Randy Holmes-Farley
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There are a whole lot of different DIY recipes around now, and I thought I lay out the differences and my recommendations.
In all cases, food grade, USP (pharma) grade, or Analytical Reagent/ACS grades are all good choices for materials. Lower or ungraded materials may be fine, but its more of a risk.
The best three, IMO, are:
A. Baking soda for alk part, calcium chloride for calcium part, and Balling Part 3 to balance all other ions. This is a low pH recipe. it is my DIY #2 with a changed part 3.
B. Baked baking soda (washing soda, sodium carbonate) for alk part, calcium chloride for calcium part, and Balling Part 3 to balance all other ions. This is a high pH two party, and can be twice as potent as A. It is my DIY #1 with a changed part 3.
C. Sodium hydroxide for alk part, calcium chloride for calcium part, and Balling Part 3 to balance all other ions. This is the highest pH alk part possible, and can be made higher in potency than the others (if required).
Next step down in desirability, but also in cost:
D. Baking soda for alk part, calcium chloride for calcium part, and my DIY Part 3 to balance magnesium/sulfate/chloride. This is a low pH recipe. Tt is my full DIY #2.
E. Baked baking soda (washing soda, sodium carbonate) for alk part, calcium chloride for calcium part, and my DIY Part 3 to balance magnesium/sulfate/chloride. This is a high pH two party, and can be twice as potent as A. It is my full DIY #1.
F. Sodium hydroxide for alk part, calcium chloride for calcium part, and my DIY Part 3 to balance magnesium/sulfate/chloride.. This is the highest pH alk part possible, and can be made higher in potency than the others (if required).
In all cases, food grade, USP (pharma) grade, or Analytical Reagent/ACS grades are all good choices for materials. Lower or ungraded materials may be fine, but its more of a risk.
The best three, IMO, are:
A. Baking soda for alk part, calcium chloride for calcium part, and Balling Part 3 to balance all other ions. This is a low pH recipe. it is my DIY #2 with a changed part 3.
B. Baked baking soda (washing soda, sodium carbonate) for alk part, calcium chloride for calcium part, and Balling Part 3 to balance all other ions. This is a high pH two party, and can be twice as potent as A. It is my DIY #1 with a changed part 3.
C. Sodium hydroxide for alk part, calcium chloride for calcium part, and Balling Part 3 to balance all other ions. This is the highest pH alk part possible, and can be made higher in potency than the others (if required).
Next step down in desirability, but also in cost:
D. Baking soda for alk part, calcium chloride for calcium part, and my DIY Part 3 to balance magnesium/sulfate/chloride. This is a low pH recipe. Tt is my full DIY #2.
E. Baked baking soda (washing soda, sodium carbonate) for alk part, calcium chloride for calcium part, and my DIY Part 3 to balance magnesium/sulfate/chloride. This is a high pH two party, and can be twice as potent as A. It is my full DIY #1.
F. Sodium hydroxide for alk part, calcium chloride for calcium part, and my DIY Part 3 to balance magnesium/sulfate/chloride.. This is the highest pH alk part possible, and can be made higher in potency than the others (if required).