Liquid chalks compared

I love liquid chalk.
I like having a nice base layer on my palms.
I like that I can use a little bit less of my high priced powdered chalk.

So I recently tried a bunch of different brands. I'll describe the differences below.
First, let me point out that you can make your own liquid chalk. And save some money doing so.
Basically, just add isopropyl alcohol to powdered chalk and mix well. 2:1 chalk to alcohol ratio, 70% isopropyl seem to be most often recommended.
I liked this site, although he/she was experimenting unsuccessfully with food grade Magnesium.
imgur.com/gallery/6b8LS

I found four types.

Alcohol based, Magnesium chalk, liquid consistency-

I think these are all the same, just different bottles. Brands include Edelweiss, Mammut and Petzl.
Advantages- alcohol dries your hands, dries quickly, nice big bottles.
Cons- alcohol dries your hands, thin layer that wears off relatively quickly.
If you like this style, go for the best price amongst them.

Liquid chalks

Another liquid chalk

Alcohol based, Magnesium chalk, cream consistency-

As far as I can tell, So Ill liquid chalk is the only commercially available form of this type.
It's my favorite.
Advantages- alcohol dries your hands, dries quickly, nice thick layer of chalk which lasts longer.
Cons- alcohol dries your hands, comes in a small tube so may end up more expensive in the long run.

Thick chalk

Alcohol based, Silicon dioxide (silica) based, not magnesium, cream consistency-

Actually meant for tennis, I believe. It has a slightly different feel, but seemed to work pretty well.
Advantages- alcohol dries your hands, dries quickly.
Cons- alcohol dries your hands, thin layer that wears off relatively quickly, comes in a small bottle so may end up more expensive in the long run. The dispenser is not that easy to use as the cap pulls up then you shake out the cream.

Tennis anyone?

Finally, NOT alcohol based, Silicon dioxide (silica) based, not magnesium, cream consistency-

The only example I found was the Camp version.
It's the only liquid chalk I disliked, but it might be perfect for someone with dry skin who cannot tolerate all the alcohol.
Advantages- no alcohol, has a slightly different feel, but seemed to work ok.
Cons- dries very slowly, thin layer that wears off relatively quickly, tends to settle in the bottle so takes vigorous shaking prior to use. Comes in a small bottle so may end up more expensive in the long run. Might be hard to get all of the product out given the bottle design.

For teetotalers

Would be happy to hear about more options.
Simond has a version, which I tried once, IIRC it resembles the So Ill variety. May not be available in the US though.

amarius wrote:Not doubting you, just commenting. I am surprised that there is silicone based product that is supposed to increase friction, as silicone is, in my experience, typically used to reduce friction.

I was unintentionally misleading. They contain silicon dioxide, aka silica.
Definitely not silicone!

Will edit.

I made a bottle of liquid chalk that worked just as good if not better than any liquid chalk I tried from a brand name. Cost me about $3 to buy a bottle of 91% rubbing alcohol and sift some of my chalk thru a strainer to make it fine. Mix till im happy with consistency and then doneski. Not sure why ppl would spend so much on liquid chalk from mammut or others. I don't even find it works any better than regular chalk anyway. makes a nice base for a little bit till my hands get sweaty trying to make sketchy moves on 5.5 slab walls (;
J/K im totally crushing at least a 5.6
But really. Try making your own sometime and let me know if you notice any diff. I really didn't.

The alcohol ones are great after cleaning up poo.

Well played sir ^

Greg D wrote:The alcohol ones are great after cleaning up poo.

Just don't drink them.

Go to the liquor store, if you're not old enough... you know the drill... Food grade is better, it's 95% and y'u c'n dr'nk it...

Mix this with your chalk to make liquid chalk.

The Friction Labs liquid chalk "secret stuff" has a consistency I like best, and has been far and away my favorite of the 4 I've tried. I'll not mess around with other fakers after using their chalk products

drewdogg2112 wrote: Try making your own sometime and let me know if you notice any diff. I really didn't.

I finally tried mixing up my own batch and have to say it is really easy and just as good as the commercial stuff. And much cheaper.

Besides a sieve, any suggestions for getting rid of chunks? I just crushed them as best I could with a spoon, and the remaining pieces aren't really a problem, but a smoother product would be kind of nice.

Mark E Dixon wrote: I finally tried mixing up my own batch and have to say it is really easy and just as good as the commercial stuff. And much cheaper. Besides a sieve, any suggestions for getting rid of chunks? I just crushed them as best I could with a spoon, and the remaining pieces aren't really a problem, but a smoother product would be kind of nice.

you can get a drill/dremel and tie a zip tie to the bit (or anything really, tape would work too) and use that to mix it.

Rich zz wrote: you can get a drill/dremel and tie a zip tie to the bit (or anything really, tape would work too) and use that to mix it.

If you have a wife, girlfriend, significant other or a convenient second-hand store, pick up a cheap food processor. These work great, producing very fine ground powders and helps with the mixing too

Mark E Dixon wrote: I finally tried mixing up my own batch and have to say it is really easy and just as good as the commercial stuff. And much cheaper. Besides a sieve, any suggestions for getting rid of chunks? I just crushed them as best I could with a spoon, and the remaining pieces aren't really a problem, but a smoother product would be kind of nice.

Mark, an old fashioned flour sifter (the kind with wire that goes back and forth across the sieve part) should break up chunks easier than a spoon and a sieve. Lots of used kitchen junk should work, too: blenders (hand held or immersion), spice grinders, coffee/pepper grinders, etc. Used food processor should do the whole works, though I also suspect the blade might get shot pretty quickly.

Helen, who confesses to abuse of kitchen appliances

Jason L. wrote:The Friction Labs liquid chalk "secret stuff" has a consistency I like best, and has been far and away my favorite of the 4 I've tried. I'll not mess around with other fakers after using their chalk products

$19.00 for 75mL for this BS?!? That's 2.5 oz of snake oil. And I don't care WTF those guys say you DO NOT use less chalk with Friction Labs. We chalk out of habit and not necessity. So unless Friction Labs comes with an Audiobook, or 6 months of Chalk Counseling service to rewire our chalk habits their BS advertising scheme will not deprogram us into using less chalk.

Edelweiss is the best for me (250 mL at $15.00 max), but only if you don't mind the old school Elmer's glue scent, and Mammut (I'm convinced Petzl ripped Mammut off) for everyone else that hasn't figured out how to make their own.

Another solution for the homemade liquid chalk is to make it "on-hand". I would carry a small screcap bottle of rubbing alcohol in my pack. Before a route, I'd grab a bit of chalk from my chalkbag and mash it up in my palm. Then just squirt some rubbing alcohol onto the chalk in you palm, and rub your hands together to mix it together and rub it in. Worked great for greasy days in Rifle, and I didn't have to worry about the having liquid chalk cake up or dry out in the bottle.

Then I starting electrocuting my hands (iontophoresis). Liquid chalk, Friction Labs, antihydril, and all that faff is irrelevant now, since my hands don't really sweat anymore. You should get on the program...