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The Papermaking Process
Pulling a sheet of paper
Combat Paper workshops feature processes historically rooted in the traditions of hand papermaking. We teach participants basic sheet formation using a mould and deckle that can then be used as the basis for creating personal journals, or as a medium on which to write or print personal images or stories.
So, how do you make paper? The basic process is relatively simple. Plant fibers are beaten into a slurry and suspended in a water bath. A mould and deckle is immersed into the vat then raised straight up, collecting a layer of the fibrous slurry in the mould. The water is allowed to drain, leaving a sheet of wet paper. The wet sheet is then transferred to a "felt", the excess water is pressed out and dried.
Different plant fibers produce different qualities in the paper. Long fibers are generally stronger and can be made into very thin, almost translucent sheets. Short fibers lend themselves to paper casts and sculptural work. Beating for a long time produces a finer texture to the finished sheet. Different fibers create different colors. We often mix different fibers to obtain the desired effects. You can even recycle fibers; from office stationary to blue jeans and t-shirts. In our workshops, we primarily use military uniforms, often mixed with a neutral cotton fiber for added strength.
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Papermaking is a multi-step process that can easily be simplified and adapted to a garage, kitchen, bathroom or outdoors. Pictured are the basic elements of papermaking; pulp, vat, mould and deckle. |
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Plant fiber is cut into small pieces and can be stored until ready to cook. |
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Raw fiber is cooked in a caustic solution, using lye or soda ash. As shown here, cooking is always done in a well ventilated space. Processed fibers do not need to be cooked, although cooking helps to remove chemicals and detergents often found in recycled materials. |
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The fiber is then rinsed and either beaten by hand or by using a hollander beater. Pictured is cut up cotton rag being added to water in the hollander beater. |
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The beating process separates the fibers from one another forming a slurry of pulp to the consistency of oatmeal. |
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The slurry can be used immediately or it can be balled up and refrigerated for future use. Pictured are different colors of cotton rag slurry that have been beaten. |
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After the fiber has been beaten, the slurry is poured into a vat and diluted with water. By passing a mould and deckle through the diluted slurry, thin and uniform pulp sheets are formed. |
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The thin sheets are then gently pressed and transfered onto a synthetic felt (pellon). This action is called couching, pronounced 'cooching' (from the French couche - 'to layer'). This process is repeated, making a stack of sheets, creating a 'post'. |
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The excess water is removed by pressing the 'post'. Pictured is a home-made hydraulic press in action. |
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After pressing, the sheets are dried. This can be done by hanging them to dry or placing flat sheets in a special 'drying box'. Pictured are sheets hanging in a loft dryer still on their pellon. |
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Sheets also can be placed on glass or a flat surface to dry. One side of the dried paper will have a sheen as a result of drying against the glass. |
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After the sheets dry they are separated from the pellon, stacked and placed in a book press or under weight to keep them flat until they are used. |
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