Step

Directions for Papermaking

Tips

1

Put one 8.5”x11” wastepaper sheet (or its equivalent) torn up into a blender with 4 cups water. Run blender 15-30 seconds. Pour blended sheet into vat. This is pulp.

Run blender until chunks disappear. Use middle speed for 10 seconds, then high.

2

Repeat step 1 five times. pulp should be two inches deep. If not, blend more sheets, each with 4 cups of water.

More than two inches is ok.

3

Assemble paper making mould: a) put down white grid (if you have it), b) put down screen on top of grid, c) place wooden frame on top of screen.

Be sure screen is wet.

4

Agitate the pulp with fingers or a spoon to get the fibers evenly distributed in the water.

Don’t be shy.

5

Pick up assembled mould with hands on the short side: thumbs on top, fingers under the grid. Hold mould vertically over pulp on vat’s far side.

Don’t let thumb extend over screen.

6

Keeping mould vertical, lower it to vat’s bottom. Slide mould’s lower edge toward you while lowering upper edge toward you while lowering upper edge to get the mould flat on vat’s bottom.

Keep firm grip on mould. Make movement smooth.

7

After pulp flows over mould, lift mould keeping it LEVEL, up out of the pulp. After 8-10 seconds, tilt mould to 45 angle for more drainage.

Don’t tilt mold too early, or pulp will slide on screen.

8

Set mould down on cookie tray. Lift frame off. Place cover screen over sheet.

Lift frame off carefully.

9

Press sponge down over entire screen 3 times. Wring sponge often.

Get as much water out of sheet as possible.

10

Peel off cover screen. Lay out one dry press cloth. Pick up papermaking screen. Turn it over. Put new sheet down against cloth.

Remove cover screen carefully.

11

Press sponge down over entire back of papermaking screen, twice. Press firmly with sponge. Carefully lift one corner of screen. New sheet should stay on cloth. Peel screen off slowly from corner.

If new sheet lifts with screen, tray other corners, or tease sheet off with thumbnail.

12

Place second press cloth over new sheet. Press hard over entire sheet (use a press bar if you have one).

A book in a plastic sack makes a good press bar.

13

Move new sheet, still between press cloths, to ironing board. Turn iron to a high setting with no steam. Test iron on corners of press cloth. If iron sticks, lower heat.

Several layers of cloth over a board can serve as an ironing board.

14

Use iron on press cloth until steam disappears. Turn over, and repeat. Remove press cloths and iron directly on sheet.

Iron paper completely dry. Put under heavy books to flatten.

15

Iron press cloths dry to reuse them.

Don’t worry about discoloration.