Grannies G

Question? Since I live in the back of beyond and local wal mart did not have any sta flo starch for moonshine, has anyone used homemade starch in the recipes in place of the commercial brands? Also even if I did order it a 64oz. container is more than I will use in my lifetime. Thanks

EasyPeezy

I've been using homemade cornstarch for years.
You can adjust the recipe if you want thinner or thicker.
This will give you a fairly stiff fabric.

1/4 cup corn starch
1/2 cup cold water
1 quart boiling water

Dissolve the corn starch in the cold water then add the boiling water.
Stir and let cool before use. You need to give it a stir every time you
use it so the starch does not settle down. I use a big paintbrush to
apply the starch to the fabric. Hope this helps.

Irishrose2

I made 16 oz several weeks ago. I cooked mine. So far it works great and hasn't gone bad. I did add some lavender essntial oil to help with that. Homemade starch

dunster

OK, I'm really confused. Quilter's Moonshine, which you want to make, is a homemade starch. So you want to use another homemade starch to make Quilter's Moonshine? Isn't that a little circular? Am I missing something?

Actually I think all you need are water and vodka in the right proportions, and the Sta-Flo just reduces the amount of vodka needed.

Peckish

Please tell me you're not one of those who believes using vodka means you don't need starch? Sure, vodka is made with potatoes (or other starchy items) but the act of fermenting removes the starch. The yeast that brewers and distillers put in any alcohol recipe eats the starches and sugars and poops out alcohol and carbon dioxide. If you want to make starch, you do have to add cornstarch to the recipe.

Besides, I'd rather drink the vodka anyway.

Kitsie

Vodka is used for "sizing" like Best Press and works wonderfully! I always add a bit of Stay Flo (liquid starch) to it just cuz.
Like many others I used to use Stay Flo diluted 1:2 and spray it on.

Peckish

Wellllll.... Best Press is actually starch, not sizing. People argue that it's not starch because it says "starch alternative" on the label; that simply is a merchandising trick. It also says "clear fragrant miracle starch" at the top of the label. The MSD sheet also states that it's a starch.

Grannies G

Thank you all for the input. Made starch yesterday haven’t used it yet tho. Maybe tomorrow.

Onebyone

I'm sure Walmart has Faultless, Niagara, and Magic Sizing. Either of those are good, cheap, and last almost forever. Sta Flo is sold in many grocery stores so check those out.

illinois

Am I correct in my thinking that anything that has been starched should be laundered before being stored for any length of time? I'm thinking the starch gives opportunity for bugs to feed on it. Comments?