{"id":47076,"key":"Paper_Making","title":"Paper Making","latest":{"id":1209184,"timestamp":"2025-11-28T01:45:02Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"[[File:papermakingpic.jpg||thumb|Some rough brown paper]]\n\nIt goes without saying that paper has many uses and can be created with little effort. It's a useful material that can often be made using recycled or damaged materials, and can be made with materials found in almost any non-desert environment.\n\nThis short tutorial is mostly aimed at recycling or creating one's own paper from scratch for whatever purpose you feel like. Communication often is expedited by posting fliers or having handouts available and this technique may with some luck expedite grassroots organization in areas with little resources.\n\n== Background ==\n\nPaper has it's origins in China sometime around 300 BCE to 104 BCE. They used planets like willow, bamboo, and hemp for pulp. In 751 CE paper making workers were captured by Arabs. By 1000 CE the Spanish had picked it up. They made their paper out of rags and old cloth. Demand for it rose and in 1719 a french mans' observation of wasps led to attempting to make paper from wood. This became the preferred method in Europe. In the 1800's factory production became more common place and the addition of glues and coatings to the paper making recipe occurred.<ref>G. Carboni. ''Making and Recycling Paper at Home.''</ref>\n\n== Materials List ==\n\n* You'll need a source of pulp. Recycled paper or cardboard, sawdust, cotton rags, and bamboo are some options. You'll want pieces as small as possible, often the surplus scraps of fabric from clothing manufacture work well. Try not to use plywood or wood treated with arsenic as it may make you sick.\n\nTry to avoid stickers, plastics, waxy bits, glues, or pitch in your pulp. They'll cause clumping.<ref name=\"Making\">''Making Paper in 10 Easy Steps.''</ref><ref name=\"paper\">Paper University. ''Making Paper by Hand.''</ref>\n\n* A grinding implement, such as a mortar and pestle, any kind of grinder, or if working with recycled paper a blender.<ref name=\"Making\" /><ref name=\"paper\" />\n* If you want to color or bleach the paper you'll want the dye of your choice and peroxide.<ref name=\"Making\" /><ref name=\"paper\" />\n* You'll want a deep tray or pan and a fine mesh screen that's slightly larger than the tray. A section of old mosquito netting can work. If it doesn't the first time, loose weave fabric such as muslin can work as well.<ref name=\"Making\" /><ref name=\"paper\" />\n* You'll want some absorbent cloth such as towels or felt that are the size of the netting or larger. And a large flat weight, rolling pin, or steam iron.<ref name=\"Making\" /><ref name=\"paper\" />\n\n== Process ==\n\n'''Step 1:''' Acquire pulp. Grind it.<ref name=\"Making\" /><ref name=\"paper\" />\n\n'''Step 2:''' Throw it into a big pot under low heat. Too much heat will weaken the fibers and make your paper too soft and brittle. Stir frequently.<ref name=\"Making\" /><ref name=\"paper\" />\n\n'''Step 3:''' The fiber should rise to the top. Pick through it to remove clumps caused by wax, plastic, etc. Pouring it though a larger screen can help at this point but is unnecessary.<ref name=\"Making\" /><ref name=\"paper\" />\n\n'''Step 4:''' You can skip this step if you wish. Now that sticky sections are removed from your pulp you can add a dye or bleach to the mix, still under low heat. If you're shooting for white paper, try using peroxide.\n\nThen rinse the pulp out a bit to remove excess peroxide and dye.<ref name=\"Making\" /><ref name=\"paper\" />\n\n'''Step 5:''' Take the tray, line the bottom with mesh, then pour in some of your pulp. Slowly add water until it resembles boiled oats. Or watery mud.<ref name=\"Making\" /><ref name=\"paper\" />\n\n'''Step 6:''' Pick out the lumps again. If you want stronger paper, stirring in some starch at this point in an option. Dried flowers may also be added at this point.<ref name=\"Making\" /><ref name=\"paper\" />\n\n'''Step 7:''' Lift the screen from the pan slowly. If there are many holes, add more pulp to the mixture and try again.<ref name=\"Making\" /><ref name=\"paper\" />\n\n'''Step 8:''' Lay it out on that piece of towel. Cover it over with another piece of cloth, apply weight, rolling pin, or iron.<ref name=\"Making\" /><ref name=\"paper\" />\n\n'''Step 9:''' Remove from screen gently. Let it dry for a bit, preferably in the sun.<ref name=\"Making\" /><ref name=\"paper\" />\n\nTa-da! Paper achieved.\n\n== References ==\n\n<references />\n\n== Sources ==\n\n* G. Carboni. ''Making and Recycling Paper at Home.'' [http://web.archive.org/web/20200710101824/http://www.funsci.com:80/fun3 en/paper/paper.htm]\n* ''Making Paper in 10 Easy Steps.'' [http://web.archive.org/web/20130525033103/http://www.pioneerthinking.com/crafts/crafts-basics/makingpaper.html]\n* Paper University. ''Making Paper by Hand.'' [http://web.archive.org/web/20150924113252/http://www.tappi.org/paperu/art class/makingPaper.htm] 2001.\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n}}\n\n[[Category:Projects]]"}