What kind of adhesive are you using?

Are you pressing the layers down firmly with your fingers, or just gently with the brush so as not to get your fingers sticky?

Sue

Hi... try using a pin or a needle, puncture the part with air pockets... squeeze out the air then brush it again with glue on top... or better yet, dip your thumb in glue and massage it... >Eric

... so you already performed surgery and there are complications?... how about trying a PVA transfusion in between the layers that separated?... if there's another complication maybe you need to amputate it... I suggest another 4 to 6 layer transplant... use pulp or gesso to even up the surface.

... soak it up, PM warps when it dries too fast. If your leaving it overnight cover it with plastic or a semi-heavy cloth... you can ask Sue (CatPerson) or Dave for a second opinion... >Eric

I know David and some of the others who strongly believe in PVA won't agree  :shock: , but that is precisely why I hate PVA.  I hate how it warps  :evil:  and I hate the bubbles  :evil: .  I flat out won't use it any more.  More and more, I am of the opinion that plastic glue and paper don't work together except as a final protective coat.  Maybe.  :?

Is there any chance you could find some cellulose wallpaper paste? Keep the bowl you've got, and try the methyl cellulose paste (fairly thin) and try the same project and combination of papers, and see which one you like best.  There's no comparison, IMO.

An example:  I covered a child's ball (about 8"/20cm diameter) with only three layers of tracing paper and methyl cellulose adhesive.  No letting the individual layers dry, just three layers right on top of each other, then I hung it to dry. 

It was gorgeous!  All the paper laid perfectly flat -- none of those stupid curled-up edges or corners.  There were some wrinkles in it, but I attributed that to the very fast job, as it was just an experiment. All the paper held together perfectly, no pulling apart.  Because it is so thin, it does flex, but no cracking, no delaminating, and if I dent it with my finger, I can pop it right back into the curve of the sphere.  More layers of other paper (esp heavier or thicker) don't flex, and it's very strong.  I just love it.

About your question of mixing types of paper:  I've never done that, so I don't know if that is a contributing factor, but I am thinking it's not.  I got results like you're getting using just a single type of paper. 

Sue

I get air bubbles with flour/water paste and with pva/flour/water and pva/water. It's a conspiracy against PMers! heh

Hi all
Ive read through all your thoughts & ideas. Thank you all very much and after having read them I will give the cellulose wallpaper paste a go I also think having read what you have said I'm drying it out to fast.
I have got most of the bubbles out with major surgery and clamps and as for the other ones, I'm going to be the only one who will notice (apart from you guys  ).
So my next bowl i will use paste and dry slowly and let you know how i get on.
The great thing in life is you have always got something new to learn.

Sue.

I have not used pulp yet :shock:  its on my to do list this year.
I've started collecting egg boxes as I quite like the egg box pulp Melf talks about in the information section.
Before that happens i need to shut my head up I've got so many ideas I'm either drawing or messing about with PM.
The only pulp I sort of use is all those straight edges that I rip off and store I grab a handful of them and dunk it in glue squeeze out and splodge on, it's sort of pulp ?