Making Paper?

Question

What are some different ways of making paper? What different materials can i use?? (newspaper, cardboard, plastic??) This is for a science project....anything helps!!

Answer 1

I love making handmade paper. It's very relaxing. In summer I do it outside, and in winter I do it in the basement because it does get water everywhere. Here is my method:

First make molds. Your molds can be used forever. I make them in all shapes, and sizes up to 18 by 18 inches. Use tin snips and gloves to cut window screen and hardware cloth (quarter inche mesh) and then bind them with duct tape around the edges.

I also have candy molds.

Soak old paper overnight. I only take used paper. No glossy, and no plastic. It's ok if it has printing on it, unless you are trying to make pure white. Any used paper that I get that's white with no printing is saved seperately because it's a little harder to come by. Crepe paper gives the boldest color. The color of your pulp is darker than what the color of the paper will be. You can soak it longer, but cover it if you have pets because they will drink it, which won't hurt them, but they always get hair in it.

Fill a blender half full with water. Don't use this blender for food! Now add a couple of handfuls of your soaked paper, torn into small pieces. Pulse the blender until you have a thick pea soup. Pour this into an extra-large bin. I use the largest size cat litter box. Add more water, including the water you soaked in overnight, until it's the consistency of toilet paper that has sat in a bucket for a week. Lost of floating fibers. When this is deep enough to go haflway up your arm, it's deep enough. As you work, you can keep adding the same color, or add different colors so it will change. Experiment by adding a blenderful that hasn't been blended enough. It will make bumps of color on your paper.

If you're making shapes or plant-able favors, use the candy molds. Just press the paper into the mold and squeeze out all the water you can, then pop it out or leave it in, to dry. I make paper boxes this way too. You can mix seeds into your pulp or insert them into the mold.

Grab a mold and dip it sideways down into your mixture. Bring it up flat, screenside up. the larger mesh should be on the bottom. jiggle it to spread the fibers and drain the water. Put it on a rack to drain. I use old resin lawn chaises and garden lattice up on blocks. In the basement, the paper will need a couple of days to dry. on a nice day outside, it will dry in a morning. Save your leftover pulp by pouring it into a wire colander. You can save the water too, if you have space to store it! Keep paper pulp in the fridge or freezer til you use it again. It'll keep in the freezer forever, as far as I know.

After your sheets are dry, Carefully peel the paper off the molds. This is an acquired skill and you will rip some. Combine the best ones with regular paper to make stationery and handmade cards. Use the ripped ones for papier mache or make paper castings by covering objects with plastic wrap and draping sheets of your paper over them, then wetting.

Answer 2

There is an article that explains how to recycle used paper (junk mail, etc) into new paper for using in paper crafts and art projects. You could use the same method with newspaper or cardboard, but the paper you make wouldn't be as nice. If you use newspaper, the paper will be really low quality. As far as other materials- check out a paper called yupo. Links below. Good luck with your science project! :)

Answer 3

basically, u will need a screen, handmade or purchased, and a blender....keep it only paper products to make paper for now...