How to Make and Recycle Paper

We all know that recycling paper is one way of reducing our ecological footprint by lowering the total amount of waste we produce. However, many people don't know how paper is actually recycled, or even how much of the items they put out in recycling bins actually gets recycled. In this article I will explain how easy it is to make paper using a very simple process that utilizes tools readily available in the market or even at home. It's fun, straight-forward and you help protect the environment by recycling your own paper!

Items needed:
- 2 *identical* picture frames. Get rid of the glass/acrylic sheet and only use the frame itself
- some sort of mesh, something like what is used on windows to keep the bugs out. You can get a fiberglass roll of this stuff for $7 at any hardware store (e.g. the Home Depot) and it works great
- duct tape
- nails and/or stapler
- hammer
- large tub that can fit both frames (one on top of the other) horizontally
- pestle and mortar or blender to mash up the paper to form a pulp
- old wool/acrylic/polyester blanket that can be cut up
- spray bottle
- sponge
- manual press or lots of books to press the paper down and squeeze water from the paper pulp
- paper (preferably used computer paper, as newspaper will give you bad quality recycled paper)
- something to cover your work space because this can get messy ;)

The picture below is just for the icon for this step. This picture is in context on step 5.

Step 1 Making the frame!

Alright, so the first thing we need to make is the frame with the mesh. This will be used to scoop up the pulp in the tub, ultimately forming the paper. This meshed frame is called "mold".

To do this, get one of the frames and put it on a table, with the smooth side facing up (the side without the grooves where you attach the back of the picture frame). Get your mesh/netting and put it on top of the picture frame. Cut up a piece that roughly matches the size of the picture frame.

Align the mesh so that it covers the whole picture frame, then nail it down. Make sure the net is *straight*, if it's wrinkly it won't work properly. I used a stapler because it's easier. If you use a normal stapler, slowly staple the mesh down to avoid bending the staples.

After the net is in place, hammer down the nails/staples to make sure they are "in" the wood, you don't want any spiky nails or staples sticking out.

(see pic)

Cut out any extra mesh you have (whatever is not on top of the frame) and duct tape the sides of the frames. Do not go over the "middle" of the frame, only tape the sides.

(see pics)

Your mold is now ready. The other frame remains unnetted, and is called the "deckle".

Now cut out the blanket in pieces that cover one of the frames entirely. After you've done that, it's time to shred paper.

(see pic)

Comments

[BRUL]

You don't need to wet the felt. In fact, keeping it dry will make it drie a little faster. Just make sure you soak up a lot of water with the sponge, and carefully remove the mold, assisting on the edges.

[21cmcgyver]

Try adding some unsweetened kool-ade to the pulp. Kool-ade makes a great dye. have you ever had it stain a white shirt? Its impossible to get out!

[sstols]

I Still don't understand the deck bit./ Do you bit a frame of the same size on top of the frame with the mesh? I am new at this, got the mesh, and just have to make the frame.

[ahillenb]

It looks like the picture frame is under the books, is that what i'm seeing?

[jaq_b_qwik]

Ahillenb,

Nah, its another piece of felt or wool. The picture frame got removed and another piece of fabric replaced it.

[jaq_b_qwik]

Do you think cardboard would work?

[flydogfly]

Wow, thank you for the instructable! I have just finished my first batch and I am waiting for the pulp to dry, I already got some people from my college interrested. :D.
I was able to do this using only ONE frame, but I got my hands dirty. As a final note, the final result of the paper isnt going to be perfected, but dont worry, because that is the charm of the recyced paper. :D

[frankenboom]

could you use food coloring as a dye? Also, as I am a bit lazy, i dont want to go over to home depot until I absolutely have to, and i'm having trouble finding the right screen online. What is it called exactly? Also, under 15$, if possible

[ekobor]

Food colouring is unlikely to work well. It would run the moment the resulting paper hit any water, and would fade fast. Food colouring doesn't bond to plant fibres like it does to protein fibres. You would want a more commercial grade dye, or start with coloured papers.

