The Origami Forum

ive heard about it other places and on the forum, what is wet folding?

Wet folding is exactly what it sounds like-folding while the paper is wet. Some paper has sizing in it. Sizing is essentially glue that helps to hold the paper fibers together. When the paper gets wet, the sizing dissolves, loosening its hold on the paper fibers. When the paper dries again, so does the sizing, holding the paper in its new shape. Wet-folding takes advantage of this, allowing you to form the paper into magnificent shapes and have it stay in place.

Simpler models can be wet-folded from the start. You can use a spray bottle or a cloth to wet the paper, and then fold. If the model is too involved, the paper will dry out before the model is finished. Generally for complex wet-folded pieces, the base is folded and then it is wet-shaped, bit by bit until it is finished.

Paper like printer/copy paper has internal sizing already in it, but a lot of other papers do not have any sizing. This includes most handmade and artisan papers like washi, unryu, lokta, hanji, gampi, etc. Those papers need to be treated with sizing. The most common sizing agent among origamists is Methylcellulose, or MC.

Gampi has natural sizing

Robert Lang has written a bit about wet-folding on his website: http://www.langorigami.com/info/paper/w ... apers.php4

As Lang mentioned - Dampen the paper before cutting it. When I first wet-folded, I cut, then dampened... ...It was quite frustrating... Also, be careful that you don't get it too wet. The paper should be the texture of very soft leather, and not dripping. In fact, if anything drips off, than it is definitely too wet.

When I wet-fold from the start, I always cut first. The paper will not be entirely square when you wet it, but when it dries it will be. It is really personal preference.

I'm with Johnnycakes, but I usually use thick paper for wet folding, it tends to work better for me. Sometimes I even use card!

I tend to use higher-quality paper to do my wet-folding as printer paper does not cut it!!!

well printer paper works for me... and i usually wet fold at the touch up stage. I'd spray it with some water then shape the particular details (eg. insect tendrils, fingers, claws, facial features) Then I'd put it in the microwave while its still partially wet for about 30 seconds; more than that the paper's colour would probably change. It gets fully permanent after that

I've only done wet-folding with printer paper twice, once with my wolf and the other with my kraken. According to the forum members, they were disasters!

I have never done a wet fold,

Any one have an easy model to try this style out with?

Any one have an easy model to try this style out with?

You can try anything by Akira Yoshizawa...

Another one that you can find diagrams for online is a Manta Ray by Paulius It's EXCELLENT for a first wetfolding project. These can be found at Sara's website, Happy Folding : http://www.happyfolding.com/diagrams

Also, if you have the book, the frog in Origami Dream World is fun to wet fold as well.

Also, virtually anything you find that was created by Michael LaFosse is wetfoldable.

Hope this gets you started!

Thanks, I will take a look at the artists and chose a model / book.

Could you please tell me about the Methylcellulose if it's powder or gel and where I can find it easily? How about in any stationer's shop?

@ gugulu - you didn't search very hard, did you?

Usually it's powder. Look out for "wallpaper paste", which is used to glue wallpapers (the real-world ones, not the desktop ones) onto chamber walls. That's basically the very same stuff. Most craft shops have it.