How to Weld Paper

J-B Weld provides the perfect cold welding process to join paper products.

Joining paper together for a permanent bond can be more difficult than it sounds. Paper has a very porous surface and requires a certain solution and material to weld the fibers together, so they do not separate. Welding or cold welding, rather than gluing, ensures two like paper materials permanently adhere to each other, without separation or de-lamination. J-B Weld manufactures a welding material that provides this impenetrable weather-resistant bond, and can be used successfully on paper products.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Sheet metal (if applicable)
• Paper weight
• J-B weld kit
• Plastic cup
• Mixing stick
• Paint brush (square edge)
• Pencil
• Ruler

Instructions

1. Prepare your paper product by lying it over a clean, hard surface such as a table top. If you wish, place a thin section of sheet metal over the table top, so no weld adhesive comes in contact with the wood or table surface. Determine the type of weld to make, whether joining two pieces of paper on top of each other, end to end, or creating a binding process to secure multiple sheets of paper on a spine.

2. Stack multiple sheets of paper evenly if you must bind one edge for a spine in book form. Tamp the edge of the paper stack on a flat surface until precisely square and even. Carefully place the paper stack on a work surface and place a heavy paper weight on its top, to keep the paper from shifting or blowing off.

3. Remove the lids on the two tubes supplied with a J-B welding kit. One tube is black, and the other red -- one contains epoxy resin and the other contains a catalyst hardener. Mix equal proportions from each tube in a plastic cup, according to directions. Stir the contents with a mixing stick until the mixture obtains one solid color.

4. Apply the weld mixture to the edge of the paper stack with a small paint brush. Bush along the grain or seams of the paper, using back and forth strokes. Apply one medium coat and let it sit for 4 to 6 hours. Apply a second coat, and let it cure completely for 15 to 24 hours.

5. Size-test one piece of paper edge over the edge of another paper edge, with both paper sheets squared, if you are joining two or more papers end to end. You should have an overlap about 1/2-inch. Pencil a 1/2-inch margin on one piece of paper, using a ruler. Mix the J-B weld according to directions in equal parts. Use a brush to paint the weld mixture onto the 1/2-inch border. Lie the other piece of paper over the welded edge and press firmly. Join additional pieces of paper in the same fashion, if you intend to make a banner or long sheet.

6. Mix the J-B weld in a plastic cup, according to directions, in equal parts. Use a small paint brush to apply a thin coat on one surface of a piece of paper. Lie another sheet of paper directly on top of the welded paper, and square it up. Press down firmly on the middle of the paper with the heel of your hand and fan outward. Use the same procedure to stack and weld additional sheets. Allow 15 to 24 hours to completely cure.

References

• J-B Weld: Description -- How to Use