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| Materials needed: click on links for more info shallow frame(s) nylon window screen spar varnish heavy duty stapler and staples waste paper small varnish brush old towels Basic instructions for making recycled paper. 1. Build a deckle and mould. You can make these out of wood frames with nylon screen stretched and stapled to them. If you treat the wood with spar varnish first before stretching the screens they will last indefinitely. Follow the directions on the label. Stretch and staple another piece of nylon sceen directly over this one, this time on the bias. The deckle is another frame, the same size as the mould. I prefer to work only with the mould because I prefer the more rustic, fiber edges it produces. If you prefer a cleaner, neater edge, you will want to use a deckle. Using the deckle captures more pulp and makes for thicker paper. Experiment to see what you prefer. 2. Prepare your pulp. Tear your waste paper into 1" pieces or shred it with a paper shredder. Resist the temptation to use a scissor or blade. This seals the edges of the paper making it harder to break down. Once you have a quantity of shredded paper, you have two options to break the paper down: -soak it overnight in water -cover it with water in a large stockpot and simmer for an hour After either of these methods, fill a blender with 1 part soggy waste paper and 2 parts water. If desired, this is a good time to add the calcium cabonate. to maintain your pH level. Paper that is too acid or too base will decay faster and damage photogaphs. This is also a good time to add sizing to waterproof your paper. A couple tablespoons of liquid starch will work very well. Taking care not to overheat your blender, blend in short bursts at first and then faster for a minute or two to break up the paper. You now have pulp! 3. Pull the paper. Fill your vat with water. A shallow, plastic storage bin functions well as a vat. Add a couple cups of pulp and deflocculant if desired. Tip: Boil and save the slimy juice from okra and add it to your vat. This is an excellent formaition aid/ deflocculant that will help you make much thinner, finer paper! Frozen okra is fine; I find that I can add water and strain one batch 2, 3 times to get more liquid.Note that if you do this, you may want to add a tablespoon of calcium carbonate to vat as well. Stir the water and pulp mixture. Hold the mould and deckle together (deckle on top) by their edges and submerge both under the water at a 45 degree angle. Push the two to the bottom of the vat, straighten, parallel to the ground, and pull the two up slowly and evenly to the surface, allowing the water to drain back in to the vat. You will see that you have captured the pulp on your screen. The ratio of pulp to water in the vat will determine the thickness of your paper. Experiment to see what you prefer. Finally, leave your pulp on the screens to drain for a few minutes. 4. Couch your paper. On a surface prepared with several layers of newspaper covered by an old towel and a piece of old bed sheet, place the screen, pulp down, on the felt. Press the screen down gently and rock it back and forth, taking care to bring all of the pulp into contact with the sheet. This is called couching. "Felt" here is a term for the material that you couch the pulp. Tear up old sheets to use as "felts". Use old, dry towels or rags on the backside of the screen/pulp to press into the screen thus removing some of the excess water. Place another sheet on top of your pulp. Repeat this action, stacking felts and sheets of pulp until you have a stack about 2, 3 inches high. 5. Press your pulp/paper. I use a handbuilt press that utilizes a car jack for pressure. If this isn't possible, you can place the stack between boards and stand/sit on it, stack bricks on it, etc. Leave overnight to drain. 6. Dry your paper. Very carefully, pull your wet sheets apart and hang them to dry. Anywhere will work, including a clothesline if there is no wind. When they are dry, pull them off the sheets. Gently pull on opposite corners of the sheet to start the process and pull the rest of it away from the sheet. If your paper is truly dry, it will pop off nicely. You may choose to iron your new paper for a smooth writing surface. I want to thank my friend and partner, Crystal Mascarenas for teaching me to make paper. Everyone should have a friend, or group of friends with whom they regularly explore new things. |
| Laura Murphy mixed media artist How to Make Paper |
vat that holds water blender calcium carbonate deflocculant paper shredder pressed, dried flowers old, poly/cotton sheets old newspapers |
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| Additional Resources History of Papermaking Dyes and Pigments Papermaking with Plants Papermaking Forum |