The Dip Handmold Method

In my last article, you learned all about pulp and how to prepare it using your kitchen blender and wastepapers you already have on hand. Now that you can successfully make a batch of pulp, I want to explain in greater detail the dip method of home papermaking.

To make paper with a dip handmold you will want to blend four coups of water with one 8.5" x 11" sheet of wastepaper in your blender. Remember to blend slowly at intervals of 10-20 seconds watching to make sure you can still see individual fibers. If you can't you have overblended your pulp.

Once you have the pulp to the texture and consistency you want, you will need to pour the pulp into your vat. This is that five gallon bucket we spoke of, or other container which is leakproof and will hold the pulp. you should continue combining the above amounts of water and wastepaper until you have created a three to five inch deep mixture of pulp in your vat. The exact depth will depend on how deep the deckle on your handmold is.

Once you have the vat full to the level you need, dip your handmold into the vat vertically. You will want to do this slowly and ease the handmold into a flat position, dipping it well into the depths of your vat. Then you will need to lift and hold your handmold level, rocking it gently as the water drains. The more stable you hold the handmold, the more even your paper thickness will be. With your first few attempts you may not have an even distribution of pulp. One side may be thicker than the other, or you'll end up seeing your screen in a section of the handmold depending on how gently you hold and rock the unit as the water drains.

Repeat this dipping procedure to form additional sheets of paper from your vat and with each succesive dip your paper will get thinner and thinner. After you have completed two or three dips, you will want to add an additional 8.5" x 11' sheet of wastepaper to three cups of water to regain the integrity and consistency of your pulp.

Now you have one or several sheets of paper, depending on the number of handmolds you chose to use. The paper is in a fragile state, and in order to make it stronger and usable you will need to press out as much paper and then dry it. The traditional method is to tip the newly formed sheet of paper onto a damp

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