On Tue, 31 Aug 2004 21:34:42 +0100, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:

Does ayone still use it for lead work?

If so, what type and where do you acquire it?

Mary

From http://www.northwales.org.uk/g21/letters.htm


"It is possible to buy tallow in paper wrapped lumps from suppliers of
materials for making traditional paints, for example :-
L. Cornelissen, 105 Great Russel Street, London, WC1B 3R. 071 636
1045. (finest pigments and art materials, booklet on making your own
paints).
Craig and Rose, 172 Leith Walk, Edinburgh, EH6 5EB 0131554 1131 (lead
and oil based distemper)
Cy-Pres, Northants (limewash, soft distemper)01536 373431
Farrow and Ball, Uddens Estate, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7NL 01202 876141
Robert Butcher, Potmolen Paints, 27 Woodstock Ind. Estate, Warminster,
Wilts. BA12 9DX. 0985 213960. (trad. paints).
Or you should get it from suppliers to the soap making industry.
However, it is everso much cheaper to make it for yourself.

[snip]

To make your own tallow, get some suet fat from the butcher. This is
the heavy thick white fat from inside the back bone of a bovine
carcass. It should be free. You then cut it up a bit to break down the
membranes, and melt it slowly in a large saucepan. A clear fat will
emerge, which can be strained to remove the fibres. You can refine the
fat, by adding a little water, and rendering it. Simply heat for a
while, then allow to cool. The mixture will separate into three
layers. The best tallow on the top, the stock in the middle, and the
solids at the bottom. Try it! - but don't blame me for the
smell......."

Hope this helps

sPoNiX