Save The Trees By Making Your Own Recycled Paper

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday April 17, 1996

ALAN HAYES

MAKING your own paper is a great way to recycle old newspapers, scraps of wallpaper, computer printouts or any other bits of paper you may find.

All you will need is a large basin, rubber gloves, kitchen blender (optional), several large squares of calico, two waterproof boards (approximately 45 square centimetres) four G-clamps (available from hardware stores) and a paper-making frame called a deckle (available from hobby or craft shops).

To start, tear your paper into small pieces and soak in warm water overnight. For a fine textured finish, liquidise each 2< teaspoons of pulp with three-quarters of a litre of water for 15 seconds in a kitchen blender.

If you want to make notepaper, it will have to be treated to receive the ink in a process called "sizing". This can be done by mixing a quarter teaspoon of starch with a little cold water and mixing it into the pulp. You may have to adjust the amount of starch, depending upon the quantity of pulp being used. As a general guide, the amount specified is sufficient for a five-litre bucket of sodden paper.

Next, fill your basin with pulp to just below the rim and lay a piece of calico over one of the boards. Dip the deckle vertically into the basin, tilt to horizontal below the water and raise slowly, keeping the frame horizontal. Remove the top deckle guide frame, tip bottom frame, containing the pulp, upside down and onto the calico-covered board. Press down firmly and evenly to remove excess water, then carefully lift off the deckle.

Cover the pulp with another square of calico and repeat the process until all the pulp has been used, then cover the last lot of pulp with calico, place the second waterproof board on top, affix the G-clamps to each corner and tighten each one, a little at a time, to maintain even pressure. Keep tightening until you can no longer apply pressure with the clamps. Leave for 30 minutes, then remove the clamps and carefully lift off each sheet of calico, placing the pressed paper on a flat board to dry. To prevent paper from curling, lay another board on top and leave until completely dry. It is best to carry out this procedure outdoors, since the pressing will expel quite a lot of water.

For paper decorations, you can add fragrant herbs, flowers or potpourri to the pulp once it has been taken up with the deckle, but before it is turned onto the pressing board. Use only dried herbs and flowers.