The Potting Shed

Leonie2 · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:02 pm Post subject: Paper Making (Plocket)

Plocket
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Joined: 16 Feb 2006
Posts: 865
Location: The playroom!
Posted: 17 Feb 2006 03:57 pm Post subject: Paper Making

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Ok! Basic instructions for basic papermaking!!!

You will need:
A frame (use a simple wooden picture frame, or pieces of wood nailed together to form a rectangle. You then need to stretch fine curtain netting over this and secure it with nails. If you want more detailed instructions I can scan them and post them.)
A deckle (same as your frame but without the netting.)
A vat (any container such as a washing up bowl that is large enough to accommodate the mould and deckle held in both hands)
Felt or kitchen cloths (one for each sheet of paper you make)
Pulp (details below)
Food processor or blender

How to make pulp:
Recycled paper pulp can be made from pretty much any paper: tissues, computer paper, photocopying paper, wrapping paper, note paper or envelopes. Any paper that has print on it needs boiled in detergent to remove the ink (tear the paper in strips and boil it for about an hour in a solution of one tablespoon of washing-up liquid to 2litres water. Remove the scum that rises to the surface while boiling - a bit like making jam!) Be warned that using newspapers makes your paper prone to acid attack and it will deteriorate quickly, but it's fun to experiment.
When you have chosen your paper for recycling tear it into pieces measuring approx 20mm square and soak in water overnight (in a bucket is perfect!). Good quality paper needs soaking for longer but tissues only need to soak for about 30 minutes.
Once your paper has been soaked it then needs to be macerated in an electric blender or food processor. Place a handful of the soaked paper pieces into your blender with a couple of cups of water, and blend for 15-30 seconds. Experience will eventually show you how much blending is needed for what you require and experimentation is part of the fun. It doesn't matter if you still have unblended pieces of paper visible - you can either fish these out and add them to your next batch for blending, or you can leave them for added character.
If you don't have a blender you can beat the soaked paper pieces into a pulp by pounding them in the bucket with a stick or a bottle filled with water. However this is hard work and time consuming.
As you make your pulp, pour it into a bucket or large plastic bottle until you have enough for your requirements. Approximately 1 load in the blender will make a thin sheet of A4 paper or a thicker sheet of A5 paper, and will also depend on the size of your deckle and frame. Don't dilute your pulp too much as you need the water.

Making a sheet of paper:
I make my paper by the kitchen sink on the drainer because it's a wet business! My washing up bowl is placed in the sink, and my pile of felts is placed on the draining board.
Ready your frame - net upperside - and place the deckle over it forming a sort of net-sandwich. Put approx. 3 handfuls of pulp into your washing up bowl, and add cold water until you would be able to hold the frame and deckle completely under the surface of the water. Lift the frame and deckle holding the long sides (portrait) and hold them tightly. Lower the frame vertically into the washing up bowl and gently tilt it away from you, pulling it under the water until it is completely submerged. Still holding the frame and deckle together carefully lift them upwards, trying to keep them flat. Just as they leave the surface of the water but before the water drains away, shake them gently backwards and forwards to disperse the fibres. Then lift the frame and deckle higher to allow all the water to drain away. Put the frame down on a surface and carefully remove the deckle being careful not to allow drips to fall on the wet sheet of paper as this will cause thinner areas of paper.
I "couch" my paper, which is simply removing it from the frame enabling you to make more paper. To do this you will need a small pile of about 5 or 6 wet pieces of felt (I use dishcloths!) placed on top of a wed folded towel or a pile of damp newspapers which act as a cushion.
Basically you are going to move the wet sheet of paper from your frame to the felt. Lift your frame, still with the wet sheet of paper on it, and lower the left side of the frame onto the left side of your felt. Then carefully but firmly rock the frame so that the right side of the frame makes contact with the felt, and continue this motion to lift the left side away from the felt, and then the right. I hope this makes sense! You should have pressed the piece of wet paper off the frame and onto the felt now. It does take a bit of practice and if it doesn't work first time, simply scrape up all the paper pulp and return it to your washing up bowl to use again.

Drying your paper:
Your paper now needs to be dried. The simplest method is to pile up felts with wet paper on top, with one final "empty" piece of felt on top, and putting them between two boards which are larger in area than your felts. Then just stand on the pile for about 10 minutes! Alternatively you can use a large bucket of sand or water. Be warned that this should be done in a place where you don't mind the floor getting wet so outside on a dry day is best!
When you have finished pressing carefully remove the top board and peel off the top layer of felt. Underneath you will see your first sheet of paper - still on the felt. Carefully seperate each felt and hang it to dry indoors by pegging the felt (not the paper though) over a bath on a clotheshorse. If you have plenty of space the felts can be dried on newspaper on the floor but they can take a day or so to dry!
When the paper feels dry it can be carefully peeled away from the felt. You might need a knife to work the paper away from the fibers of the felt. When you have a pile of dry sheets of paper you need to press them again - same method as before - for about 24 hours.
This paper is unsized and therefore only suitable for biro or pencils.

And I think that's it for very basic instructions!!! I'm sure you will have questions so feel free to ask but most of all have fun, and experiment.
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www.plocket.co.uk

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Jesse
Site Admin

Joined: 02 Feb 2006
Posts: 2188
Location: West Sussex
Posted: 17 Feb 2006 04:55 pm Post subject:

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Well done Plocket, that's a fantastic explanation . I've got some fly screen netting that I bought last year with the intention to make a frame and deckle. Think it's lurking in the shed somewhere still so will see if I can find it this weekend.

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Leanne
Perennial

Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 342
Location: herts
Posted: 17 Feb 2006 04:57 pm Post subject:

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thanks plocket, another thing to try, as and when!
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Leanne

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Kathy
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Joined: 15 Feb 2006
Posts: 1008

Posted: 17 Feb 2006 05:11 pm Post subject:

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Looks like fun, like Leanne something to try as and when!!
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Kathy

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alison
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Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 303
Location: North Devon
Posted: 17 Feb 2006 11:23 pm Post subject:

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I can sort of picture it, but can't quite see what the deckle does?

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Plocket
Evergreen

Joined: 16 Feb 2006
Posts: 865
Location: The playroom!
Posted: 18 Feb 2006 06:09 pm Post subject:

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The deckle helps keep the shape of the paper on the net of the frame. It isn't imperative in paper making but I find it better to use one. You can try the same procedure but without the deckle and you will get "frillier" edges to your paper.
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A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands
www.plocket.co.uk

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alison
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Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 303
Location: North Devon
Posted: 18 Feb 2006 08:26 pm Post subject:

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thanks, I never thought of that!

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Lottie
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Joined: 16 Feb 2006
Posts: 740

Posted: 19 Feb 2006 11:15 pm Post subject:

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Sounds great - a nice hands on squdgy sort of job. It has got me looking at scaps of paper in a different way.

I already recycle everything I can, but now I well rescue the plain paper - I don't think that I have the time to boil papers with ink on them.

I think it will be a wonderful job to on the summer months. My 'weeds' will never look the same again up my allotment

And I will have my eye on others wild plants too. I will even let the elder tree grow this year - judging by the purple stains on the car roof - I reckon the berries will make a brilliant dye.
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Aqui
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Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 316
Location: my desk, Londonish
Posted: 03 Mar 2006 12:32 pm Post subject:

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I've printed this out (on scrap paper) to give it a try at the weekend. Sounds like good messy fun! (I only think I've been creative when I have to wash my hands afterwards!)

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