PaperMakingInstructions

Theinstructionslistedbelowaresimplifiedandwillgetyoustartedintheprocessofpaper
making.

Tobegintheprocessofpapermakingmakesurethatyouhavealltherequiredmaterialsand
equipmentIncludedinyourkitarethedeckle,mats,stabilizerandyourmould.Therestofthe
materialandequipmentyourequireforpapermakingcanbefoundinyourhome.

Byfarthemostimportantpieceofequipmentisthemould(thewoodenframewiththemesh
attached)whichisusedtoliftthepulpoutofthetubofliquefiedpaper.

YourArtixscreenisbuilttoprovideyouwithrepeatedsuccess.

Youwillalsoneed:

Blenderforshreddingthepaperandmakingthepulp.

Plastictub(6"deepx15"widex22"longisideal)forholdingthepulpmixtureand

(8.5x11in.)mouldanddeckle.

Twoplasticsheets&twosmallpiecesofplywoodall11x14in.approximately.

Towels,whichshouldbeplacedundertheworkingsurface.Towelscanbeplacedinthe
clothesdryerafteruse.

Basicconceptandprocedure

Thefirststepismakingthepulp.Thispulpispickedupfromthetubbythemouldanddeckle
fromavatthatcontainstheliquefiedpapersolution.Themouldisinvertedandthepulpisplaced
ontoamat.Onceonthematthepaperpulpispressedanddried.Thedriedpapercanthenbe
sizedorcoatedwithasealantorcanbeusedwithoutthesealant.

Makingpaperisactuallyaverysimpleprocesswhichpeopleofallagescando.Itcandevelop
intoanexcitingandinvolvedprocessascreativityandpersonalexpectationsevolveandvarious
materialsotherthanwoodfiberpulpareused.

sSep1Preparingtheworkingenvironment.
Itisimportanttopreparetheworkspace.Makesurethatyouareworkinginanareathatwillnot
bedamagedbywater.Placetheappropriateplasticandtowelsundertheblender,vatandmatsto
minimizewaterdamage.Keepaspongeandbucketnearyoutopickupanywaterspills.

Step 2 Preparing the pulp

Theeasiestwaytobeginpapermakingistorecyclepaper.Usepaperthatisnotcoatedthatis
notglossy.Anynonglossypaperwilldo.Papershouldbecutortornintopiecesthatareno
largerthan1.5insquareor4cmsquare.Dependingonthethicknessofthepaper,mostpaper
willsoakovernightifmattingboardisusedsoak24hrs.Boilingthevatofsoakingmaterial
willhastentheprocess.Papershouldbesoftandeasyfortheblendertoliquefy.Oncethepaper
hassoftened,thepaperisplacedintotheblenderandmadeintopulpbytheblades.Becareful
nottooverloadtheblender.Filltheblenderhalffullofwaterandaddhalfahandfulof
uncompressedpaperpieces.Adjustormodifythesemeasurementsuntilyoufindthebest
combinationforyoursetup.Iftheblenderislaboringreducetheamountofpaper.Ideally,the
blendershouldblendfor10to15sec.withoutthepaperpulpcloggingorbindingtheblades.The
ruleofthumbistousetheleastamountoftimeintheblendertoobtainasmoothevenflowing
pulpmixture.Excessiveblendingbreaksdownthefiberwhichinturnresultsinweakerpaper

TIP...

Toaddstrengthtoyourpaperyoumaywishtoaddlinterstoyourpulp.Lintersareshortcotton
fibresthatcanbeboughtorobtainedfromapictureframingestablishment.100percentrag
mattingboardsaremadefromcottonandareanexcellentsourceoflinters.Scrapsofmatboard
workjustaswell.
Continuetofillthepapermakingvatorplasticcontainerwithpulpandwater.Thevatof
papermakingsolutionshouldhaveabouttwolitersofblendedpaperpulpsolution.Thetotal
volumeofpaperpulpsolutionanadditionalwatershouldfillthevat3/4full.Trialanderrorwill
teachyouwhatthebestcombinationisforyourspecificsituation.Toomuchpulpwillusually
yieldthickpaper.Toolittlepulpwillyieldapaperthatisthin.Youcanalwaysaddmorepulpas
yougo.

