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Hi everyone:
I have 2 questions. Could you please help me?
1-Is it possible to do PM pulp with paper magazine ("couche" paper, I think)?
2-Is there any easier and faster way to triturate paper to do PM pulp instead putting it in a liquedifier or to grate it ? These methods become very slow and tired.
Thank you
Shali
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Hi,
the best paper for pm is newspaper. This glossy magazine paper doesn´t work properly. I only use it for armatures.
I mash the paper with a hand mixer like that: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI … 77-1941242
It works great, it´s just like stiring pudding 
). After mashing the paper I pour the pulp on a towel. After that I wring the towel to get the water out of the pulp.
If I need a great amount of pulp I use a drill with a beater for mixing paint or concrete. But I have to admit that making pulp is always time-consuming. (
hth
Christina
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Thank you Christina.
I didn't know that it was possible to use a hand mixer to mash PM. I thought that would make a mess!! I'll try it.
Christina, how much water is needed? When a make in liquedifier I put 3 times more than paper because of the motor.
And what about the paper size? Is it very, very small?
I have many magazines and I thought to use them to make PM or, as you have told, for armatures. Nowadays, I make the pulp with white paper (I don't know how to say in English) from letters, bills, prints and all old white paper I have and, you can be sure, I have a lot!! I have never tried newspaper. In my opinion this white paper works very well. What's your opinion?
Shali
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White paper works very well. You need to rip it into strips or pieces (small is better) to speed up the soaking. If you happen to have a paper shredder or know of an office that shreds their paper, that would be easier.
Use lots of water. If you have some window screen, fold it into a large cone (funil with closed bottom) and put it into a bucket, then pour your soaked paper into that and let it drain until much of the water is gone.
Hand mixers are good, but they should be strong ones, at least 300 watts, or you will burn out the motor if you use it much.
Magazine paper is difficult to use because of its stiffness.
Sue
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Hello,
I never tried white paper but I think it might work as well as it does with newspaper. The pieces should be about 3 cm to 3 cm. Long stripes get caught up in the drill.
I use twice as much water than paper (maybe take three times more if your not sure...). Use a high pot (such for making cream).Max. 3/4 of the pot should be filled with paper/water to avoid a real mess ). Be sure that the drill is made of stainless steel (a plastic-drill will get black or grey because of the printers ink and might not be strong enough for paper).
I use an old hand mixer. It has 240 W. The motor is still doing fine ).
Let me know if you succeeded...
Good luck,
Christina
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Thank you Christina and Sue. I'll let you know when I make the "experience" but, before that, I'll see how many watts my hand mixer has!!!!
Shali
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I don't agree that magazine paper can't be used. I prefer it. The clay content (which gives it the gloss finish) is helpful in the final mix.
Tear it up into bits about 2"x2", ever so roughly. Put it in a large saucepan with a lot of water. Bring to the boil and allow to simmer for about 30 minutes. You can then give it a first mash with a piece of wood, pushing down, a bit like a mortar and pestle.
Then use a paint mixer attachment in an electric drill and blitz until it is like porridge. There has to be a large proportion of water for it to keep flowing smoothly.
I normally make up a large bucket, strain it, squeeze it, dry it and keep the 'biscuits' until I need them.
DavidO
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Hi:
Do you store the "biscuits" in the fridge? For how long do they stay fine to use? Do you dry them completly or only take the excess of water off?
I use to storing the pulp I do in the fridge for some months. I'm not sure if it's really necessary but I'm affraid to lose all my work.
Thank you
Shali
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The 'biscuits' (or sometimes I call them cow pats!) are totally dry. This is normally done in the sun on a non rusting metal grid. They then store in a sack in a shed until needed. Of course, I squeeze as much water out of them as I can before beginning the drying process.
When I come to use them, I dip them in water for about fifteen seconds and then mix the pulp very thoroughly with a fork, adding paste, a small spoon's worth of linseed oil and, when really smooth, some ground chalk. This makes a pulp which works very much like a clay and will keep for many days if wrapped in clingfilm.
