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Batik - Wax & Tub Dye Method

This method takes more time than the Paint-on method. Layers of wax and dye are repeatedly applied to the fabric, yielding an overlapping color design that goes from light to dark.

  1. First, pre-wash your fabric, ideally with a professional dyer's product called Synthrapol . This removes most oils, sizings, and pre-shrinks the fabric. It is best to use PFD (prepared for dyeing) fabric or RTD (ready-to-dye fabric) that is for sure not treated with finishes like permanent press, which will keep the dye from attaching. Iron out any wrinkles.

  2. Use premixed Batik Wax, or your own combinations of Beeswax or Sticky wax and Paraffin waxes. The more parrafin, the more the wax will crackle. By themselves, Beeswax and Sticky wax don't crackle and Parrafin wax crackles too much. The wax mixture is then melted in a double boiler, electric wax pot, or old electric frying pan set at about 220-240 (CAREFUL! If you heat the wax over 250 it can give off toxic smoke or burst into flames!) Apply the wax, using tools like the Tjanting or the Deluxe Tjanting for outlining, and natural fiber brushes to fill in areas. Wax designs can be repeatedly stamped onto the fabric with metal stamps called "chops", like they do in Indonesia, but they have to be symmetrical so they can be lined up and stamped in exactly the same spot on the reverse side of the fabric so that no dye will penetrate. When applying wax, no matter what method you are using, regulate the temperature so that it penetrates the fabric, not so cool that it just turns yellowish and sits on top, and not so hot that all your lines spread out too much. The wax should have a clear appearance, indicating it has penetrated to the other side. To make things easier, use an Electric Tjanting which can be regulated with a rheostat for soldering irons, so it maintain the wax at the correct temperatur
  3. Mix up Procion dye solution as instructed for vat dyeing.
  4. Vat dye the fabric, first using the lightest color that will be on the piece and will mix well with successive colors, ie. like a yellow, then the next dye bath could be turquoise, which would actually mix with the yellow to dye the fabric green in all the areas where the yellow was not waxed over. Remeber - after Soda Ash has been added to the dyebath, don't leave your waxed fabric in for more than 30 minutes more, as soda ash eats away the wax eventually, exposing areas to unwanted dye.
  5. Rinse and gently hand wash the fabric in Synthrapol or Professional Textile Detergent and allow to dry. Use cool water so as not to melt your wax!

  6. Repeats steps 2-6 for each color you plan for your batik, waxing areas after each dyebath that you want to remain that most recent color, and rewaxing any areas that look eroded. Vat dye your darkest areas last. The final mix of colors at the end will be a brown, grey or black, combining all of the colors used on the peice. Hint - Do a test strip 1st with all of the colors you are planning to use to make sure they are combining like you want.
  7. Wax removal can be accomplished in one of four ways:

    • Iron the wax out. This is also a traditional wax removal process. The fabric is sandwiched between layers of absorbant paper such as Newsprint and heat is applied by iron, to melt the wax out. This process often leaves a wax residue (looks like a grease spot) that is very difficult to remove, so it is not recommended.



Do you know everything about batik now?Not a chance! This was just a brief overview, just a taste. Interested? Get a book, some materials, and/or a Starter Set and take a chance! It's fun

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