The Origami Forum

I've been thinking about trying to make my own paper from scratch, and I don't think Google is helping that much. All I get is instructions on how to recycle paper, but I want to start from scratch. I've read on Robert Lang's site that long fibers work best, and tearing up already short fibered paper like copy paper doesn't seem to be the way to get long fibers.

Does anyone who makes their own paper this way have any advice? Are there even people on this forum who make paper like this?

I would recommend you to get the book Advanced Origami by Michael G. LaFosse which deals very extensive with the subject of making paper specifically for Origami.

In case you really want to start from scratch, you would try to make paper from some palms : fibers are long and stark and you can make an pretty good paper with it. But starting from plants (and not fibers already cook) need a lot of step (peeling, cooking with soda, cleaning, beating) before making paper.
You should try both in the same time: prepare plants for beating and use fibers bought (abacca or other) to make your first sheets in order to learn the gesture.

hi, I explain a little of the whole process of papermaking in my blog's last two entries, maybe it helps you a little to introduce you in subject. And I strongly agree with Daydreamer, that book is really a good guidebook to make your own paper, though it doesn't get into pulp cooking.

good luck.

Very nice article there, looking forward to the next one. In fact, I've subscribed to the RSS feed so that I'll know when you write it!

Whats this about pulp cooking? I learned that paper making is really not as hard as it looks, but it is quite hard to get actual good paper... However, I have only tried once, and with copy paper. Turned out nicely, but I can't fold it because it rips... I will have to take a picture!

Also, what are some good materials that I could use to make my own paper? I was thinking about using other papers, but I'd prefer to try, as ALF wrote, making paper from scratch. Would stuff like leaves, grass, strange things like that work?

Finally, are there any other ways to make you paper into pulp? I was told to use a blender, but I was sure that it would really affect the fiber length.