Grow your own Alum?

[Shaggy-Ken]

Hi Everyone,

Just wondering if anyone who uses Alum has tried this before.. Seems you can grow your own Alum crystals with simple Alum you can buy in the food stores. I'm thinking of giving this a try just simply to see how well it works. But figured I can't be the only one who's thought of this. So here I am asking if an others have tried this build your own Alum block trick..

Here is a link to how to grow the Alum Crystals..

 

[Songwind]

Wouldn't your cost-per-gram be insane?

 

[Shaggy-Ken]

Well.. I'm not sure on it being that costly.. I found that I can get alum powder from Wally-world online for $2.98 for a 1.9oz container.. That's about 54 grams of Alum..

 

[DrColossus11]

If you have an Indian grocer near by, you can normally pick up a 7oz bar for about the same price.

 

[dcobranchi]

That's the wrong kind of alum.

Alum (Ammonium Aluminum Sulfate) is a crystalline powder. It is a general purpose food additive that functions as a firming agent.


Use to prepare pickles made from vegetables and watermelon rind. Dissolve alum in water using amounts specified in your recipe. Soak and rinse before canning.

ALUM


1.90 ounces, UPC 5210000214

This product has no significant nutritional value per 1/4 tsp. serving.

You want potassium alum.

 

[Shaggy-Ken]

I know there is a big debate on the ammonium Alum vs. potassium alum..

I have some of both at home currently.. ( OSMA bar and a Natural crystal deodorant) and have tried both side by side. Most say that Ammonium alum stings more, but to me I find it probably 98% same in sting quality. The so to me potassium or ammonium really didn't make much of a difference. The crystal deodorant was only like $3 at my local Wally World... It comes in a nice plastic travel case.. it was a little on the rough side on top at very first use.. but by the time I finished rubbing it on my face in the first use.. it was much smoother already.. All in all not a bad bar for the price.. YMMV of course.

This was more of a DIY kind of idea and wanting to see if any one else thought of making their own Alum block..

 

[Shaggy-Ken]

If you have an Indian grocer near by, you can normally pick up a 7oz bar for about the same price.

I saw this mentioned on other posts as well.. I have never look into a Indian grocer to see.. I have a few around my home area.. I may have to stop by and look in at some. What should I ask for if you happen to know.. are they sold for shaving or deodorant?

 

[BillC]

I saw this mentioned on other posts as well.. I have never look into a Indian grocer to see.. I have a few around my home area.. I may have to stop by and look in at some. What should I ask for if you happen to know.. are they sold for shaving or deodorant?

The ones at my local Indian grocer say they're for shaving. They're next to the Shulton Old Spice and Godrej Shaving Cream which are worth picking up too ;-)

 

[Greyzer]

You can melt it in the oven: Set the oven to 150°C (300°F) and crush the alum and put it in a pyrex glas. It takes roughly an hour for all of it to be melted.

After that, you can pour it into any mold.

 

[Vercin]

http://connaughtshaving.com/page393.html says doctor plus on this one as brand .. and shaving

 

[maxman]

Seems like a lot of trouble.
I'd be curious to see it it is worth the effort in the end.