Making Imitation Silly Putty

video Making Imitation Silly Putty

It seems everyone tries but get this wrong? I have found the perfect proportions. So no more glue balls. This isn't slime. This video is my recipe for making a silly putty like substance. I am a chemist and it works perfectly. It is a polyvinyl acetate polymer.

Metric measurements
25mL glue
20mL water
15mL Saturated Borax Solution

No matter how many times I do this, I never get bored making it. It acts like snot but it isn't sticky. It flows like slime but isn't greasy. The best part is you can make this "Silly Puddy Like" substance at home. All you need is the Borax (Sodium Borate) and Glue.

darman12 says: Sep 15, 2012. 8:08 AM

Oh my gosh! I think that is the weirdest thing about home made silly putty. It flows like slime but isn't greasy! I also feel like I need to wash my hands after I play with it.

pichu1994 says: May 7, 2009. 3:53 PM

can you add paint instead of water?

darman12 in reply to pichu1994Sep 15, 2012. 8:06 AM

I don't think that would work, they are different substances. If you want color, try adding food coloring!

Skymeat says: Jul 17, 2011. 10:01 PM

Where are the instructions?

darman12 in reply to SkymeatSep 15, 2012. 8:05 AM

You just mix the three ingredients together to make the putty.

TimmyMiller says: Nov 8, 2011. 4:23 PM

where did you get the stuff?

Jay Spannerz says: Sep 9, 2011. 9:59 PM

Throw it on the roof in a cinema and watch people below it freak out when it falls :D

Screamo says: Sep 26, 2010. 11:33 PM

What is borax solution?

David97 in reply to ScreamoJun 20, 2011. 4:04 PM

Its like soap flakes. I think.

mcoyle in reply to ScreamoJun 10, 2011. 1:13 PM

you can get it in the laundry isle, in krogers, or any other store

ztevo says: Dec 27, 2009. 6:20 PM

does it bounce?, can you use it to copy the funnies out of the news paper?

soulscour7 says: Sep 6, 2009. 2:30 AM

To make silly putty you can use liquid starch. The best ratio is 2 parts glue per 1 part liquid starch and stir until it becomes thick and then knead it like dough to even it out. The more water you use in this version creates a less viscous slime. I tried it once with no water and it made something closer to rubber. Not as much fun as slime.

minime12358 says: Aug 17, 2009. 7:14 AM

Id just like to say this isnt quite a silly putty substance. This is what most preschools, and fun chemistry books call flubber. Ill try adding more borax to see if it turns out more like silly putty.

ellion5656 in reply to minime12358Sep 2, 2009. 8:03 PM

silly putty is also played by elementaries and highschools.................

ThugPenguin says: May 12, 2009. 7:44 AM

I am trying to do a project for my chemistry class on this experiment. Does anyone know how the chemistry actually works behind it?

judaith in reply to ThugPenguinMay 28, 2009. 12:10 PM

OK- go here
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Rheopectic-slime-in-less-than-15-minutes!-It/

judaith in reply to ThugPenguinMay 28, 2009. 12:02 PM

Yeah, hum actually I'm trying to figure out this whole site for posting because I found one of these where the person went all out to explain and provide links for everything and I wanted to say- way to freaking go- thanks man so let me back out of here and figure out where I was and I'll update you. It is not exact but if you haven't turned in your "I'm going to do this" sheet yet, you can switch or you may find one of the resources to be "silly putty"

REA says: May 8, 2009. 9:44 PM

is there maybe an alternative for borax?

zabbott says: Mar 30, 2009. 6:06 PM

great we tried it in science class

lobo_pal says: Feb 15, 2009. 10:32 AM

Very cool, it's not exactly like sill putty though, is there a way to make it more solid?

Rotten194 in reply to lobo_palMar 14, 2009. 1:57 PM

More borax

Sunkicked says: Oct 11, 2008. 12:33 PM

Would more Borax make the substance thicker and more Silly Putty like (i.e. less viscous)?

Arbitror in reply to SunkickedMar 3, 2009. 9:31 PM

Viscous: Having relatively high resistance to flow.

Viscous: Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a fluid which is being deformed by either shear stress or extensional stress.

So when you say less viscous, you mean thinner, or less thicker\solider. So in your case, you would say: "(i.e. more viscous)?"

GorillazMiko says: Jan 25, 2008. 5:47 PM

Great job! Cool video too, where did you get Borax?

sgt.paper in reply to GorillazMikoJan 25, 2008. 8:41 PM

i can never find borax

Exocet in reply to sgt.paperJan 25, 2008. 10:56 PM

You should be able to find it in the grocery store laundry aisle. 20 Mule Borax is a common brand. It may also be listed as "Laundry Booster".

Sunkicked in reply to ExocetOct 11, 2008. 12:12 PM

My local Wal-Mart carries Borax. I add it and Baking Soda to the laundry to save ca$h and make the clothes even cleaner.

Sapphire_Wolf says: Aug 24, 2008. 9:56 PM

I tried making this stuff. I didn't have any white glue, so the first time I tried using Mod Podge and it didn't work, so the second time I used wood glue and it worked great. I play with it constantly. Btw this stuff bounces a bit.

bassclarinet23 says: Aug 12, 2008. 2:47 PM

That is cool. Do you have to keep it in a plastic bag so it doesn't dry out?

RedHeadHotIce says: Jul 29, 2008. 2:20 PM

love the music you use xD

cowtipper97 says: Jun 2, 2008. 6:45 PM

I like this kind better than the original because I like making thing better than I like buying things.

radicalrick says: Feb 27, 2008. 8:49 PM

very cool. I have found that it is best to use a washable children's paint such as Crayola or tempra (SP?) so that if the kids (regardless of our age) get it on the carpet or clothes, it will wash out much better. I usually water down the paint (about 50/50)

EMoSTAr says: Feb 17, 2008. 11:02 PM

I remember we made these in kindergarten. :] Mine got stuck in my hair. HA HA!