Materials Needed:
- mason jar that includes a removable lid and outer band
- Plastic grocery bag
- super sauce concentrate (matte or gloss)
- 91% isopropyl alcohol
- Foam Brush or Standard Paint Brush
Super Sauce is a medium used in transferring inkjet prints onto alternative surfaces like wood, metal, plexiglass, etc. The super sauce mixture is made of super sauce concentrate and 91% Isopropyl Alcohol. Super Sauce is sold by DASS Art and is available in two finishes. The choices are matte or gloss finish. We recommend a gloss finish for more non-porous reflective surfaces like plastic, glass, and plexiglass. For porous surfaces like paper, wood, etc, you will want to use the super sauce concentrate with a matte finish.
Before we get into the mixing, you should consider safety precautions. The smell of isopropyl alcohol is quite strong so it is a good idea to wear a face mask. Next, you will want to consider wearing goggles to protect your eyes. You will not want to get super sauce in your eyes as it is not something you ever want to have contact with water. If a super sauce mixture (including the alcohol) makes contact with water, it will turn into a thick foam that can not be put down a drain. This can make washing anything out of your eyes quite difficult.
Creating the mixture is dependent on having the right measurement for your ingredients. For every 1 TBS of super sauce concentrate, you will need 4 oz of 91% isopropyl alcohol. You must use 91% isopropyl alcohol. Any other grade simply will not work. Taking the above measurements, mix the two slowly. Once you have the contents in the mason jar, you will want to secure the lid fully so that you can begin to mix the contents.
You will want to let the jar sit for at least 6 hours, periodically shaking the jar vigorously during that time. Again, please note that you should never add any water to this mixture or your brushes. It can cause severe damage to plumbing and will render your brushes unusable. Once the 6 hours have passed, and you have a consistent mixture, you will be ready to start transferring your images!
Once you begin to use the super sauce mixture, you will want to keep the brush you use inside of the jar with the mixture when it is not in use. The brush you use will not be able to be used for anything else after this. We recommend that you use this brush until it is no longer usable and at which point, you will need to throw it out. Once again, we remind you not to put this brush anywhere near any sinks or plumbing.
Storing the mixture with the brush is where having the mason jar with the lid and outer band comes into great use. You will want to remove the lid permanently. When you are not using the super sauce, put the brush inside the jar and wrap a plastic bag somewhat loosely around the brush and jar. Then, take the outer band and screw it tightly onto the mason jar. This will keep the seal airtight without the brush poking through and letting air in. You can see our example in the image at the beginning of this article.
We have quite a few super sauce tutorials based on different applications. We encourage you to experiment with this method on multiple surfaces to get an idea of its capabilities.
