This week I started experimenting with deconstructing/reconstructing books through pulping and recasting a 2 volume dictionary...... I've never attempted paper making before (although this idea has been in my mind since I first began deconstructing sets of encyclopaedias through fire or weathering)..... this was a test piece to see whether some of my ideas could take shape (and what I needed to understand about the craft process of paper making).....
ripping the dictionary in to pulpable pieces
(took longer than I thought! its quite a tedious job....so of course I found it intrinsically interesting and valuable....)
(took longer than I thought! its quite a tedious job....so of course I found it intrinsically interesting and valuable....)
paint whiz drill attachment as pulp maker (worked quite well...)
getting to grips with the home made mold and deckle... with a little help from Boots the cat.....
couching.... like scooping the pulp this is definitely something that requires practice!
releasing the wet sheet from the mold.... I became increasing adept after about 50 sheets!
line drying the sheets
the first completed stack of reconstituted paper....
Next I plan to rebind these sheets - I haven't determined exactly the format or technique yet, but I'm presently toying with the idea of using the original covers and either coptic binding or maybe a hybrid coptic/japanese stab binding.....
more to follow soon!
