The Origami Forum

Today i tried making tissue foil for the first time
It was bad..
1)i think i got the ratio of glue wrong
2)i think i used the wrong type of glue
3) i used copy paper instead of tissue paper
uh
it worked for making a simple model but will it actually make any difference
and is it ok to use copy paper

I cant help you with all the questions, I have not done tissue foil myself. But I know that you have to use Tissue paper or a similar very very thin paper that works with the glue, othervise it simply gets too thick ....I think, There are already really detailed forums that is about making the tissue-foil. You can seek for your answer there if no one more into the subject than me replies on this post.

What kind of glue did you use? I don't know of any tissue foil method that has a ratio, except if you diluted white glue. As for paper, the thinner the better. I've never used copy paper, but it will get quite thick (two sheets of copy paper plus foil is a lot). You can find tissue paper really cheap at craft stores. For simpler models, the copy paper foil will work fine. It's when the model has lots of layers that it starts to become a problem.

Don't get too down, the first time rarely works out too well. It takes a lot of experimentation and practice to make the right paper for you.

theoretically, one could use tissue foil with any kind of paper, but there's no real reason to do it with thick papers... just wet fold to shape.

further, there's absolutely no reason at all to make tissue foil for simple/intermediate models. the work is too much for the returns, as again, you'll achieve the same or better results wetfolding. tissue foil should be used for models that call for thin but strong paper (i.e., complex).

camicazi wrote:But I know that you have to use Tissue paper or a similar very very thin paper that works with the glue, othervise it simply gets too thick

Thanks for your help but
Umm what exactly is tissue paper like in terms of material.i dont think it was to thick..

jewishdan18 wrote:What kind of glue did you use? I don't know of any tissue foil method that has a ratio, except if you diluted white glue. As for paper, the thinner the better. I've never used copy paper, but it will get quite thick (two sheets of copy paper plus foil is a lot). You can find tissue paper really cheap at craft stores. For simpler models, the copy paper foil will work fine. It's when the model has lots of layers that it starts to become a problem.

Don't get too down, the first time rarely works out too well. It takes a lot of experimentation and practice to make the right paper for you.

Thanks for the advise but i could not find tissue paper in my local craft store.I did use white glue and it worked pretty well.

bethnor wrote:theoretically, one could use tissue foil with any kind of paper, but there's no real reason to do it with thick papers... just wet fold to shape.

further, there's absolutely no reason at all to make tissue foil for simple/intermediate models. the work is too much for the returns, as again.

It was my first try with tissue foil so i tried a simple model
the results were way better than normal paper but i dont think it gave me any special fealing while folding..
Thanks for your advise though

Tissue paper is somewhere around a fourth as thick as printer paper. Printer paper is already too thick for complex models, nevermind two sheets of it with foil in between. Tracing paper would work far better, and you can get that almost anywhere. Personally, I get all my supplies off the internet.

jewishdan18 wrote:Printer paper is already too thick for complex models, nevermind two sheets of it with foil in between. Tracing paper would work far better, and you can get that almost anywhere. Personally, I get all my supplies off the internet.

Thanks for the help i seriously appreciate it!
What your talking about is double tissue..normal tissue foil is only 1 sheet with 1 sheet of foil.
Will thin kami work? not exactly kami but about the same thing
and could you tell me how to make larger sizes of tissue foil? something like 70cm square for a more complex model?
Thanks, seriously i would be lost without your help

Okay, I normally make duo paper, so I'd attach two sheets to the foil so there was no metal showing. Any paper will work, just the thinner the better really. Like I said, the point is to only color the metal; the glue and foil handle all the folding properties, so the thinnest paper is the best. I'd say give the thin kami a go and see how it works out.

To make a larger sheet, I'd first glue two long strips (over twice as long as they are wide) of foil together along the long edge, making a larger rectangle that is almost twice is wide as one sheet of foil. This will give you a much larger sheet of foil, which you can then glue paper to. It's important to make sure the foil lies absolutely flat when doing this, as any large kinks could cause stress and it will most likely tear when folding. Also, make sure you it dry fully (overnight) before adding paper.

My pleasure, I had tons of questions when I started making tissue foil too.

bethnor wrote: further, there's absolutely no reason at all to make tissue foil for simple/intermediate models. the work is too much for the returns, as again, you'll achieve the same or better results wetfolding. tissue foil should be used for models that call for thin but strong paper (i.e., complex).

I have to disagree with that. Wetfolding can be quite a challenge and so a well made paper-foil combination can give you better results on simple/intermediate models. Then again, I often find wet finishing more useful for very complex models than using tissue foil which tends to crumble in complex folds.

I was pretty successful at making tissue foil (and double tissue foil) using home aluminum foil (the cheap, thin, kind), tissue paper from the craft store (or from the gift wrapping section of most stores), and spray adhesive. I wasn't as successful with MC/glue. Tissue foil is very thin and porous, which are the qualities that matter. I'm not aware of any other paper that will perform the same task as well...

topsu wrote: I have to disagree with that. Wetfolding can be quite a challenge and so a well made paper-foil combination can give you better results on simple/intermediate models. Then again, I often find wet finishing more useful for very complex models than using tissue foil which tends to crumble in complex folds.

why on earth would you go to the trouble of making tissue foil, literally having to wait for the paper to dry overnight, exposing yourself to the noxious fumes of spray glue, for a simple or intermediate model? if you're going to go to that much trouble, the model itself should require that work.

The novelty probably wears off, but I still enjoy making tissue foil

Thanks for all your help guys
i ll try making it again today.

bethnor wrote: why on earth would you go to the trouble of making tissue foil, literally having to wait for the paper to dry overnight, exposing yourself to the noxious fumes of spray glue, for a simple or intermediate model? if you're going to go to that much trouble, the model itself should require that work.

You went a bit overboard there, didn't you?

Spray glue: open the door/window or use white glue.
paper drying overnight: with spray glue? Seriously? Try applying a slightly thinner layer. Mine doesn't take more than 30 seconds to dry.

I understand the sort of anger that many people have against tissue foil after seeing all those wrinkled messes and forced models. But you shouldn't think all of it is bad, in fact I find it a very handy type of paper sometimes. Also, you seem to think it's out of the question to go trough a lot of work for a simpler model? Why?

Everybody is obviously entitled to their own opinion. For myself, I enjoy the making of the paper. It's all part of the craft. I'm in no hurry to get to more and more complex folds anyway, so making the paper is part of the process, as is paper selection. In fact, I'm relatively uninterested in highly complex models--they are cool in an abstract way, but as art they don't appeal to me (if one plays guitar then I see the super-complex as something like Yngie Malmsteen's shredding). But I still like to make tissue foil and MC unryu, etc.

And I agree... some spray glue and you can start folding with your tissue foil quite quickly. And I thought all the giddiness while making the paper was joy. Maybe it was just the fumes