How to Make Sodium Silicate - Water Glass

In this video I attempt to make sodium silicate. This liquid compound can be used as a glue, a homemade refractory, floor sealer, preserving eggs and many other uses.
Here is the original video that I learned the process from
• Homemade sodium silica...
Jellyfish in Space by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence
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Artist: incompetech.com/

[@Imwright720]

When doing this it’s safer to add the lye a little at a time. You should also have gloves and eye protection. This mixture will eat and burn right through your skin. Keep a gallon of vinegar on hand to neutralize any that gets on you.

[@Advanced_Materials_Publishing]

Great video, man. I need waterglass for my geopolymers I'm working with. Because I need it for a synthesis I can not use many Industrial made waterglasses, even from well known chemical suppliers (!). Reason is that they are everything but reliable. The composition changes from batch to batch. This process is great to make tailored sodium silicate solutions. Refractorys: In ceramics chemistry (refractorys are ceramics, of course) alkalies (sodium, pottasium...) are well known to greatly reduce refractory properties in combination with SiO2. All commercial high temperature materials are low in alkalies. Anyways, sodium plus SiO2 can be used until around 500 °C. There are tables to see exact melting temperatures and that kind. Keep up the good work!!

[@Gocast2]

thanks mate. glad there's a source of readily available silica gel, which I don't have to salvage out of shoe boxes

[@AndrewWorkshop]

LOL I know!

[@Alacrates]

Great video, thanks for making it! I'm from Canada too, this was helpful for finding the ingredients, those were the two brands I was able to find as well.

[@Picklemedia]

Ditto. Home Hardware who would have thunk it

[@mindfreak001009]

hi there, can i used liquid caustic soda with the same amount of mixture?? thanks, very informative video

[@sunilkumararickattu1845]

How does waterglass or sodium silicate work in helping to concrete mix and Waterproofing and ratio in 50kg bag cement?

[@richardphatthenguyen195]

Hi Andrew, do you happen to live near Quebec? I've been trying to look for lye here in Montreal, and so far, the highest concentration was about 85% from Canadian Tire. I have no luck so far locating that missing items.

[@robm5823]

In what kind of container do you have to store it. Can it be glass?

[@MsToobz]

If you gradually add the NaOH into the kitty litter the blue colbalt stuff comes off and can (mostly) be filtered before continuing to dissolve the silica.

[@Kacarru]

A quick question, about how much dose this combination make?

[@sanalvs448]

How can remove super hydrophobic? do u have any solution?

[@lancerudy9934]

How much water glass to the binder ? To make high temperatures material

[@-robo-]

Not much is out there about Potassium silicate. Would you consider making a video on "double water glass" (an equal parts mixture of potassium silicate and sodium silicate)?

[@jimbridger2416]

How do you store this

[@mercyeze3444]

Please is this the same silicate we use for soap production?

[@richardphatthenguyen195]

I finally got my hand on the sillica gel, Cristaux de silice/Silica crystals from President choice. The MSDS for the product show on the video contains 98% of SiO2, 2% of H2O, Cl and Fe. So yea you get the best bang for the product for that that dessicant.

[@lancerudy9934]

How do you mix with vermiculite?

[@ibrahimkalaniya1891]

Can we use in detergent soap cake

[@amirulhanis5095]

What if i just use 98% or 99% of sodium hydroxide and what if i just use tap water..are these still work?

[@paulojesus8573]

Hey Andrew Can you help me man? I want to no know if waterglass work's like resin? I want to mix whit wood dust and other dusts like sand, and things like this. I want to know if will harden and will be strong glue. I want o to make musical instruments whit recicled wood dust Thank you for share your recipe ☺️🙏🏾

[@Enjoymentboy]

Good vid and very helpful but 2 suggestions: 1. remove the blue indicator crystals by hand first. It's tedious but worth it. 2. Do this in the reverse order. Add the water to the silica, add your lye and then heat and stir. Hydrating the crystals first helps them to release the trapped air and will help prevent foaming/frothing and a more clear final product.

