John Marshall: resists

John Marshall:
works in fabric

basic paste resist recipe

mochiko
(rice flour)

box of mochiko as it is sold in most stores

1 pound box.
try checking locally for it before ordering and save the cost of shipping

Mochiko is flour made from what is called "sweet rice". The "sweet" in this case means it has a high gluten content (and therefore very sticky). You may be able to find it under other names in non-Japanese markets, take the characters above with you if you think the store owners won't know what you're asking for.

komon-nuka
(rice bran)

3 pound bag

Komon nuka is rice polish that has had most of it's oils removed and ground "baby powder" fine. I can't recommend any substitutes. Save yourself some heart ache, this is one of the few things I suggest you don't experiment around with.

price list

CALX

small bag (aprox. 3 oz.)

Used as a preservative and to help give the paste some elasticity.

Often available in Feed Stores and Grocery Stores. Also known as chalk (for football fields), calcium hydroxide, cal (in Mexican Grocery stores), hydrogenated lime, lime (for the garden).

price list

SURIBACHI AND SURIKOGI

two sizes available

suribachi
10-1/2" (as measured across the top)
18" (as measured across the top)

surikogi
small (for 10-1/2' bowl)
large (for 18" bowl)

price list

A suribachi is a large bowl in which paste is blended. Most often with a warm brown glaze on the outside, its unglazed inner wall has a series of grooves to help break up any suribachi and surikogi lumps in the paste while stirring. The surikogi (or suribou) is the stick with which the paste is mixed.

HERA

several sizes available (as measured across widest part of blade):

#5 (2")
#7 (2-3/4")
#9 (3-1/2")
#12 (4-1/2")....most general purpose size
no longer being manufactured
#21 (8-1/4")..limited to stock on hand
$27 (10-1/2") ..limited to stock on hand

price list

A hera is the spatula used to push the paste through the stencil.