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Controlled Bleaching with Discharge Paste

by fungus amungus on July 30, 2006

Table of Contents

intro: Controlled Bleaching with Discharge Paste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

step 1: Apply to the Fabric of Your Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

step 2: Make Magic with Your Iron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

step 3: BONUS! Before and After... Again. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Customized Instructable T-shirts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

http://www.instructables.com/id/Controlled-Bleaching-with-Discharge-Paste/
intro: Controlled Bleaching with Discharge Paste
This is more of an introduction to discharge paste than an instructable. Yes, the name is terrible and the stuff is white and gooey which makes it even more wrong. But
it's pretty damn cool, so you just accept it and move on towards greatness.

Where bleach is incredibly thin and can destroy natural fibers if you're not careful, discharge paste is the opposite. It's gooey so it doesn't spill easily and can be used
with silkscreens. It's also nice to natural fibers, which is good as well. It removes most fiber reactives, direct dyes and acid dyes and typically leaves a light golden color
when it's done.

Everything you need to know about this is printed right on the label. To use it, you just apply it to a fabric, let it dry, and then iron it on the lowest steam setting for a few
minutes to activate it. To make sure it works on a new fabric, test it by putting a small spot in a hidden area of the target material (assuming you're using a shirt) and see
how well it works before spreading it everywhere.

Available in the U.S. from Dharma Trading Co.

http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1574-AA.shtml

Image Notes
1. Waaaaaayyy too much.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Controlled-Bleaching-with-Discharge-Paste/
 Image Notes
1. Ten shirts later and this is all I've used. Unless you plan on making a large run
right away, go for the small jar.

step 1: Apply to the Fabric of Your Life

Put down a stencil or a silkscreen or forgo all premade plans and apply the paste directly to the fabric. If you want to let the goo seep in a little deeper, you can thin it out
with some water. You can just go for it or keep on testing on more spots on the fabric.

Used shirts are cheap to play with, but for consistency and thin shirts, go to the underwear aisle and get the dyed t-shirts. They're usually less than $5 each for a decent
one and tend to be thinner than the Beefy T's that make me sweat like I still live in SoCal.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Controlled-Bleaching-with-Discharge-Paste/
step 2: Make Magic with Your Iron
At first there's not much to see on the shirt. Even when you wait until the paste dries, there's still not much to see. This all changes dramatically when you put the iron on
the fabric. The color quickly disappears and POW! there's your design.

One more thing, be sure to be in a well-ventilated area. This stuff stinks and when your fabric is done it too will stink until you wash it. So don't run out to a bar to show off
your new clothes to your friends because you'll destroy your shirts first impression on them.

Now clean up your mess and plan out your next project.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Controlled-Bleaching-with-Discharge-Paste/
step 3: BONUS! Before and After... Again.
One more example of how the paste looks dried on black cotton and right after it's been ironed.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Controlled-Bleaching-with-Discharge-Paste/
 Related Instructables
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Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 98 comments

gaby99 says: Dec 15, 2007. 9:34 PM REPLY

Do you have any idea of what colour it becomes for different coloured shirts, or if the amount of paste changes it at all?
I just bought the 8 ounce one... expensive!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Controlled-Bleaching-with-Discharge-Paste/
 1337 2.0 says: Sep 29, 2008. 11:04 PM REPLY
how expensive?

The Porsche Fan says: Dec 23, 2008. 10:22 PM REPLY

yo, it's in the link above but it is 8.39 for 8 ounces.

1337 2.0 says: Jan 2, 2009. 2:47 AM REPLY

oh..... i dont read in between the lines...

thecheatscalc says: Dec 4, 2008. 7:28 AM REPLY

hmm... the question I have is, how much paste will a design like your bird take?
I'm thinking of doing ~3 shirts of a design of about the same area, and want to know if an 8oz bottle would suffice?

moisture says: Dec 19, 2008. 11:41 PM REPLY

Eight ounces will definitely be enough. I laid it on thick for one of my designs and it still looks like I just opened the 8oz jar.

moisture says: Dec 19, 2008. 11:34 PM REPLY

I made a TNT shirt for one of my destructive little brothers. The stencil was cut out of thick paper then pinned it to the shirt. A double-helping of paste
followed. It's a little fuzzy but I quite like it and will definitely be doing more, thanks!

hivoltage says: Oct 14, 2008. 9:50 PM REPLY

i bought some of this stuff to try silksdcreening it onto tshirts and it worked great! i am very happy with the results. it has a consistency i wasnt really
expecting, very sticky and goopy, less gel like. i was worried it wouldnt screen through well but it worked excellently. i accidentally exposed the screen for the
guitar shirt backwards so now its a left handed guitar :) the skull shirtis a little fuzzy because i got impatient and ironed it before it was dry and i accidentally
forgot to replug in the iron so i was smearing it around with an iron that wasnt even hot...

codongolev says: Dec 9, 2008. 2:18 PM REPLY

AND WHAT'S WRONG WITH A LEFT HANDED GUITAR?

ha, there's one sitting on my lap right now.

fungus amungus says: Oct 15, 2008. 10:05 AM REPLY

Hey, nice look there!

