papr:papermaking

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papr:papermaking [2026/03/13 12:36] – [Related topics] Simon Grantpapr:papermaking [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Papermaking+This topic is part of [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]]. 
 +====== Papermaking ======
  
  
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-## What is papermaking?+===== What is papermaking? =====
  
 Papermaking is the art of making a thin, flat sheet of material by pressing together cellulose fibres [derived from plants](/pltf/plant_fibres), textiles or wood. Hand-made paper can be used for writing, printing or painting on, in sculpture and decoration or given as a gift. Papermaking is the art of making a thin, flat sheet of material by pressing together cellulose fibres [derived from plants](/pltf/plant_fibres), textiles or wood. Hand-made paper can be used for writing, printing or painting on, in sculpture and decoration or given as a gift.
  
-### History+==== History ====
  
 The word paper derives from papyrus, a wetland plant that was used as a writing surface from the time of the ancient Egyptians. However, the structure and means of production of papyrus differ from true paper as we know it today. Ts’ai-Lun, a eunuch at the Chinese Han Emperors’ court, is normally credited with inventing true paper in the year 105 by pulping old hemp fishing nets and parts of plants such as the paper mulberry tree. However, recent research has turned up possible examples of fibrous paper over 2000 years old in the Baqiao township near Xi'an in China (where the terracotta army was found). Therefore, it’s probably more accurate to say that Ts’ai-Lun was the first to make paper into a commercially viable product. The word paper derives from papyrus, a wetland plant that was used as a writing surface from the time of the ancient Egyptians. However, the structure and means of production of papyrus differ from true paper as we know it today. Ts’ai-Lun, a eunuch at the Chinese Han Emperors’ court, is normally credited with inventing true paper in the year 105 by pulping old hemp fishing nets and parts of plants such as the paper mulberry tree. However, recent research has turned up possible examples of fibrous paper over 2000 years old in the Baqiao township near Xi'an in China (where the terracotta army was found). Therefore, it’s probably more accurate to say that Ts’ai-Lun was the first to make paper into a commercially viable product.
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-## What are the benefits of papermaking?+===== What are the benefits of papermaking? =====
  
 Making your own paper means you can recycle household surplus or even paper that you've made previously. You can keep going until the fibres get too short to bind. You can take advantage of normally unwanted garden weeds or less desirable plants. (Obviously if you’re picking plants away from your own garden make sure you have permission if necessary and that you know exactly what you’re picking - i.e. nothing endangered or vulnerable.) Making your own paper means you can recycle household surplus or even paper that you've made previously. You can keep going until the fibres get too short to bind. You can take advantage of normally unwanted garden weeds or less desirable plants. (Obviously if you’re picking plants away from your own garden make sure you have permission if necessary and that you know exactly what you’re picking - i.e. nothing endangered or vulnerable.)
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
-### Preparation+==== Preparation ====
  
 To get started you can attend a course or workshop, or learn from books or online tutorials. There’s lots of information out there on which plants and materials work best etc. You don’t need a lot of expensive equipment and can pick up things up from hardware or charity shops or even scrounge them from around the house. Basically you need: To get started you can attend a course or workshop, or learn from books or online tutorials. There’s lots of information out there on which plants and materials work best etc. You don’t need a lot of expensive equipment and can pick up things up from hardware or charity shops or even scrounge them from around the house. Basically you need:
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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Process+==== Process ====
  
 There are two basic methods of making individual sheets of paper: the Eastern (or Japanese) and Western. The Japanese method involves a bamboo screen, a bit like a table mat, in a hinged frame known as a ‘sugeta’. The Western method described here uses a similar system but with a fine mesh screen tacked to a frame (mould) and another, separate frame (deckle) placed on top to keep the pulp in place. The ragged edge produced by this method is known as a ‘deckle-edge’ and is often very desirable as an indicator of artisan production. There are two basic methods of making individual sheets of paper: the Eastern (or Japanese) and Western. The Japanese method involves a bamboo screen, a bit like a table mat, in a hinged frame known as a ‘sugeta’. The Western method described here uses a similar system but with a fine mesh screen tacked to a frame (mould) and another, separate frame (deckle) placed on top to keep the pulp in place. The ragged edge produced by this method is known as a ‘deckle-edge’ and is often very desirable as an indicator of artisan production.
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:crafts|Crafts & making]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/crafts). 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Chronology of papermaking](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/Chronology-of-Paper-Making-Technology.pdf) - back to 3000BCE - [Chronology of papermaking](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/Chronology-of-Paper-Making-Technology.pdf) - back to 3000BCE
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-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
 - [[pltf:Plant fibres]] - [[pltf:Plant fibres]]
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-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
  
  • papr/papermaking.1773405370.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2026/03/13 12:36
  • by Simon Grant