The global reaction to the loss of the world’s rainforest has supported in identifying the alternate sources of fiber for making paper. Hemp has been identified as a great material for paper making because of the sturdiness and the durability that it boasts. The technique of involving hemp in paper manufacturing is old and has a rich history of its own, dating back to 8000 BC when the Chinese employed this wonder fiber to make paper.
Today, hemp is more than just a plant to supply the basic necessities of life like food, shelter and clothing but is reckoned as a non-polluting alternative to a number of chemicals and wood based products. You can now make your hemp paper at home, both as a fun project or as a means of creating your own natural paper.
Below is a step by step guide which will help you in making your own hemp paper.
Step 1: To make hemp paper the first important step is to purchase hemp from a reliable trader. Although it is illegal to grow hemp in the United States (because hemp is from the same family as marijuana), however owning hemp or hemp products is not prohibited by US law. Stock enough hemp from the buyer to make your own ecopaper.
Step 2: Soak the hemp in water for about twelve to twenty four hours.
Step 3: Now to make the hemp paper, put the soaked hemp on low heat and add some soda ash into it. Cook the hemp for another eight hours. Touch the hemp to ensure that the hemp still feels enough tough.
Step 4: The next important step is to blend the hemp. Put the prepared hemp into a blender and blend it till the time the mixture becomes soft and fluffy. If you want to lend a different texture to the eco paper then try to add shredded newspaper or other soft paper into the mixture and blend it for some time. If you would like to make the hemp paper appear colorful, then consider adding dye to the mixture to offer a colorful dash to the paper.
Step 5: Now pour the entire mixture (also known as slurry) into a shallow pan. You can now scoop your deckle (the frame that is used to form paper pulp into paper sheets) into the bottom of the pan and try to slowly lift it up, while keeping it straight. Once you succeed in freeing the deckle from the mixture, drip off the excess water if any from the deckle.
Step 6: You are almost done with your project of making the hemp paper and now flip the deckle down onto a clean cloth or newspaper to let the paper chip off from the deckle on the cloth or on the newspaper.
Step 7: Your hemp paper is now ready. Place a clean towel on the top of the paper and roll over the towel and paper to extrude excess moisture, if any.
Step 8: Your next task is to iron the paper while using the iron at the hottest setting. Ironing of the paper will flatten the paper and will also help in squeezing out excess moisture to finish the drying process. Your hemp paper is now ready to use. If in case you have excess slurry then put it in a plastic bag and freeze it for future use.
Move through the pages of http://www.ecopaper.com to know more.
U.S. Headquarters
1860 Eastman Ave.
Suite 101
Ventura, Ca, 93003
Tel: (805) 644-4462
Fax: (805) 456-3894
