fuller's earth replacement?

Discuss technique for prolonging the life of your gear or giving it that aged look

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ztmario
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fuller's earth replacement?

Post by ztmario »

I was thinking.. instead of using fuller's earth for that dusty look, has anyone thought of using grout? it might sound weird, but grout certainly clings to clothes, doesn't stain (in my experience), and comes in a range of colors.
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Dostacos
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Re: fuller's earth replacement?

Post by Dostacos »

ztmario wrote:I was thinking.. instead of using fuller's earth for that dusty look, has anyone thought of using grout? it might sound weird, but grout certainly clings to clothes, doesn't stain (in my experience), and comes in a range of colors.
what happens when it gets wet? I think it might be a problem
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Ken
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Post by Ken »

Or talcum powder - if you dont mind the smell
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Post by Kaplan »

I used baking soda with decent results....except it just isn't fine enough. The funny thing is that I had some of the finest white sand available on hand and it just wouldn't stick to the hat.
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ztmario
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Post by ztmario »

if it gets wet, it'll turn to mud.. same as real dirt, I suppose. wouldn't talcum powder be too white? I was thinking for more of a sandstorm effect.
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Post by JulianK »

if it gets wet, it'll turn to mud.. same as real dirt, I suppose.
I would be more concerned about what happens after that mud-grout dries! ;)
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Post by Indiana Jess »

Why not just use real dirt?
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Post by Michaelson »

Indiana Jess wrote:Why not just use real dirt?
What's that? :-s :wink:

Regards! Michaelson
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Post by VP »

It's the stuff that dreams are made of.
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Post by Michaelson »

Dirt? :shock:
I guess my dreams are a little more broad and varied in spectrum than than, VP! :lol:

Regards! Michaelson
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ztmario
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Post by ztmario »

well, I don't have dirt around here that doesn't look like black potter's soil. I wouldn't want "dirt" so much as a sandy-dusty look. I don't have too much sand OR dust. but there's plenty of grey, light colored brown grout.

anyway, if it gets wet and dries, you're probably screwed... don't be in the rain.
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Post by Michaelson »

Agreed. Just about everything around my area is red clay, so that's not too good a choice for what is being discussed.... :wink:

Regard! Michaelson
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Post by Dalexs »

Hmmm, doesn't that bring us back to fullers Earth? :-k
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Post by Captain Ron Solo »

Grout doesn't sound like a bad idea if you're fairly certain you won't run into rain.

I've had great success just buying some cheap clay cat litter, grinding it down to a fine powder, and filling a sock with it. Basically the same thing as fuller's earth, from what I understand. And it should go without saying - USE FRESH LITTER! :)

Ron
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Post by JulianK »

I've had great success just buying some cheap clay cat litter
..and just think...if you get it wet it just clumps off! ;)
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Post by ztmario »

well yeah, we're back to fuller's earth.. but I noticed they only have like three or four colors. I sell about two dozen different grout colors. :D
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Post by Dalexs »

ztmario wrote:well yeah, we're back to fuller's earth.. but I noticed they only have like three or four colors. I sell about two dozen different grout colors. :D
What exactly do you need besides light dirt, medium dirt and dark dirt? :wink:
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ztmario
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Post by ztmario »

Dalexs wrote:
ztmario wrote:well yeah, we're back to fuller's earth.. but I noticed they only have like three or four colors. I sell about two dozen different grout colors. :D
What exactly do you need besides light dirt, medium dirt and dark dirt? :wink:
dirt a nazi got his head chopped off by a plane propeller while standing in....

....oh, and taupe. :wink:
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Post by nicktheguy »

Isn't fuller's earth actually quite caustic? I remember people being very careful on film sets when they use it because it can cause all sorts of resperatory problems.
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Post by hanson »

we had some oil spill soak up stuff that was in fact fullers earth; and, i remember thinking that's the same stuff they make mud for actors so they're not exposed to bacteria present in real mud. i thought at the time it would be a cheaper way to buy it than buying the movie brands because it was rather inexpensive for a large bag. it was gray though. regards hanson.
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