Maybe I'm wrong, but can't you use Hydrated Lime to make the lime putty?
It
would work out a lot cheaper probably. I seem to remember at college
years ago
learning about slaking pits and lime putty mixers

Peter


That's what I've been using to make lime putty/mortar: hydrated
non-hydraulic lime. As I understand it in the old days limestone would be
roasted to get quicklime ( CaO) then doused with water to get slaked lime
( CaOH? ). I'm pretty sure slaked lime is the same as hydrated lime, so
you don't have to contend with dealing with quicklime, which is caustic
stuff.

You can use hydrated lime to make lime putty (put it in a tub of water
overnight to soak) but who would bother these days when a ready
prepared tub of lime putty is available ex stock from Jewsons. In the
old days ie 5 years ago, lime putty was much harder to get hold of and
hydrated lime was sometimes the only easy source.

Quicklime is the previous stage in the manufacturing process so there
is no need to bother about that unless you are a keen home lime
producer (and there are a surprisingly large number of them)

The Building Conservation Directory as recommended above is a good but
expensive source of lime plasterers. It costs an arm and a leg to
advertise there so your average lime plasterer (like me) won't be able
to justify it. I suggest you speak to the conservartion officer of
your local council who will give you a list of local names

Anna
--
~~ Anna Kettle, Suffolk, England
|""""| ~ Plaster conservation, freehand modelling in lime
/ ^^ \ // Overmantels, pargeting etc
|____| www.kettlenet.co.uk 01359 230642