[gummydani]

Hi - this looks really neat. I am looking for a way to make a small disc out of recycled paper that is about the thickness of 10 sheets of paper. Is it possible to make a really thick paper sheet using this method? I also want to but fragrance oil on this disk afterward - would this work do you think?

[ekobor]

Your best bet would likely be to pull a couple sheets a few milimeters thick, 10-12 should do, then let dry half way. Then layer them and press together. If they don't readily stick, ad a wee bit of water (just a tiny tiny amount, enough to make it damp) until they want to stick. Then press overnight, and dry like normal. It would dry a bit faster that way (having some dryer sections in the middle) then just cut it.

Or use a round baking pan to "cut" the shape into the still wet sheets (takes so little effort to tear the pulp).


As for fragrance oil, yup, it'll soak in. As for how fats it will leech back out into the air, I don't know. I'd be careful where you put it after putting oil on it though, gravity would cause the oil to want to soak through the bottom and ruin wood furniture and such...

[nybras66]

Why don't yuo use a cylinder form, instead? Something like the cartoon inside toilette paper or every other paper roll. I think yuo can fill it with paper pulp, and once dryed, you can cut the roll in disks like bread. It's only an idea, I don't know if this really work well...

[spydyr]

Sounds good in theory. I tried to use a toilet paper tube filled to the brim and packed tightly. Took 2 weeks to dry, and even then the interior was still moist. Cutting it was fairly easy with a serrated blade. It wasn't smooth but it worked. So maybe just half full or 1/4 full would be ideal for this set up.

[kirstenn]

do you have a specific water to paper ratio? im so glad you wrote this, im recycling our office paper into notebooks and things for us. this would be neat for our contracts. :] i know it is typically advised not to, but can shiny paper work for this at all? if not, what makes it not work? thanks again

[ekobor]

The ratio depends on the thickness of of paper you end up wanting. The more pulp to water in your vat, the thicker the sheet you will eventually pull.

If you mean in a blender for the blending process, 1:3 should work well. If in doubt, add more water. You can always squeeze it out later.

[beehard44]

i read that as long as your paaper is submerged, then it is fine.

[Seifpic]

i think 1 part paper to 1 & 1/2 part water works good.

[Chopsteeq]

I don't have an exact ratio. You'll just have to try it out and see what it works better with the paper you're using! Shiny paper can work, I've used magazines before, but those that are too shiny might have plastic residues and other stuff in them that might not go well with the rest of the paper pulp.

[nutsandbolts_64]

How do you clean out the pulp leftovers on the blender or the mortar and pestle? My parent won't let me use the blender (and the mortar and pestle) for this... About the press, all you need is a rig that has a (an array of) large bolt(s) that you just screw to press the thing. Oh, and would pointing a fan or a hair dryer speed up the drying process?

[tbcross]

If you're making homemade paper it's a good idea to use a different one than the one for food prep especially if your going to make quite a bit. It dulls the blades a bit and it's rather hard to get out. As to speeding up the drying process it's worth a shot cant hurt to turn a fan on it. But I'm no expert so others may have better ideas.

[KABUKISTAR]

Do you think it would be possible to recycle wrapping paper, in this way?

[beehard44]

recycle the wrappers from people who gave you a gift which has no value. hehehehehe!!!!!!

[Rectifier]

Does anyone know how well homemade paper takes ink? I usually write with fountain pens and am constantly annoyed by the inconsistent quality of paper available, some writes beautifully and some "feathers" to the point of unreadability, even within the same pack of paper or journal book. Short of buying big $ nice paper, i think it would be neat to try to make my own. But I get the feeling that this homemade paper, at least, will soak up ink like a paper towel - what kind of finishing is required to make a nice, smooth-writing paper?

[beehard44]

usually they add what is called "binder" which gives the paper a smooth finish and binds the fibers together. Usually, the starch of the office paper is enough to bind the fibers, but if you want it smoother or water resistant, add a bit of glue or cornstarch

note: cockroaches LLOVE starch, that's why i prefer glue.

