<p>I found <a href="https://www.gerstaecker.de/Markenwelt/Kreul/KREUL-Magic-Marble-Marmorierfarbe.html?listtype=search&amp;searchparam=oxartnum:43520A&amp;redirected=1" rel="nofollow noreferrer">paint</a> that is specifically made for swirl painting in a shop called Gerstaecker (in Germany). </p>

<p>With this I didn't need any additives. </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/U4GiXm.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/U4GiXm.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/xsGzLm.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/xsGzLm.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>I think it turned out quite well. There is a certain relief structure due to different thickness of the paint, which I quite like. </p>

<p>The water based transparent finish I used didn't work so well. Maybe I should use some polish, but the finish also breaks apart very easy when scraped with a fingernail, I think it can't bind well to the acryl-based paint. I don't want to remove it entirely out of fear that I will hurt the colors.</p>

<p>For now, I am very happy with the result. It's the first time I did something like this and it was a lot of fun!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-23T14:27:20.153Z
I guess that paints without borax are not the right way. Or maybe you did something wrong?
David
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-23T19:09:08.640Z
@David I've converted your "answer" into a comment on this actual answer as it seemed to be referring to it but it's unkind to say things about other people's art work. If you feel the comment without the negative words is unclear, feel free to delete it entirely.
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-23T19:49:30.540Z
I don't even know what he means. It turned out exactly like i wanted. I didn't want a "clean" swirl, I wanted chaos and different areas with different microstructures and thats what I got. It looks awesome in reality and I couldn't care less what he thinks ;)
Fl.pf.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-02T22:05:08.357Z
I'm glad that you're happy with the results!
Catija
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-25T12:11:25.820Z
Of course, while this option may have given you the result you were looking for, it doesn't answer your original question.
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-26T09:04:58.467Z
@Joachim Yes it does? I looked for a Borax substitute, and using paint specifically made for this procedure is a substitute for using Borax.
Fl.pf.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-26T09:21:07.740Z
No, it is not; you merely changed your medium (even though the end results are probably very similar). The issue might come from the fact that your question is an [XY Problem](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/66377/what-is-the-xy-problem), and, although you solved X, you asked after Y.
Joachim
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-19T10:45:15.690Z
2017-05-19T10:45:15.690Z
Fl.pf.
<p>I am currently in the process of swirl painting one of my guitars.</p>

<p>In <a href="http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/swirlpaint/swirlpnt.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">swirl painting</a>, you fabricate a colored film of oil paint on water with borax. The borax is used to better spread the color film. I think it increases the surface tension. </p>

<p>Now, since, in Germany, as a private household, you can't get borax any more, I can't get my hands on borax.</p>

<p>Does anybody have an idea of a substitute? My practical chemistry skills have gotten quite rusty after years of theoretical chemistry, so I could use some help here.</p>

<p>Soap wouldn't help because - I think - it would dissolve the oil paint.</p>

<p>Could I use a thinner for the oil paint? Would that give me the same results?</p>

<p>Or would you say borax isn't even needed? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-30T06:43:41.983Z
@CreationEdge oh yes you're right, I'll edit the question, thank you
Fl.pf.
<painting><material-selection><oil-paint>
Borax substitute for swirl painting
Fl.pf.
# Borax substitute for swirl painting

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-03-28)

I am currently in the process of swirl painting one of my guitars.

In [swirl painting](http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/swirlpaint/swirlpnt.htm), you fabricate a colored film of oil paint on water with borax. The borax is used to better spread the color film. I think it increases the surface tension.

Now, since, in Germany, as a private household, you can't get borax any more, I can't get my hands on borax.

Does anybody have an idea of a substitute? My practical chemistry skills have gotten quite rusty after years of theoretical chemistry, so I could use some help here.

Soap wouldn't help because - I think - it would dissolve the oil paint.

Could I use a thinner for the oil paint? Would that give me the same results?

Or would you say borax isn't even needed?

**Tags:** painting, material-selection, oil-paint

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: @CreationEdge oh yes you're right, I'll edit the question, thank you  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2017-05-19. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

I found [paint](https://www.gerstaecker.de/Markenwelt/Kreul/KREUL-Magic-Marble-Marmorierfarbe.html?listtype=search&searchparam=oxartnum:43520A&redirected=1) that is specifically made for swirl painting in a shop called Gerstaecker (in Germany).

With this I didn't need any additives.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/U4GiXm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/U4GiXm.jpg)
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/xsGzLm.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/xsGzLm.jpg)

I think it turned out quite well. There is a certain relief structure due to different thickness of the paint, which I quite like.

The water based transparent finish I used didn't work so well. Maybe I should use some polish, but the finish also breaks apart very easy when scraped with a fingernail, I think it can't bind well to the acryl-based paint. I don't want to remove it entirely out of fear that I will hurt the colors.

For now, I am very happy with the result. It's the first time I did something like this and it was a lot of fun!

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I guess that paints without borax are not the right way. Or maybe you did something wrong?  
> **username_2**: @username_1 I've converted your "answer" into a comment on this actual answer as it seemed to be referring to it but it's unkind to say things about other people's art work. If you feel the comment without the negative words is unclear, feel free to delete it entirely.  
> **username_0**: I don't even know what he means. It turned out exactly like i wanted. I didn't want a "clean" swirl, I wanted chaos and different areas with different microstructures and thats what I got. It looks awesome in reality and I couldn't care less what he thinks ;)  
> **username_2**: I'm glad that you're happy with the results!  
> **username_3**: Of course, while this option may have given you the result you were looking for, it doesn't answer your original question.  
> **username_0**: @username_3 Yes it does? I looked for a Borax substitute, and using paint specifically made for this procedure is a substitute for using Borax.  
> **username_3**: No, it is not; you merely changed your medium (even though the end results are probably very similar). The issue might come from the fact that your question is an [XY Problem](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/66377/what-is-the-xy-problem), and, although you solved X, you asked after Y.  

---

