How to Build a Mold & Deckle for Papermaking
Making your own paper requires only a few supplies. The two frames needed are the mold and deckle. The mold acts as a strainer to hold the paper fibers and drain off the excess water. The deckle fits on top of the mold and keeps the fibers from washing away. Build your own mold and deckle inexpensively and quickly with a few basic supplies and skills, and start making your own decorative papers.
Things You'll Need
- Four 1/2-by-1/2-inch wood strips in 10-inch lengths
- Four 1/2-by-1/2-inch wood strips in 8-inch lengths
- Wood glue
- Foam brush
- Level
- Corner clamps
- Corner brackets
- Staple gun
- Varnish
- Fine-mesh nylon netting
- Scissors
Instructions
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1
Arrange two 10-inch and two 8-inch wood strips to form a rectangle. Repeat with the other strips to form a second rectangle.
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2
Apply wood glue to the adjoining corners of each rectangle with a foam brush and check that the corners are square with a level. Clamp the corners with corner clamps and allow glue to dry.
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3
Screw corner brackets onto each side of the two frames.
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4
Paint each frame with three coats of clear varnish to protect and preserve it from warping when wet. Allow at least four hours of drying time between coats. Allow the final coat to dry for several days.
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5
Cut one piece of nylon mesh netting to 10 by 12 inches. Only one of the frames will have the netting. The other is finished.
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6
Wet the netting and staple the middle of one edge to the middle of one side of one frame using a staple gun.
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7
Pull the netting tight and staple the center of the opposite end of the netting to the center of the opposite side of the frame. Pull the netting taut to a third side of the frame and staple the center. Then pull to the last side and staple the center.
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8
Check that the screen is taut around the four sides and staple the remaining portions of screen to the wood. As the wet netting dries, it will become tighter in the frame.
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9
Cut off excess netting to create a smooth edge.
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Tips & Warnings
Instead of nylon mesh, cut metal screening slightly larger and turn under the ends before stapling to avoid being scratched or cut when working. Cut off excess before stapling.
Use two old picture frames that are the same size and flat on one side to create the mold and deckle. Attach netting to one of the frames.
Use care when working with metal screening to avoid cutting yourself.