Step3Addingpaperstabilizer

Paperstabilizercanbeaddedduringthepulpmakingstageoritcanbeusedasasizeorsealer
whenthepaperhasbeendriedandpressed.Thereareadvantagesanddisadvantagesinboth
methods.Whenaddingthesizeinthepulpphasethepaperwillbestronger,butcaremustbe
takentoensurethatthestabilizerisnotcoagulatingorforminglumpsofgel.Thehotstabilizer
willgelifaconcentratedamountispouredintoacoldpulpsolution.Toavoidthisproblemuse
thefollowingsteps.

a)Use1tablespoonofstabilizerforevery8/10sheetsofpapermade.

b)Placeonetablespoonofstabilizerintoameasuringcup.Stirintheboilingwater.Keep
stirringthecupuntilthestabilizeriscompletelydissolved.

C)Addthecupofconcentratedstabilizertoaquartorliterofwarmwater.Makesurethatno
lumpsform.

d)Addtheabovesolutiontothepulpvatthatcontainstheroomtemperaturepulpmixture.
Againmakesurethattherearenogellumps.

Ifyouchoosetocoatyourpaperafterdrying,dissolveyourstabilizerasmentionedaboveand
addthissolutiontoacleantubthatcontainsanadditional3to4litersofwarmwater.Dipyour
dryandpressedpaperintothesolutionandallowittodrygoodsideup.

Thismethodisfavoredbyindividualsthatrequireastablesurfaceforwritingorpainting.The
sizeactsasabarrierwhichrestrictstheinkorpaintfromsoakingintothepaper.Youwillmost
likelydevelopyourownformulabasedonyourownrequirementsasyougainexperience.

Itisalsopossibletocombinebothmethodsmentionedabove.Youmayalsopaintorrollona
moreconcentratedsolutionofstabilizer.

TipHandmadepapercanhaveacrylicgessoappliedtoit.Agessosurfacewillallowyoutopaint
onthepapersurfacewithacrylicoroilpaint.ScreenprintingatintedcolourwithArtixscreen
inksandtransparentizermakesanelegantsurfacetoworkon.
Controllingthesurfacefinishofthepaperwillenableyoutocreatevariouseffectswhichcan
duplicatethelookofcanvasoravarietyofotherfinishes.Onceyouhavemasteredthebasicsof
papermaking,experimentwithdryingyourpaperonvarioustexturedsurfaces.

NOTE....Onceyouhavecreatedavatofpapermakingpulp,youcanaddavarietyofmaterials
intothevattocreatetexture,coloranddesign.Toomuchbulkwillcreatelumpsthatwillnot
allowforasmoothflatpaper.Also,makesurethatthematerialsyouusearenotoilyorcontain
waterrepellentproperties.

Specialattentionmustbegiventoorganicmaterialsotherthanwoodfiberpulp.Preparationof
bastfibres(thesoftinnerbark),leaffibresandgrassfibresrequireworkandtimetoachieve
qualitypaper.Checkyourlibraryforbooksonthissubjectandrefertothesectionattheendof
thisinstructionsheetforbasicpreparationofthesefibres.

Step4Sheetforming

Sheetformingreferstotheactofusingthemouldandthedeckletocreateasheetofpulpfrom
thevat.Themouldisthewoodenframewhichhasthescreenattachedtoit.Itshouldbeheld
withthescreensidefacingup(top)andthewoodenframefacingdown.Thedeckle(whichis
thewoodenframewithoutthemesh)isplacesquarelyontopofthescreenofthemould.When
properlyheldthemouldanddeckleookliketwowoodenframeswiththemeshinbetweenthe
woodenframes.

Themouldanddeckleareheldtogetherandsubmergedhalfwayintothevat.Asuspendedlayer
ofpulpformsabovetheframes.Themouldanddecklearemovedfromsidetosideandbackand
forthtoevenlyspreadoutthesuspendedpulp.Whenanevenlayerofpulpissuspendedabove
themouldanddeckle,themouldanddeckleareslowlyandevenlyliftedoutofthevatallowing
thewatertoflowdownandoutofthebottomofthemeshscreen.Themouldanddeckleareheld
overthevatuntilonlyafewdropsofwaterremain.Oncethewaterhasdrainedoffthemesh,the
deckleisremovedfromthetopofthemouldandaneven1/8in.layerofpulpshouldrestevenly
onthesurfaceofthemouldmesh.

