You can make paper yourself; different materials and methods are used for this. In order for homemade paper to be smooth, without lumps and of the same thickness, you must first make a simple inventory.
It is necessary
- - planks;
- - fine mesh;
- - a hammer;
- - raw materials;
- - pan;
- - water;
- - PVA glue or starch;
- - mixer or food processor;
- - towels;
- - iron.
Instructions
Step 1
Make a high rectangular frame of the required size from small boards (the sheets will be obtained in this particular shape). The optimal height of the sides is at least 5 cm. As the bottom, nail a fine-mesh metal mesh or stretch a material that is well-permeable to water: gauze, chiffon, organza (you can use a ready-made fine mesh sieve of a suitable size).
Step 2
Prepare paper supplies. If you will use ordinary waste paper, just soak it in water and grind it in a blender, add a little PVA glue or starch.
Step 3
Try to make paper from different materials with a fibrous structure: from any plant (paper is good from flax, banana "tails", hemp, spruce, pine) or fabrics (jeans, old cotton or linen).
Step 4
Clean the stems from the plants, divide them into small chips (you can make them from ready-made sawdust). The denser the material, the longer it will take to cook. If it is enough to leave banana "tails" in warm water for several days, then pine or spruce chips should be boiled for 24 hours in lye or caustic soda.
Step 5
When the material is soft enough, beat it with a hammer until it separates into individual fibers. Divide the raw material into fibers, rinse, dilute again with water and boil. You can whisk the mixture with a mixer or food processor for better results. You should have a fairly homogeneous mass, similar to wet cotton wool.
Step 6
Pour water into a large pot and dip the mesh-bottom frame into it. Pour the mushy mass into the frame and distribute it evenly. Due to the border of the frame, the mass will not spill out, and the water freely penetrating through the bottom will help you distribute the fibers evenly.
Step 7
Remove the frame from the pot and let the water drain. Press down on top of the mass with some weight to ensure the best density, and let dry.
Step 8
Place the paper on an absorbent towel, cover it with another towel and roll it to absorb the water. Dry it completely with a weakly heated iron or on a battery.
