looking for a way to buy slaked lime. I just moove recently to hawaii, I guess I would have to ship it from the mainland... I'm looking for adresses of retailers, tips, if one of you can help...

Where on the mainland can you get it???

I have no idea... I'm doing that research right now, I'll keep you posted if I find a way to order a few bags of lime. I hope I don't have to import it from europe, I know it is very easy to find over there.

found bags of calcium hydroxide (40pounds) for 50 dollars with less than 1% of magnesium.
The brand is called Volpack, it is a product made by the chemical lime company in arizona.

What is their (volpacks) phone number?

I give you the whole thing:
Chemical lime company
6263 north Skotsdale rd
Suite 280
Arizona 85250
Phone:480 368 4200
The chemist, mr Curtis seems to know a lot about lime
and fresco.
Something i have to ask:
I come from france, i did fresco over there, using lime for restauration, CA OH2 , following a precise recipe to mix sand and lime. It worked perfectly, on many fresco and stucco work.
When I read mail on this forum, lime seems to be a subject of concern, hard to find, hard to find the appropriate one. Even if you exclude dolomite lime, why would the CA OH2 that you can find here wouldn't be good enough for that kind of use, why would you have to buy your putty from germany or italy? What would be the actual difference in the use between a super raffined italian lime and plain old CA OH 2 from the usa or canada?

I will give you couple of reasons.

I have tried most of the lime available in the US and had everything: detachment, pits, fluorescense, cracks. In fact I got so good at it that with bagged CA HO2 I can make cracks "to order" big ones, medium sized, strait, hairline, and superfine ones also.

With Italian lime you need to take a juckhammer to take my fresco off the wall. After working on 400+ sq. feet wall with Italian lime, my plasterer refuses to touch any other lime even during our workshop in practice plaster class.

I have spoken with GenLime three years ago and they did not have the stuff then. I talked to dr. Curtis yesterday and waiting for the sample of their new product, but it will still take a few years of testing in my studio (if I can talk my plasterer it it) before I would be confident to use it on a project.

thanks for that thorough answer.
I had cracks too,very superficial ones, when the quantity of lime was too important compared to the quantity of sand.
My frescoes are too young for me to be able to say if it is resistant or not. I did one outside, on the wall of an old house,more or less exposed to the weather, it "holds" to the wall perfectly so far.
I do 3 layers after the gobetis, in the putty for my first and second rough layer I add brick thinly crushed, I let the whole thing sit for a 2-3 weeks.
The mortar is very "workable" and so far has been proven solid enough.
I'll definitely try Italian putty next time I go back to Europe.
I've also heard of "pouzzolane" these volcanic ashes that the italians added to the lime to re-enforce it's strengh. I would like to try that too, not for frescoes, but for simple mortars.
What kind of sample will you get from Mr Curtis?
The CAOH2 or the dolomite?
I am about to use the CAOH2, I really would like to have feed back from you if you come to use it.
Thank you for that helpfull correspondance.
Mathieu.

Our studio is placing an order fo fresco supplies for our next Fresco Painting Workshop. We would like to offer you an opportunity to add your orders to this shipment.

You can order

http://www.truefresco.com/frescoshoppe

Authentic Fresco Brushes.

"These Unique Fresco brushes made of fine bristle - the only suitable material capable to withstand alkaline action of the lime are being handcrafted in Italy by dedicated craftsmen, following the centuries old tradition and technique.

Fresco Lime Putty

Lime Putty of the highest quality. The only Lime Putty we use in our studio. Lime Putty comes from the same resource (pit) is being used on major fresco restorations in Italy.

Fresco Lime Putty is shipped in air tight buckets and can be stored under the layer of water in the same bucket indefinitely. Also perfect for other types of lime plasters (Venetian stucco, marmorino, etc.)

IMPORTANT!
We need to place the total order on or before December 17th, to have it processed by our associates in Italy before the Holydays. This way it will be shipped to and arrive in the beginning of January.

Please do not delay and place your orders ASAP at

http://www.truefresco.com/frescoshoppe

We accept VISA and MasterCard

if you have questions call (310) 337 2783