Non-Toxic Chalk, How Do You Grate It?
Decorating By peterlori1 Updated 27 Jul 2006 , 9:31am by peterlori1
I have been using non-toxic art chalk in the stick form, for my gumpaste flowers. I have been grating it using the finest side of my cheese grater. I have no problem when I use the chalk dry, but when I mix it with the lemon extract and/or alcohol it is not fine enough and has lumps. Do you have a better tool that you use to grate your chalk? Thank you for any suggestions.
I use a the sharp edge of a knife and lightly scrape down the edge of the chalk, but I have found that the chalk mixed with extract always gives a spotty look when dry. I have found that steaming the gum paste to give a light condensation and brushing on the chalk give a softer, more realistic look. to achieve a deeper color, just give a couple of coats.
I have been using non-toxic art chalk in the stick form, for my gumpaste flowers. I have been grating it using the finest side of my cheese grater. I have no problem when I use the chalk dry, but when I mix it with the lemon extract and/or alcohol it is not fine enough and has lumps. Do you have a better tool that you use to grate your chalk? Thank you for any suggestions.
I usually shave my chalk using a craft knife, but i have a friend that swears by her pestle and mortar. That may help you.
Nati
I have been using non-toxic art chalk in the stick form, for my gumpaste flowers. I have been grating it using the finest side of my cheese grater. I have no problem when I use the chalk dry, but when I mix it with the lemon extract and/or alcohol it is not fine enough and has lumps. Do you have a better tool that you use to grate your chalk? Thank you for any suggestions.
I bought a sink drain that has a very fine mesh in it. And that works perfectly. I store my powders in clear empty film canisters.
I was taught to grate the pastels to a very fine powder using a tiny, 3 inch wide (tea type) strainer. I found a set of 3 small ones at the Dollar Store and they work great--pun intended. You just run the stick of chalk back and forth across the inside mesh of the strainer held over a small cup, paper plate--I use a ramekin so that if I need to mix it with lemon extract, I can.
Rae
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