Essentiallythedeckleactsasadamtopreventthepulpfromslidingoffthemould.Themould
actsasafilterallowingthewatertopassthroughwhilethepulpresidueremainsonthesurface
ofthescreen.
 Stirring the pulp will help in producing an even sheet of paper.
Place the deckle on the mould. The screen should be in the middle of the two wooden frames.

Slip the mould and deckle into the vat.

 Move the mould and deckle back and forth and side to side.
This will help to ensure an even distribution of pulp on the mould.

Lift the mould and deckle out of the vat and allow the water to drain off the screen.
Draining is important and will allow you to invert the mould without the pulp falling off.
 Remove the deckle from the mould. The layer should be 1/8" or 3mm thick.

Step5Couching

Couchingistheactofplacingthenewlyformedlayerofpulpfromthemouldontoanother
surface.YourArtixkitprovidesyouwithaclothmaterialdesignedforcouching.TheArtixcloth
shouldbedampenedbeforeusingtopreventpaperwarpingwhilethepaperisdrying.The
dampenedclothisplacedontoasheetofplasticcoveredplywoodorplexiglass.Invertthemould
sothatthepulpsidefacesdownandpressesthepulpontotheArlixcloth.Thepulpwillstickto
themouldwheninverted.Ifthepulpisslidingoffthemould,rinsethemouldwithadish
detergentandsoftbrush.Thiswillgetridofanylubricantsthatareusedintheweavingofthe
screenandeliminatetheproblemofthepulpslidingoffthemould.Oncethepulpisplacedon
thecloth,useyourspongetopressdownonthescreenofthemouldtospongeoffalltheexcess
waterthatisbeingretainedbythepaperpulp.Oncethepulpissponged,holddownthecloth
withonehandandgentlyliftonesideofthemouldwiththeotherhand.Ifthepulpisdry
enough,themouldshouldeasilyreleasethepulpsheettotheArtixcloth.
 PlacethewetpulpontotheArtixcloth.Thepulpsideisincontactwiththecloth.

Withonehandyoupressandholdthemouldagainstthecloth.
Withtheother,youuseasoftspongetoremoveallthewaterfromthebackofthescreen.
Tip...Checkingthesheet
Tocheckthesheetofpulp,holdtheArtixclothwiththepulpattacheduptoalightsource.Look
foreventransparencyoropacity.Ifthesheetisevenlyformeditappearsevenlytranslucent.If
thesheetisnottoyourliking,returnittothevatofpulp.

Tomakeapostorstackofpaper,placeonesheetofpulpdownthenonesheetofclothandrepeat
thissequence.Thisisknownasa"post"ofpaper.Thefinaltopsheetisalwaysaclothorsheet
ofmylarwhichactsasabarrierbetweenyourpaperstackandthewoodsurfaceofthetop
pressingboard.

Step6Pressingthepost

Thesimplestwaytopressyourpostistousetwosmallsheetsofplywood.Thesheetsare
clampedtogetheroraweightcanbeplacedonthetopsheetofplywood.Thebottomboardand
thetopboardwillactasthetwoendsofapress.

Whenyoususpectthatenoughwaterhasbeenpressedoutofthepost,removethetopplywood
layerandgentlypulltheindividualclothsapart.DonotremovethepulpfromtheArtixclothat
thistime.Allowthepulptodryonthecloth.Spreadthesheetsapartandallowtodry.Dryingcan
behastenedbyplacingtheArtixcloth(pulpsideup)onanabsorbentblanket.

TheArtixclothallowsforamatfinish.Toflattenyounewlyformedpaper,placeahotironon
thesurfaceofthepaperandgentlymoveitfromsidetoside.

Itisnotnecessarytogetanelaboratesystemforpressing.

SpecialNotes:
Preparingorganicmaterialsforpapermaking.

Thereisawidevarietyofmaterialsthatcanbeusedforpapermaking.Historically,theorganic
materialsfallintothreecategories(otherthanwoodfiber):bastfiber,leaffiber,andgrassfiber.

Bastfiberorphloemistheinnerbarkofplants.Bastfiberislongandslenderandprovides
strengthandtranslucencytothepaper.Thistypeoforganicmaterialrequireslengthypreparation
time.Usuallyfibresareseparatedandallowedtobreakdowneitherbynaturalbacterialactionor
byaprocessknowasretting,aslowbacterialcookingprocess.Goodsourcesofthistypeof
materialaretheyearlygrowthoflilac,elm,mulberryoranyothertreeorshrub.