[@jerryquigg3497]

For your consideration I provide a step-by-step DYI method to make approx 500ml of highly concentrated Sodium Silicate. The method takes advantage of the exothermic chemical reaction involved. It uses an insulated and completely sealed reaction container, needs no added external heating or stirring and is thus relatively safe. It produces no fumes which open pot techniques suffer from. The reaction takes about 12 Hrs to complete (Leave it unattended overnight). MATERIALS: a 5gal plastic paint bucket with lid, a 2qt. Glass Canning jar (Hobby stores have these - do NOT substitute the more common 1-qt. Jar), 1/4” PEX tubing, 4” and 2” funnels, and fiberglass insulation, 200g lye, 300g silica gel (cat litter), 500 ml water. There is no need to remove colored material from the silica gel. NOTE: The 2” funnel was a modified “Cream Color Developer” tube from a Revlon Colorsilk hair color kit. 1. Obtain a two quart glass canning jar. Into the jar combine DRY 200g lye with DRY 300g silica gel "cat litter". Blend well (e.g. put the lid on and shake it up). 2.Remove the lid and put the jar in the 5gal plastic paint bucket (used as a safety containment device) and surround the jar inside the bucket with fiber glass insulation. 3. Put a 4” funnel in usual position as a loose lid for the jar and insert approx 15” of 1/4” PEX tube thru the funnel neck and seal the opening around where the tube passes thru with a small piece of insulation. The 1/4” PEX tube is used to safely instill water into the dry 500g mixture. 4. Completely cover the glass jar and funnel assembly with more insulation. Make a hole in the center of the lid of the 5gal pail and install the lid, so that the tube protrudes through the hole. The glass jar containment is now fully enclosed and insulated. 5. Attach the approx 2” funnel to the top of the PEX tube and slowly, instill 500ml of water. A strong exothermic reaction results. Some steam may evolve however it will be trapped by the insulation. The boiling point will shift to +250F - you don’t want to get this shit splashed onto you!. The final quiescent temp will stabilize at about +220F - leave it alone overnight! 6. Note that chemical burns from lye heal slowly and eye damage is permanent. Don’t be stupid and try to open the assembly early just to check on it. 7. Wait 12hrs - done. You will have 500 ml clear sodium silicate with the consistency of honey. Store in a sealed jar. Carbon dioxide from the air will cause it to solidify.

[@randallmarsh446]

This is the same ingredients used in radiator and block sealers for engines that have cracked heads ,blown head gaskets ect, However the engines cooling systems must be completely clean from antifreeze ,oil ect for this to work and you cannot add any antifreeze after putting this product in your cooling system ,the reason is the antifreeze has chemicals that penetrate the metal to keep it clean like silicone and other stuff to prevent corrosion will cause the water glass to no bind with the metal or plastics. One gallon of homebrew water glass is equivalent to about 300 dollars worth of market brand engine block sealers the benefit of making your own you can adjust the viscosity or water glass. This water glass is excellent for using as a high temp glue around furnaces and stoves . i use it on lumber and plywood by using a roller to fireproof the material.and use it to hold ceramic insulation in place around stove pipes and exhaust systems that have cracks .If you use it around exhaust systems on vehicles mix your waterglass with ceramic porcelain insulation into a thick consistency of clay then heat the area and place the mix on the cracks and let dry for as long as possible. water class will cure faster under high heat and high carbon dioxide which is the main source of causing the silica to release h20 \and therefore drys , I've experimented by adding baking soda in different ratios and found it to be an awesome fire retardant.I will also urge anyone who is using ceramic porcelain fiber glass to wear a mask and long-sleeved and gloves. Ceramic porcelain is not the same as residential fiberglass insulation due to the fact it will float in the air more than the reg insulation used in housing and is also finer in size . It will cut the surface of your eyes and linings in your lungs and noses. Once inside your system its impossible to remove the razor like particles.

[@WaschyNumber1]

You can buy this online

[@bitrusamos285]

It's a good one

[@oldbritishmovies4794]

Andrew W, Hi, hope you can advise, I have made several batches of Water Glass using the correct measurements and ingredients, the problem I'm having is the finished product does not harden properly by air drying, it takes ages to solidify but remains tacky to the touch. Also is there a catalyst you can add as a hardener to speed the curing process. Thanks :)

[@yahruachson2786]

carbon dioxide cues it. Vinegar and baking soda create co2 if you don't have a paint ball gun/canister

[@paulwilliams2875]

Are you selling sodium silicate on eBay by chance?

