Miranda's work is very impressive, and I do use that method for some things, but I find that the clay is not as uniform as that which is made with ground paper. I haven't used the egg cartons, but have always meant to. My absolute favorite paper is crepe paper streamers, it  makes an amazingly smooth clay, better even than toilet paper. I also like my clay very ,very dry, so I like to start with the dry 'lint' A personal preference suppose. I guess I'll just carry on with my small grinders for a while until something else presents itself. I've been doing it this long so I guess it won't hurt for a while longer.

The drill and mixer attachment sounds intriguing. I have a mud mixer that I have used with larger batches of my courser clay, but haven't thought of using one as a grinder on the dry paper. I have considered a food processor, as they have various blades for various types of mayhem. I think the next time I run accross one at a yard asle or thrift shop, I will give one a shot.

I have used only a little of the manufactured milled paper but found that a paste with a proportion of PVA and a filler of ground chalk worked OK, though it needs quite a lot of mashing (with a kitchen fork) to get it really smooth and even, making sure it is not too moist.  I also used a very small amount of boiled linseed oil to help the smoothing operation.
DavidO

I have also wondered about the wood flour.  There is a local mill that produces it.  I think they only sell wholesale, but I've been too busy (and scatterbrained) to check into it.  I was thinking of asking if they had a broken bag, etc.

I have never heard of anyone in PM who has tried it.  It appears to be very fine, 'flour' being the operative word.

Bmaskmaker, here is a list of wood flour producers, just in case there is one near you (if you're in the U.S.):  http://www.wpcinfo.org/suppliers/fibers/

Sue

I had an idea about this yesterday, but haven't tried it.  What do you think?

Cut or tear paper into squares or rectangles all about the same size (I'm thinking maybe 3x6" / 75mmX150mm).  Dip several into water, then stack on top of each other to form a brick (maybe 1- 2" / 25-50mm).  Let drain so most of the excess water is gone.  Then carefully STAND on this damp brick and press as much of the extra moisture out as possible.  Dry in sunlight, solar oven, or regular oven at low temps (not more than 200ºF / 93º/C) until completely dry.

Then wear a dust mask and sand it with an electric sander and fairly coarse sandpaper.  You would probably have to do it in a box to confine most of the valuable paper dust.

Maybe it wouldn't work.  You might lose quite a bit into the air.  Maybe it would just be too labor/time intensive.  Not all my "great" ideas work, you know!  ;-)

Sue

Whew paper dust! That sounds messy LOL but wouldn't it be a wonderfully fine material? My first thought was to do it mechanically, and to start with coarse ground pulp dried into a brick or ball (like Miranda) and then place it into a container lined with an abrasive. Something like a rock tumblers. I have considered doing that, but mine requires water, which of course wouldn't work. But I guess if I'm dreaming, a paint can shaker would work. Line a paint can with emery cloth, load your brick then shake away. Theoretically it should produce a very fine powdered paper without all of the work and mess. Now to find one LOL.

When I 1st read about PM "Clay" I was eager to expand my efforts past torn paper strips and glue (flour water or PVA).  My 1st batch made from shredded newspaper was course with pebble like texture but it turns out that texture worked well for the frog I made but I wanted a smoother texture.   

I replaced newspaper with toilet paper (TP) and that gave better results but I hated the idea of buying TP only to shred it.   After thinking about why PM clay made with TP was smoother then clay made with newspaper I came to the conclusion TP was made to break up quickly in water where newspaper has binders added and was more resistant.   To test this I made a 3\4 inch dia. (19 mm) ball from newspaper pulp with no glue or joint compound added and it held together, I still have it.  I was surprised enough with the results I took a picture that can be seen below:
http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn34 … Sphere.jpg

In an attempt to solve this resistance of newspaper not breaking down easily in water I thought to use an old Osterizer blender my wife was kind enough to donate to my search for the "perfect PM clay cause".  I had used this before and bogged it down as I had also bogged down and smoked both my Dremel tool and hand drill trying to make creamy PM clay.

Consider how well this Osyerizer worked for "normal" cooking I thought to add more water so as to not bind the blender (a watery mix) and it worked very well.

When mixed with pastes of various kinds I got very creamy PM clay. I always add salt as a preservative ( I know some take issue with salt but it has worked well for me) and in one clay attempt I added olive oil and liquid dish soap (soap to increase solubility) is was so creamy it was sticky like peanut butter but it worked well if i kept tools and finger wet.   I never made a batch with less olive oil and liquid dish soap but it is on my list "to do" list.

Below are the notes I made some time after I made the pulp.

New way to make creamier Pulp ‭ (‬made from newspaper ‭)
‭Used a new but still inexpensive paper shredder that cuts paper into strips 1/4"  wide by about 1/4“ to 3/4“ lengths thus eliminating the need to shorten them further

Two large hand fulls of this newspaper “confetti" where placed in a bowl of water‭ and ‬boiled and hand stirred for about 30 min or so. ‭  ‬Two tablespoons of salt were added and stirred in at this point to help prevent molding.

After it has cooled a bit about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 of a cup of this very watery mix was placed in my Osterizer Blender. Using the “Pulse"  button and the blender set on “blend" I mix for short burst ( 3-4) seconds) for about 10-12 times then switch to the “liquify"  setting and use that for  30 seconds, repeat that 3-4 times.  This makes for an absolutely lump free pulp and hence a creamy PM clay.  Having it as a watery mix prevents smoking the blender.

‭Repeat these steps until all the boiled newspaper confetti have been processed to make lump free pulp.   Remove some of the water and store in a plastic tub in the fridge until needed.

When ready to make PM clay placed this mash in cheese cloth and squeeze out the water. The mash will not stick to the cheese cloth and it should look and feel like clay when rung out.‭  Use this damp ( not watery)  newspaper pulp to make the PM clay.

Last edited by Pelletor (2012-02-26 10:48:49)