DavidO
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Very interesting Dopapier but here where I live (far from the big city) is not very easy to find linseed oil. Is there another oil or product that I can mix instead?
Thank you
Shali
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Linseed oil? It's not critical. Just leave it out.
I've never tried this, but I guess that a drop of washing up liquid would help smooth the mix.
DavidO
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David, I finally used one of those paint mixers on a drill motor, and WOW! was I disappointed!
Maybe it would work better if the paper mix was practically liquid, but mine was of the consistency of cottage cheese. I looked straight down the shaft (was doing it in a bucket on the floor), and I could clearly see the centrifical force of the mixer simply spinning all the material away from it to the sides of the bucket.
Then I put an old hand food mixer blade on it, and what a difference! I read afterward that the paint mixers are really just for liquids, and paper/water could never be defined as a liquid, and it won't act like a liquid. The food mixers are designed to mix semi-solids together.
Sue
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Thank you everyone. I just have much information to make new experiences. I'll let you know the results.
Have a good week.
Shali
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David,
thank you, you really convinced me... This glossy paper worked really well, it is easier to mash than newspaper. As you wrote it might better be used for the final layer. In fact not everything written in clever books is the truth ;O) - as I´ve read it in so many books that this glossy paper is not good for pm I believed it... I really should be more critically...
Good night,
Christina
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Well, I'm happy because a have more than one hundred magazines and I have no more place to new one. I'm ancious to try PM with them.
Shali
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Sue,
Sorry the paint mixer blade didn't work for you. The one I have looks a bit like a multi-bladed propellor. Certainly, you mustn't have the mix at all thick. You could try it with more liquid but since you've found a solution with your mixer blades, you probably don't have to look any further.
It's lovely to hear of people becoming successful through their experiments.
DavidO
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Hi:
My first experience with a blade attached in a drill was a success!!!!! My husband has helped to make this tool. Great!!!
I'm very happy. My work is much faster than before. Now I need to try magazine paper. I'll let you know about.
By the way, why it's necessary to boil the magazine paper? Only to smooth it?
Shali
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Hello Shali 
I don't boil my paper...tried it once. Usually, I shred or tear my paper into small pieces...run HOT tap water over it..let it hang out for a bit (sometimes only 30 min., or so..pressed for time!..lol). I toss it in my OLD trusty blender (they really don't make them like they used to..) I use a ratio of about 1/2 paper to 1/2 water..(give or take....) 
Blend away! ( I like the "liquify"...setting). Then, you just add your other ingredients. Experiementation, is the most fun part...I am like a mad scientist in my "art lab"..hehe.
I have recently purchased a paint mixer blade..but find that I still need to modify it, some. Keeping my eye out for an old food processor blade, or something..at the thrift stores (love those, anyway..) I am hoping to get my hands on a garbage disposal, as well...to make one of those LARGE pulping monsters.
Pleasure to meet you!
Paulette
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Hi Paulette:
What kind of paper are you use talking about? Newspaper or magazine paper? I use white paper instead newspaper (I don't boil it) but I'd like to try out magazine paper and, as Dopapier has wrote, he boils that kind of paper and I don't know why but I think it's, maybe, to smooth it.
Shali
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Hey shali,
I guess I am talking about everything other than magazine paper...that's the one I have tried to stay away from,because I heard that didn't make good pulp. I am inspired to try it, now, though. I will throw a batch together...maybe today, even..and let you know how it turns out.
Oh..off topic, but..I HAVE tried the crock pot drying technique, for small pieces. WONDERFUL! Took about 3 hours, to dry a pulped sheep, and a lil' chicken..put them both in at the same time. I did leave the lid ajar, just a bit..to let the steam escape. I want to try the homemade dehydrater, for larger pieces.....oh, but the solar dryer sounds most appealing!
Ok...off-n-running..time to get this day rolling.
Have a good one, all!
Paulette
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