[@garyhaatings9293]

Hi, Andrew great videos. I would like to know what the shelf life of the sodium silicate. I would make extra, for future projects.keep up the great vids.Thanks,Gary

[@dankobarisic8110]

Neograniceno

[@uthamankorambeth5582]

Sir, would you please give me the idea of making colloidal silica ? I shall be very greatful to you for such .thank you

[@AS-ug2vq]

What you are looking at is essential not pure sodium silicate but mix of colloidal silica and sodium silicate. To get high lever of pure colloidal silica. First add more Lye to the mix and let it cool. Now you've sodium rich sodium silicate mix Now when at room temp, add sulphuric acid to the mix. This will make sodium chloride and silicide acid. Filter the solution and wash it several times and all sodium chloride dissolved will be washed away. Now you've sililic acid. Heat it in water and check the Ph, if pH is below 8, add some KOH till the ph 8 is reached. Now what you are seeing is colloidal silica. Yes it's hard to make it, this is why it's not available cheaply.

[@johncarey4186]

Sodium Silicate will fireproof wood until it gets wet then it well loose it's flame barrier However for interior wood as long as it never gets wet

[@harviecz]

How pure is it? Any chances that unreacted lye will damage your skin/eyes when you accidentaly spill the water glass?

[@Julioargent]

It's important use eyeglasses and gloves. Vinegar and water can neutralize lye in case of accident to avoid skin burnt.

[@lancerudy9934]

How do you mix with perlite?

[@dankobarisic8110]

Super

[@devonfields10]

Do I need to add more lye to the extra water I add?

[@AndrewWorkshop]

+devon fields Nope

[@vitalismmas9603]

Habari yako rafi mimi naitw Vitalis nipo Tanzania nahitaji Sodium silikote utaweza kunitumia kidogo.

[@toddj202]

Check your local drugstore they usually carry it just ask him for sodium silicate

[@tobyw9573]

Do not add water to dry lye, it could boil and explode.

[@DarkVisionArtDesign]

When it cools down again: Is it as hard as before melting?

[@simadevi-oh6tj]

Ajay

[@devonfields10]

I tried this but the finished product solidified. Any pointers of what I did wrong?

[@ashdevos5705]

more water

[@devonfields10]

+Ash De Vos do I need to add more lye to the extra water I add?

[@ashdevos5705]

+devon fields i say not, if you used the stoichiometric amount in the beginning

[@ElGatoLoco698]

Sounds like you boiled all the water off. You can usually just add water and thin it out.

[@Fubar12341]

@@ElGatoLoco698 I think I have done the same , I'll try adding some more water to the very thick water glass I have made

[@davidhawley1132]

No gloves or other PPE?!!! Lye is the base equivalent of battery acid.

[@sandmanbub]

@Whoop!

[@AhNee]

In the US, you cannot buy lye anywhere anymore, except online, because it's used in making methamphetamine.

[@samanthafritts9823]

Tractor supply

[@randycobb7527]

Lowe's

[@danguzman4676]

I'm not gramming anything talk in Kitchen terms like your Cooking there, not Parts either just Table Spoons, Cups, Liter, Gallons. Example add 2 Cups of Lye into 1 Gallon of water Heat & then add 4 or 5 Cups of Silica Cat Liter without the Blue Smurfs. Use Stainless Utensil or Heat resistant Plastic, & never put the Tools your Cooking it with where they can be used to Cook Food because of RESIDUE left in objects. Tay

[@dhirajmedhi1268]

You don't have idea to prepare how to make sodium silicate

[@jimfitzgibbon5492]

You need to do away with the back ground music, I could barely hear what you were saying. Other than that good video.

[@haroldhaddix7582]

back ground music sucks

[@lpresson]

turn volume down dd

[@iand4835]

Don’t waste your time it doesn’t set up.

[@kevinatspeed]

Dude, when combining such ingredients, you should not be using metal containers. Use glass. Why was your science labs full of glass containers?

[@antilogism]

Strong NaOH solutions, like many alkalies, etch glass, including borosilicate. In fact this process is pretty much dissolving glass' main element. Also, though boro lab glass is good with thermal shock, impact could result in a big mess, so having the opportunity to use steel is a plus.