hivoltage says: Oct 15, 2008. 12:20 PM REPLY

thanks! im very happy with them. i used slimguy379's great screen printing instructable to make the screens for these designs. this is kind of my first
foray into screen printing and its a lot of fun. the possibilities are endless.i really like the discharge paste effect and i think ill be using it a lot. i just
have to make sure to let it dry fully instead of getting impatient and ironing it before its dry.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Controlled-Bleaching-with-Discharge-Paste/
 askjerry says: Sep 18, 2008. 8:52 PM REPLY
Wow... that is really neat stuff. I have a 35w Laser Engraver so I can cut some really detailed stencils. I'll get some and try it out! If anyone needs a stencil
cut I can probably do that pretty cheaply too. (Just let me know)

Silkscreens would be the best for doing a large number I suppose.

Thanks for the info!

Jerry

theeekingeek says: Aug 30, 2008. 7:32 AM REPLY

Hello, I plan to use this method to design a hooded sweatshirt for someone and I was wondering if the the sweatshirt needs to be 100% cotton or just mostly
cotton? A lot of the hooded sweatshirts are 90/10 or 80/20.

parke says: Jul 15, 2008. 9:42 AM REPLY

I've used this technique a few times now and only had a few problems. The bleaching was sometimes uneven with different shades, i'm guessing due to
uneven application of the discharge paste. Also, i never invested the few dollars and time to get spray mount so i would just have to hold the stencils on the
shirt, not quite as precise as a mounted stencil(bleach would get under the stencil). But altogether this technique is awesome... thanks

parke says: Dec 3, 2006. 7:38 PM REPLY

you said that you used spray mount to put the stencil on the shirt but i couldn't find it on any websites. Is there a technical name for the stuff or does anyone
know where to buy it.
thanks

resonanteye says: Jul 14, 2008. 11:13 PM REPLY

most art stores and hardware stores have it. spray mount adhesive.

If you're looking online utrecht art supplier carries it.

snauzinator says: Mar 9, 2007. 9:51 PM REPLY

art stores will have this stuff... its called spray adhesive or spray mount, just ask!

fungus amungus says: Dec 3, 2006. 10:20 PM REPLY

You couldn't find it? Did you try Googling "spray mount"? 'Cuz that brings up a lot of results.

zombydude says: Jun 28, 2008. 7:45 PM REPLY

Those designs are bomb digity.

amorello5401 says: Apr 24, 2008. 10:32 PM REPLY

This is really cool! I read a couple comments and looked up how to make discharge paste... after going through several pages of femanine hygene sites this
one caught my eye.
http://www.emich.edu/textiles/PDFs/thiox.pdf
It says to use soda ash and ammonia among other things. thanks for this instructable I can't wait to try it out.

Rishnai says: Mar 26, 2008. 12:09 PM REPLY

Kickass bird stencil, man! Did you design it yourself, or download it from someplace?

capitolhill says: Mar 16, 2008. 8:16 PM REPLY

Very helpful fungus amungus, thanks much.
Here is my result working from a laser printed stencil
(font is Birckham Script Pro, shirt is American Apparel The Summer Shirt).
My Flickr has the full sizers...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Controlled-Bleaching-with-Discharge-Paste/
 fungus amungus says: Mar 17, 2008. 2:46 PM REPLY
Cool! Nice detail there.

capitolhill says: Mar 17, 2008. 8:19 PM REPLY

Thanks! I might as well ask this here, as I have been scouring the 'webs for while for info... Are you familiar with a fabric effect called 'burnout'? I
have seen different t-shirt manufacturers doing it, but I have never been able to figure out the process. On a t-shirt, for example, the fabric looks
almost see-thru, with chunks that are thicker. It sort of appears heavily bleached, but the fabric still has integrity...
Sorry, that's the best I can describe it... Let me see if I can find a picture...

fungus amungus says: Mar 17, 2008. 10:05 PM REPLY

You're talking about the burnout, or devore, effect. What happens is that the plant fibers are dissolved such as cotton, rayon, or linen. If the
material is a blend of plant and non-plant fibers, then the non-plant fibers remain.

There's Wilflex Oasis which has a burn out base as well as this stuff. I haven't tried it myself.

capitolhill says: Mar 18, 2008. 8:52 AM REPLY

Awesome-- I think that will be my next experiment! Thanks for pointing the way, it appears I should have spent more time looking at Dharma's
site. They certainly are a comprehensive resource.

iamthemargerineman says: Mar 15, 2008. 6:37 PM REPLY

woahhhh. this is sooo cool. the name is amusing though. i can't wait to walk into homeroom and have someone ask "hey! wher'd you get that kickass shirt?"
to which i will then reply... "oh this old thing? i made it with dishcharge paste."

diN0bot says: Feb 17, 2008. 3:33 PM REPLY

The first shirt I tried this on didn't work out so well--- after ironing the paste looked yellowish and then faded back to black. after washing the shirt was still
black. prolly a synthetic fabric?
next few shirts worked great. the paste wont bleach off paint, but works fine for dye.
excellent to use after tye dying.
thanks for the heads up.
ps - drying time can take 30 minutes to a few hours<-- to make sure it works fully. I assume the discharging occurs up until drying time (?) i've tried different
amounts of paste to see if I can get more/less discharging. hard to control
pps - ironing takes a minute, maybe a few more just to "make sure".

