There are many recipes around for ways of making slime, lots based on PVA glue. This recipe is however a bit different, and is very similar to the commercially available slime toys. It has a key advantage that the materials are cheap and so large quantities are possible. You could even fill a bath full if you wanted to!
Whilst
the materials on this page that are not known to have any significant
health risks associated with them, they cannot all be classed as
completely hazard free.
The largest single issue is the
slipperiness of the mix- it can be very easy to slip over on. It is
therefore essential to consider this when planning any activities
involving slime, including clean up and washing off as the most
significant effects will be found on a smooth surface such as a
bath!
The materials are relatively fine powders, and as such
create nuisance dust. It is therefore worth wearing a dust mask if
handling large quantities. Likewise if this dust gets into eyes it
can cause irritation.
Guar gum is not hazardous when eaten,
however it can be used as a laxative, so it would probably be unwise
to consume large quantities.
Borax (Sodium Tetraborate) is not
safe for consumption, and should therefore be handled and used
carefully so as to avoid ingestion, although in the quantities
actually present in slime it should not cause any concern.
It is worth noting that whilst some other recipes found on the internet claim to be borax free, this isn't always the case. those recipies that use laundry starch have borax in the starch.
In
addition to the specific information above, general safe chemical
handling practice will further reduce the risk of any issues, in
particular;
Store materials in sealed, well marked, containers in
an area out of reach of children and pets
Wash thoroughly before
and after handling these materials
Dispose of excess/ used
materials/ empty packaging responsibly
Clean up any spills
quickly- Avoid using water to stop the area becoming slippery
Do
not use utensils/ containers/ cleaning cloths that will be later used
for food
Supervise children whilst making or using the slime
In these instructions the quantities I give will make 1 litre of stringy slime. Quantities can therefore be easily adjusted to suit smaller or larger batches to suit your needs.
There are many other recipes for making goo, both on
Instructables and other places on the web as well as commercial products, so why
use this one?
You enjoy making things and you will probably learn something
new whilst making this
The cost will be significantly cheaper than buying a
commercial product
You have full control of the properties of the goo- from
runny to thick, clear to opaque and colourless to vivid colours
You can happily make large quantities of goo- even filling a
paddling pool becomes practical (think how many tubs of toy shop slime you’d
need to this, or how much PVA glue)
The materials are easy to store- you can easily keep some on
hand for rainy day play, or next Halloween
The gunk is a bit sticky- it therefore has a much better
feel, and visual appeal than some commercial products (like Gellibaff), that
simply run off.
The materials are biodegradable, and hence easy to dispose
of
Most importantly- it’s more fun than buying
it!
How to make Slime
Before you start, It would be a good idea to read the general notes on the main gunge page.
Gather the materials together. You will need;
Guar Gum- This is available from health food shops.
Borax (sodium tetraborate)- Can be found in supermarkets as a water softener with laundry items. Check it doesn’t have anything else added to it.
Glycerine- available from chemists or the baking/ cake decorating aisle of the supermarket
Colouring- food colour, poster or powder paint
Suitable container to mix in
Scales
Wooden spoon, whisk or powered mixer
Measure out the following quantities of materials. I use plastic cups to do this, but a piece of folded paper will work as well. Quantities do not have to be precise, but it may help you make a batch the same in the future if you can be fairly accurate.
The water can go into the mixing container straight away.
Guar Gum 10 grams (1%)
Borax 10 grams (1%)
Glycerine 10 grams (1%)
HOT water 1 litre
Add the glycerine to the water- you may need to swirl the container you used to measure the glycerine out with water.
Add your chosen colouring, dependent on what effect you want. Food colouring will give a transparent slime, the paints will make the slime opaque. I’d recommend around 20g of poster or powder paint for a reasonable colour (2%) although I have used up to 5% for some uses. Stir thoroughly.
Add the guar gum to the water and stir thoroughly. Once it has fully dispersed it is sensible to leave the mix to stand for at least 1/2 hour, preferably more. Leaving to stand will make sure that the guar gum has fully gelled, and will avoid the finished slime being lumpy. If at all possible, use a powered food mixer to get a well mixed concoction.
Whilst waiting for the mix to thicken, add 10 grams of borax to approx 100ml of hot water and stir thoroughly. If it doesn't fully dissolve, add some extra water.
When you the guar mix has been standing for long enough, start mixing in the borax. This should be added in small quantities (approx 5 ml at a time) using a small spoon or similar. Stir the borax into the guar mix.
The slime will start forming- once it has started to noticeably thicken and string, it is worth then continuing the mixing by hand. Keep adding and mixing borax until you are happy with your slime.
Note- it is not possible to dry mix the ingredients and just add to the water as the Guar won't hydrate properly if you do.
Play
away to your hearts content!. This slime will keep for a while, but
should ideally be stored in a sealed container.
Changes to the strength of the guar mix and to the amount of borax will alter the properties of the slime from liquid and stringy to rubbery. Combine this with changes to the colouring and you have a a wide range of slimes for different uses from kids to play with to drool for your alien movie..
Top tips
Experiment with small quantities first if you want to make a
big batch
Use a powered mixer to get the smoothest goo
Don’t underestimate the amount of colourant needed if you
want opaque goo
Allow the goo to stand for at least an hour before using
Allow plenty of time to play with your goo, and to clear up