... you know what else would look good swirled..."

8O

 

Sack swirling!