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2torial #0697:
Learn2
Make Homemade
Paper (Continued)
Hit the tub!
In this step you'll use a tub of water to put
the pulp into a watery suspension. This will ensure
a even distribution of pulp onto the screen. Note:
you'll make one sheet at a time. This way you can
adjust the sizing or pulp-to-water ratio, as you
see how each sheet comes out. You may want to test
the screen with a little pulp, to check that the
water can run through the screen while retaining
the pulp.
- Fill a large tub with clean water.
Pour the pulp (the fiber and water mixture) into
the tub. Swirl it around. The pulp should be
distributed evenly throughout the water before
you start dipping. If the mixture sits for a
while before you're ready, some settling will
occur. Just give it another swirl with your
hands when ready.
- If you're using large amounts of lint or
vegetable parts (including wood-pulp paper),
add a few drops of white glue to the tub
and mix it in thoroughly. Subtitute a tablespoon
of cornstarch if you don't have any glue handy.
This sticky, binding substance is called sizing.
- Hold the screen with the frame on
top. Dip it in the tub at an angle until
it's fully immersed, then move the screen back
and forth until the pulp is evenly dispersed in
the water and across the surface of the screen.
Finish by pulling the frame straight up out of
the tub.
- You should have collected enough pulp on the
frame to make one sheet of paper--the pulp
should fill the screen to the inner edges of the
frame. The water from the tub will run
through the screen, depositing the pulp on the
top level of the screen. Hold the frame above
the tub until only a few drops of water remain
on the screen.
- If the paper looks too thin, add more
pulp to the water in the tub, swirl, and dip the
screen again. Too thick? Remove some pulp
from the tub, dip the screen and collect a
screenful of pulp. You can then remove the pulp
from the screen by rolling it off with your
fingers.
- No frame? If you're not using a
frame, hold the screen about four inches below
the surface of the tub. Agitate the water by
moving the screen back and forth until the pulp
is evenly dispersed in the water and across the
surface of the screen. Draw the screen slowly
and evenly up out of the tub. Hold the screen
above the tub and allow the water to drain. Take
care to keep the screen taut, or the pulp may
"puddle" in the middle, which will produce lumpy
paper.
Step
6
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