Scooterjockey says: Feb 6, 2008. 3:39 PM REPLY

I have never been more pleased with the final result of a project. I couldn't wait to try this! Great!

-T

http://www.instructables.com/id/Controlled-Bleaching-with-Discharge-Paste/
 fungus amungus says: Feb 6, 2008. 3:47 PM REPLY
Yeah, the effect of ironing it and seeing the design pop out is pretty magical. Nice job on the skull!

ezuk says: Feb 6, 2008. 4:43 AM REPLY

Beautifull work. I want to try this method, but buying from Dharma isn't really an option for me, being located in Israel. (Shipping charges are killer.)

Any idea how I can make a paste from common household materials? I saw mentions of cornstarch etc, but did anyone actually try?

fungus amungus says: Feb 6, 2008. 3:46 PM REPLY

I haven't tried that. I still have a ton of the stuff left so I haven't bothered with alternate methods.

Summer says: Jan 25, 2008. 6:30 AM REPLY

I've been reading about this product and was wondering if you used the detergents that The Dharma Trading Company recommended you use with it.

fungus amungus says: Feb 6, 2008. 3:45 PM REPLY

Actually, I didn't. I just washed it as usual and it's been fine. One of the shirts has been through the wash over a dozen times and still looks great.

Brother_Bear says: Dec 1, 2007. 2:36 PM REPLY

Could you name the active ingredients in the paste I think have something similar here in Sweden but in powder form. The thing that gave this idea is that
you say it stinks when you iron it.

fungus amungus says: Dec 3, 2007. 10:05 AM REPLY

I think the active ingredient is Thiox (Thiourea Dioxide).

hovawart says: Jan 12, 2008. 9:34 AM REPLY

A really good discussion of the ingredients of discharge pastes can be found at http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/discharge_chemicals.shtml

Brother_Bear says: Dec 4, 2007. 6:19 AM REPLY

Ok the stuff i have is sodium ditonite and sodium carbonate in powderform.

Iam gonna try mixing it with a little moulding alginate and water and try it out on a old t-shirt.

GorillazMiko says: Jan 2, 2008. 5:38 PM REPLY

What an awesome fungus amungus t-shirt, can I have one?
Better yet, I'll make one with this Instructable.
Hahaha!
Maybe.
:-)

Gnome says: Oct 13, 2007. 11:31 AM REPLY

Not sure if you mentioned this, but where did you get those designs? They are awesome! I'd greatly appreciate a response!!

fungus amungus says: Nov 16, 2007. 11:38 AM REPLY

The bird design is an old Japanese crest that I converted into a vector file. The original image I had was less than an inch tall so that took a bit of
cleaning up.

The second image is an original one.

fungus amungus says: Nov 16, 2007. 11:42 AM REPLY

An excellent book of crests is "An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Japanese Family Crests"

It even features each crest in a negative and positive (white-on-black and black-on-white) version. The reproductions are about 1.5" tall, but good
quality.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Controlled-Bleaching-with-Discharge-Paste/
 n3ldan says: Nov 15, 2007. 7:13 PM REPLY
I finally got some discharge paste and made some awesome stuff with it. It really works wonderfully, and your instructions helped tremendously.

hOne thing though, if you're super lazy and don't wait for the paste to dry, make SURE you clean the iron or else you'll ruin a shirt the next time you try to
iron something. Speaking from experience there.

fungus amungus says: Nov 16, 2007. 11:36 AM REPLY

Glad this helped. It's cool to see that other people get excited about bleaching techniques as well :)

I brought one iron back from a gunk-covered death by Dremeling all the crap off. Now it's smooth and clean again.

PetervG says: Sep 9, 2006. 10:14 PM REPLY

So is this actually discharge from animals or people? Because if it is thats really gross.

camscam says: Aug 14, 2007. 4:40 PM REPLY

was that a joke or are you just too lazy to read?

fungus amungus says: Sep 10, 2006. 6:29 PM REPLY

No, not quite. It's a paste that discharges the color from fabric. Thus, discharge paste.

camscam says: Aug 14, 2007. 4:37

are you guys aware of the commercial screen printing discharge bases available? union ink sells one <http://www.unionink.com/products/water/dspp.ht
and you apparently just print it like any silkscreen ink. I don't know how the iron will work on this but I assume the same way. I will test and po

shekate says: Jul 20, 2007. 5:38 PM REPLY

OK, I confess I did not read my way through each and every comment. But there is a quick & easy way to discharge print using toilet bowl cleaner. Yes,
indeed - the gel kind that comes in a squirt bottle. However, not all toilet bowl cleaners are created equal and you need to get the kind that has bleach. So a
test piece is advised. And it comes in such handy to use squirt bottles!

robodud3 says: Jul 19, 2007. 5:49 PM REPLY

whene u iron it u turn it inside out rite?

view all 98 comments

http://www.instructables.com/id/Controlled-Bleaching-with-Discharge-Paste/