MC - Methyl Cellulose

ftangdude55 · Post by **ftangdude55** » June 23rd, 2009, 10:32 pm

I don't really know.

P.S. Maybe it's not the best idea to have your address right out thereon the Internet. You never know who could be watching... Not that too many crazy people would go after you since they know where you live, but still... you may want to change that.

Wizmatt · Post by **Wizmatt** » June 24th, 2009, 6:13 pm

OrigamiFreakAddict wrote:where can i get MC in Honolulu?

If you can't find it as 'Methyl Celulouse' try looking for wallpaper paste. You can find it in most homestores or hardware stores. That is what I use and I've never had a problem with it.

legionzilla · Post by **legionzilla** » June 25th, 2009, 1:29 pm

Today, I went to a random handyware store and asked whether they had any methyl cellulose, they did not understnad what I was talking about!

Post by **Daydreamer** » June 25th, 2009, 3:22 pm

That's why you should ask for "wallpaper glue" and check the ingredient list

HankSimon · Post by **HankSimon** » June 26th, 2009, 12:23 am

There was a list of ideas posted, but I couldn't find it. On p. 8 of this topic, I found:

Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:49 am, mrsriggins posted - http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/pap ... 07101.html as a mail order place for ordering MC.

Also, See: viewtopic.php?t=3435&highlight=methyl+cellulose for more info.

1. Go to a paint store (like Sherwin Williams) or a Wall Paper store, and ask them for Wallpaper paste. You want to verify that methylcellulose is listed as one of the main ingredients.

2. Go to Lowe's, Home Depot, or a hardware store, and ask for methylcellulose or MC, or Wall paper paste.

3. Go to the drugstore and get unflavored laxative like Citrucel (NOT Metamucil which contains psyllium) and make sure that you check the ingredients.

Best Approaches:
4. Ask the druggist if he has some in the back - an older drugstore may be better - tell him why you want it, and maybe he'll sell you a few ounces for a token buck or two. A little goes along way, it is cheap, nontoxic, water soluble, and fairly harmless.

5. Go to the chemistry dept. of the local high school, university, Vet school, or medical school. Bring some origami models to explain why you want it.

6. If none of these options work, you can dilute Elmer's glue for a similar effect, but I don't recall the recipe. You may find it with a few searches in the Forum.

- Hank Simon

darkeagle · Post by **darkeagle** » June 26th, 2009, 12:29 am

I use school glue diluted with alcohol and I work wonderfully

good luck

greetings

The Great Melon · Post by **The Great Melon** » June 26th, 2009, 1:38 am

I recently managed to obtain a bottle full of methyl cellulose, but I am still unsure how you are supposed to fold with it. After applying the MC and letting the paper dry, are you suppose to dampen it with a little water when you want to fold it? Or, are you suppose to fold it dry and dampen it at the end in order to shape it? Another thing, can you apply methyl cellulose to a finished piece which wasn't originally treated with MC to allow shaping. Thanks for any help.

Jonnycakes · Post by **Jonnycakes** » June 26th, 2009, 1:53 am

All of those are possibilities. You can dampen the paper before you start to fold with it, but that technique is mostly used for simple models, since the paper would dry out during the folding process for more complex things. More complex models are folded dry and the wet after the base is folded to shape it.

legionzilla · Post by **legionzilla** » June 26th, 2009, 2:37 am

So methyl cellulose is basically wallpaper glue.

wolf · Post by **wolf** » June 26th, 2009, 3:05 am

HankSimon wrote:6. If none of these options work, you can dilute Elmer's glue for a similar effect, but I don't recall the recipe. You may find it with a few searches in the Forum.

There are two types of glue that can work:

Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) glue: this is the common white glue found at stationery shops (Elmer's glue is an example). After drying, PVA glue isn't very water soluble, so it's much much harder to re-wet the paper and shape. Also, I've found that if you use too much PVA glue in your mixture, the paper tends to become brittle and has a nasty habit of splitting at creases.

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) glue: this is the common clear, colourless glue that is also found at stationery shops. PVOH glue is quite soluble in water, so it can be re-wetted and shaped, much like MC-treated paper.

For both, a good ratio to start with is 1 part glue to 1-2 parts water.

HankSimon · Post by **HankSimon** » June 26th, 2009, 7:08 pm

legionzilla wrote: So methyl cellulose is basically wallpaper glue.

Yes, but when you are in the store, there may be something else that is called wallpaper "glue" .... so it might be clearer to ask for wallpaper "paste" and verify that MC is one of the ingredients.

- Hank Simon

legionzilla · Post by **legionzilla** » June 27th, 2009, 7:01 am

Thanks!

ftangdude55 · Post by **ftangdude55** » June 27th, 2009, 9:16 pm

Does anyone know the saturation point for MC (when mixed with water?

legionzilla · Post by **legionzilla** » June 28th, 2009, 4:13 am

I finally got a pack of MC- now for the instructional videos...

HankSimon · Post by **HankSimon** » June 28th, 2009, 6:23 pm

>>>Saturation point for MC ?

Not sure what you're asking, because MC is very soluble in water... I think you want the correct proportion ?

Quentin said:
1. MethylCellulose - 3 teaspoons
2. Water - 500 milliliters(or a pint glass)
If you don't have a pint glass, get a life.
You can alter the concentration as you wish, but this would make a solution quite similar to egg-white.

Hank said:
~ 250 ml (1 cup) of water into a bowl or jar.
Then add about 1 level tablespoon of MC powder.
It will not dissolve and will sit on the water, kinda like baby powder.
Stir or Close the jar and shake.
Then, leave the solution for a few hours or overnight.
Mash up any lumps and stir some more.
The solution should feel a little slick, and be about as thick as raw egg whites

Note that 3 teaspoons equal 1 tablespoon and 1 pint equals 2 cups ... so you have two opinions - Quentin's is better than mine. But MC is forgiving.

Regardless, I suggest that you use 1 tablespoon MC and 1 cup water. Then if the solution is too thick, add a little water at a time to make it thinner.

If you add too much water, leave the solution uncovered overnight and some of the water should evaporate....

Ain't that slick ?

- Hank Simon