[thepelton]

Hardness and the ability to make ink ride on the top and not soak in and blur is a problem I have had with making paper. You can also make paper from long straight stemmed plant stems soaked in builder's lime and water until it breaks down and dissolves all the soft green part, leaving the fibers. Long straight stemmed plants would include cornstalks, iris leaves, fennel (the smell would carry through), and grass. I remember taking a nature walk, and seeing another plant, and suggesting that it could be used that way. The lady in charge of the nature walk advised me not to use it... it was hemlock. I remembered enough about Greek History and the death of Socrates to realize that was a bad idea.

[haunted_lady]

 @thepelton I would not tell people to use lime in this project. Lime also breaks down human flesh serial killers use it. YUK.  There are thousands of how to's and books on making paper to use natural plants.  Also you should make a frame and a deckle for this project so it will not curl. 
The ned result is two interlocking frames.

I like the way you told people to use old fabric..cotton sheets  and t-shirts work the best.

[thepelton]

The lime I was referring to was not quicklime, but builder's lime, which is not as caustic, more easily available, and workable.

[haunted_lady]

 Well that is good but note what you said is  " as caustic" there is no reason to do anything but natural ingredients in paper-making.
Why buy stuff ? I used to teach art and I taught this as a recycle project you don't need to buy anything. I used to go to flower shops and ask for the flowers that cannot be sold as well and put the petals in ....You can make molds and do paper casting too :) You can them put in objects of all sorts..Try not to buy stuff if you can  folks we want to purchase less and be better to the planet...plus making stuff shows how super crafty we are :)
You have to make a strong binder and that can be out of natural things as well...
People made paper for thousands of years before we had Wall-mart ...

[thepelton]

What just coccurred to me is that ashes are alkaline, and can often be gotten for free, and a little bit, but not too much, would negate the acid in newsprint.  Put too much in, and you'd have LYE.

[haunted_lady]

 What ashes? I did not say to burn things and put ashes in..if you mean the petals..not not too many because then you can see your writing. They cannot touch because they will make a hole usually as well.

[thepelton]

I was thinking of a means of putting something slightly alkaline into the mix to counter the natural acid of such source material as shredded newsprint.  What occurred to me just a few moments ago is Sodium Bicarbonate would work and not be difficult to work with.

[porcupinemamma]

Hemlock-yikes!  LOL I remember  my friend wanted some fall colour for his window boxes, and he filled it with beautiful...poison ivy.

[thepelton]

Incidentally, did Porcupinemama's friend get a rash?

[porcupinemamma]

oh yah-and the poor guy was a hair dresser, and the rash was covered all over his hands :0(

[thepelton]

Incidentally, when I said hemlock, I meant "water hemlock" not the hemlock tree, which is no immediate relation to the small toxic annual.

[hirpln]

You can use unflavored gelatin, Faultless spray starch ( the best), liquid starch or formaldehyde (not the best) to size a.k.a seal the paper fibers to allow writing with fountain pens, markers or for direct use in SOME printers. Read your owners manual and check for use of watercolor or hand made paper. Also, not all (most) ink jet printers have permanency or water resistance, and this will directly affect your quality on handmade paper.

[holzmanj9]

Totally incidental, but my dad was part of the team that developed the Faultless spray starch.

[lycoris3]

you could refine your paper to smoothness by repeating the step of pressing them for the second time until you get your desired texture. I got this from a book called; The Book The Story of Printing and Bookmaking by Douglas C. McMurtrie. its on page 70 in the book if you find it. very thick and old book, but very interesting if you like books like I do.

[kd1uc]

Paper needs sizing, such as gelatin that 'iconnu' suggested. This seals the fibers and helps prevent bleeding. If the paper you start with has sizing already in it the paper should not bleed very much if at all. I made some out of the 'Yellow Pages" and ran it through my ink jet and tried my fountain pen and found no discernable bleeding.

[Rectifier]

cool! so how does one determine if the paper has sizing already? I guess a test scribble with a fountain pen on the scrap paper will tell?