3.POUR THE PULP
3a. Fill your vat with enough water to cover the mesh
on the resting pour mold by at least ½". (A large
Rubbermaid tub works great, and can be used to
store your papermaking supplies when not in use.)
3b. Using the hook and eye latches, secure the deckle
box and the mold. Place them in the vat, sliding in at
an angle to discourage air pockets from forming.
D
4.CO UCH THE SHEET
4a. Undo the hook and eye latches and lift the
deckle box, being careful not to pull the wet sheet
up with it (Figure D).
4b. Lay your felt (I used interfacing for this project)
onto the wet sheet (Figure E). Carefully turn over
the felt, sheet, and mold (Figure F). Be sure to hold
the layers together.
Q: What is the difference
between the pour method
and a more traditional
mold and deckle?
C
A: In traditional Western papermaking, the entire vat is filled with
a pulp mixture, which makes for
more consistency from sheet to
sheet. The pour method, on the
other hand, makes it really easy to
vary the texture, color, and weight
of your sheets; each one can be
totally different! This makes it an
ideal technique for beginners, who
may want to experiment wildly
before settling on a style.
3c. Pour your pulp onto the mesh (Figure B). The
more pulp poured, the thicker the paper. Use your
fingers or a spoon to stir the pulp and distribute the
fibers evenly across the surface of the water.
Slowly pull the pour mold upward, letting the
water drain back into the tub (Figure C). Place the
entire apparatus on a cookie sheet to keep water
from getting everywhere.
F
E
4c. Use a sponge to soak up any excess water from
the sheet, pressing down on top of the felt and
wringing out the sponge until you can’t pull any
more water out of the paper (Figure G).
4d. Slowly lift the mold from the paper surface,
holding down the felt (Figure H). The surface
tension between the felt and the paper is greater
