First, make a frame. Use thin wooden boards (eg. 2cm wide) to create two
wooden frames, where the inside is the same size as a postcard. Cut some
stainless steel mesh (50-100 mesh) to a size slightly larger than the frames.
Then bend over about 5mm on all four sides, and sandwich it between the two
frames.
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Next, produce the pulp. Wash the beverage carton well in cold water. Then cut
it open into a single sheet, remove the overlapping parts at the bottom and
sides, and cut it into strips about 1-2cm wide.
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Washing powder makes it easier to peel off the laminated polyethylene (PE)
layer! Dissolve some washing powder in hot water in the bucket (make quite
a thick solution). Soak the strips of carton in this for around two days and
nights.
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Take the pieces of carton out, and rinse the washing powder off thoroughly.
Carefully peel off the thin PE layer laminated onto the carton. There are
some types of carton where it is easy to peel off the PE layer, and others
where it is more difficult.
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Now the carton is just pulp, so rub it thoroughly and tear it into little
pieces. Put the pulp from 3-4 strips of carton into a mixer and switch it
on for around a minute, to produce a mushy pulp liquid.
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Pour the pulp into a sieve. If it looks as though there are still some solid
pieces of pulp left, slightly increase the time you use the mixer. If you
don't plan on making the paper immediately, you can put this into storage!
- Firmly squeeze out this mushy pulp, wrap it in clingfilm and stor it in
the refrigerator. When you're ready to make the paper, mix the pulp again at
low speed.
- Pieces of pulp which haven't been through the mixer should be dried in
the sun then stored. When you come to make the paper, soak them well before
putting them in the mixer.
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Right, lets make some paper! Fill the sealable container to about 2/3 full
with cold water. Next to it lay out a piece of cotton, and the frames. Add
some pulp to the sealable container - approximately 1 part to every 20 parts
of water.
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Stir the pulp in the sealable container around well. Sandwich the mesh
between the top and bottom frames, hold them firmly with both hands and
insert them gently into the water, at an angle. It's easy for the pulp to
sink to the ottom, so remember to stir the water now and then! The pulp you
scoop up will be a bit like soft cheese!
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Rock the frames back and forth so that the pulp is evenly distributed. Repeat
steps 8 and 9 a few times so that the thickness of the pulp you have scooped
up grows to around 5mm.
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Once you have scooped up the pulp, let the water drain off and take off the
top frame. If there is any pulp stuck to the edge of the frame, it will be
quite awkward to take it off. In such cases insert a spatula between the
frame and the pulp to hold it down lightly, and it should become easier.
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If you touch the pulp or treat it roughly, you'll distort its shape! Gently
place the mesh on the board covered in cotton, so that the pulp ends up
underneath.
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Place a towel on top of the mesh and hold it down lightly with a heavy lid
or board, so that it absorbs the moisture. Remove the towel, place another
piece of cotton on top of the pulp, and hold it down again. Place a board on
top of the cotton, and rest your weight on it for 2-3 minutes to remove all
the moisture.
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Stick the pulp, still sandwiched between the cotton sheets, directly onto a
glass plate, and let it dry there until about 90% of the moisture has gone.
Keeping it sandwiched inside the cotton, sandwich it between a further two
boards and rest some books or other heavy objects on top, to ensure it
becomes completely dry. Finally, remove the cotton carefully. It's ready!
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