WB/DC ink additives, for the DIY minded

[ScreenFoo]

So random thread there reminded me of long, long ago doing WB with a few hundred bucks worth of gear.

Could have sworn it was a seaweed (like what's used for brewing/foods) we thickened ink with, but as a great thread on here mentions (and Wikipedia backs up) sodium alginate or 'alginic acid' is what's used for 'reactive dye' printing.  Do you get it in liquid/powder form or do you have to 'cook' a batch of it?
I could see impurities being an issue where a chemical reaction like that is taking place, but I know rather little about DC.

Along those lines, do any shops still use propylene glycol or glycerin as additives, or are there better proprietary options?
TIA

[mimosatexas]

Very interested in this. Love the Matsui discharge base but it is super watery. Would love to thicken it up without changing the vibrance etc.

[ebscreen]

When I first started, with WB on flatstock, I would use glycerin as a retarder. Made manual printing in the hot summer months feasible.

As far as thickening goes, evaporation is a possible solution. Other than that, unless I was trying to produce my own inks,
I'd stick with what the mfgrs offer. Enough variables as is to throw some more in the mix. I'd be surprised if someone doesn't
offer a thickener.

[RICK STEFANICK]

Lubricant tends to thicken up water base inks and really helps with drying in the screens

[broadway]

When I first started, with WB on flatstock, I would use glycerin as a retarder. Made manual printing in the hot summer months feasible.

As far as thickening goes, evaporation is a possible solution. Other than that, unless I was trying to produce my own inks,
I'd stick with what the mfgrs offer. Enough variables as is to throw some more in the mix. I'd be surprised if someone doesn't
offer a thickener.

Try www.jantexink.com. They offer two thickeners.

[ScreenFoo]

EB:  Poster inks were what I was using as well.  I have no idea if I screwed up the ink though, never beat them up.
As I understand it, propylene glycol is very similar--lowers vapor pressure, lubricates, improves open time, etc.
Urea does as well, although I think I'd leave that one out on the principle of ink stinking enough already.

Are there cure issues with excessive lubricant?  Would think more than 5-10% could affect print longevity.

[RICK STEFANICK]

My recommendation is 5% max. not sure what the result would be with more. All my inks get 2-3 percent penetrant now also.