Making Paper
The word technology might seem out of place when talking about papermaking. Indeed it might seem primitive in comparison to the technology of
today. However, very few inventions since paper have had such a profound
effect on human kind.
Today hand papermaking has elevated the technology to an art. The
results of paper makers can be seen in many shops and fine art books. Below
is a brief outline for the the art of paper- making.
Plant parts (shown here) or cloth made from natural materials (like
cotton or linen) are sorted and broken or cut into small pieces. |
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The pieces are placed in a kettle and cooked with washing soda or
lye until all the noncellulose materials are freed from the fibers and
can be washed away from the plant fibers. |
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The plant fibers or cotton rags (shown here) are slowly added to water
in a Hollander beater. The beater pulls the long, thick strands
apart and reduces them to much thinner strands. |
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The beater also permits the fibers to absorb water. This beating
process may require several hours to turn the plant or fabric pieces
into a pulp. |
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Near the end of the beating period, all the large pieces of plant
fibers or fabric have been reduced to very small fibers that tend to
mat
together and adhere to the skin.
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Finish
Making Paper >
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