To Make Paper:
Equipment:
- shredded paper
- chlorine bleach or other sterilizing liquid
- large pail or tub
- food blender or preferably an electric egg beater
- a wire mesh frame.
Recipe:
1. Tear or shred used paper. Long, [˜15-25 cm.] very thin [˜.5-1.5cm.] strips work well. (A paper shredder is handy if one is available.)
2. Soak the paper in a large pail or tub of water. Make sure the paper is completely submerged. The more shredded paper the more water. A very approximate rule of thumb is at least 1:25 paper: water. 1:100 is better if possible.
3. Add a drop of chlorine bleach or other sterilizing liquid to retard mold growth. Let the paper soak over night. More than one night is fine.
4. Strain the water out. Add fresh water & bleach daily.
5. Heat the paper pulp mixture to boiling in water for 1-2 hours. This will help break down the paper.
6. After 1-4 days of soaking (and boiling) pulverize the pulp. Small quantities can be done in a food blender. Larger quantities are best done with an electric egg beater. (This takes time and can be messy.) Make sure most or, ideally, all of the pulp is thoroughly pulverized. Few, if any, remaining strips should be visible.
7. Carefully strain the water out. Add fresh water & sterilizing liquid.
8. Many things can now be done with the resulting pulp. If a wire mesh frame is available it should be pulled through the pulp water. Pulp will adhere to the screen. When dry this will make a piece of paper whose thickness depends on the ratio of pulp to water and the amount the pulp has been pulverized. If no screen is available the wet pulp can be spread carefully on a flat surface to dry. Generally this will make a thicker, less even sheet. Paper sculpture, including masks, is also possible with the pulp.
Have fun!