Leaffiberareshorterandmoreopaquethanbastfibresandproducearoughersurface,Leaf
matterreferstoleavessuchastheyuccaplantandasmallgroupofsimilarplantswhicharewell
suitedforpapermaking.Deciduousleavesarethechoiceofbeginningpapermakers.They
shouldbeusedfordecorativepurposeswithpulpfiberastheydonotcontainlongfibersthat
holdpapertogether.

Grassfiberincludesanystraw,cornstalk,bambooetc..Thisfiberusuallyresultsinbrittlepapers,
butprovidesinterestingtexturesanddesigntothesurfaceofthepaperwhenblendedwithpulp
fiber.

Thesethreetypesoffibercanbeusedontheirown,ortheycanbemixedwitheachotherto
createthelook,thestrengthandstructurethatyoudesire.Addingwoodfiberorrecycled
materialstotheorganicmaterialaddsstrengthandfinetexturetothepaperandisagoodstrategy
forbeginningpapermakers.Using80%pulpfromrecycledpaperand20%organicmaterialisa
goodplacetobeginyourexperimentations.Varythepercentagetosuityourproject
requirements.

Addingchemicalsandalternatives.

Keepinmindthattoughmaterialsshouldbeseparatedandcutintosmallpiecesbeforeany
attemptismadetochemicallyalterthefiber.Causticsodaorsodaashisaddedtoorganic
materialstohelpbreakdownthetougherorganicmaterial.Sodaashcanbeaddedtoyourraw
papersolutionataratioof10gramsofcausticsodain1literofneutralphwater.Thisconstitutes
a1%solutionwhichisagoodstartingpoint.Againtrialanderrorwillteachyouthebestdilution
dependingonwhichmaterialsyouuse.

Procedure

Therawpapersolutionwiththe1%sodaashisbroughttoaboilandsimmeredfortwohoursor
longer.Becareful,overtreatingthefiberisirreversible.

Tip...Bleachingisnotrecommendedasitbreaksdownthelongevityofthepaper.Ifbleachingis
requireusehydrogenperoxideinawatersolutionforseveraldays.
Note...Alternativestabilizersareavailable.TheyincludedilutePVCglueorwhitecraftglue.it
isnotadvisabletousetheseastheywillintimeclogthescreen.Itissafertouseagarorgelatin
whichdonotleaveanypermanentresidual.

Tip...Forarchivalpaper,checkthepulpfluidstoensureneutralph.Asimplepondtestingkit
workswellforthisprocess.Mostwatersourcesarehardandwillnotrequireanyadditionof
basematerialstoneutralizethewater.

Tip...Toeliminateinkfromyourrecycledpaperpulpuseasmallquantityofmilddetergentand
scumofftheinkasitsurfaces.

Tip...Unusedpulpcanbestoredbydrainingofftheexcesswaterandpressingthepulpandthen
airdryingorfreezing.

MAKINGSMOOTHFINISHPAPERWITHTHEARTIXKIT

MakingpaperwithasmoothfinishissimplewiththeArtixkit.Artixincludestwomylarsheets
andasqueegeethatareusedtomakethesmoothfinish,Theprocedureisasfollows.Placethe
pulpfromthemouldontoanArtixclothandthenplacethemylarsheetontopofthepulp.With
themylarsheetplacedontopofthelayerofpulpgentlysqueegeethetopofmylarfromthe
centertoalloftheedges.Eachstrokeshouldbeginatthecenterofthemylarsheetandmoveto
eachoftheedgesandcorners.Donotpresstohardanddonotgototheextremeedgeofthepulp
beneath.Theactionofpushingthesqueegeeonthemylartowardtheedgespressesthetrapped
airandwatertotheedgeofthepulpandcreatesthesmoothfinish.

mylarpulpcloth
By having the mylar sheet on top of t6 pulp it will be easy to see if there are any trapped air
bubbles or excessive water trapped in the layer of pulp. Continue to squeegee until you think that
the pulp is even and smooth. Allow the paper to dry on the mylar sheet and carefully peel off
when the paper is completely dry.