Pressed pulp for bamboo papermaking

[Mark Meckes]

I've been meaning to return to the topic of papermaking, but you know how it is with bamboo - so much to learn and not enough time to learn it!
We have a place in the photo gallery for Bamboo Papermaking and it has NO pics in it, so I'll upload a few pics from back in 2002 to get it going.
edit: New workshop forum and photo gallery in the works for Bamboo Papermaking, Pulp Sculpting (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showgallery.php?cat=516) and the textiles arts!

Pressed bamboo paper pulp
This was a little experimental batch of bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) that was cooked up, partially beaten, then pressed into a cake (after adding cinnamon, nutmeg, shredded carrots and raisons...nah, just kidding).
It was then dried for future use.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/516/thumbs/1MVC-874F.JPG Close up of cooked bamboo fibers, partially beaten. (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=866)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/516/thumbs/1MVC-878F.JPG Partially beaten pulp. (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=867)
With this batch I tried using a rubber mallet.
The pulp is in a plastic `kitty litter tray on a flat stone paver. ( It muffled the pounding noise)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/516/thumbs/1MVC-877F.JPG Pulp partially beaten and ready to press (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=868)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/516/thumbs/1MVC-899F1.JPG A simple pulp and papermaking press (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=869)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/516/thumbs/1MVC-884F.JPG The cake has been pressed (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=870) and ready for airdrying.

http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/516/thumbs/1MVC-885F.JPG Closeup of Bamboo pulp cake (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=871) - minus the raisons.
I still have a chunk of it ready and willing to be made into paper.
It takes a lot of effort to prepare bamboo, cook it up and get it to this stage. Not all that many people would want to go to the effort.
But now it is ready to be soaked, beat some more, (or use a blender) and made into PAPER!!! How about sculpting with bamboo pulp!!!
This is the fun part!

Mark

The cake is almost ready ...are you ready to party?

[Mark Meckes]

The above was a batch of Phyllostachys aurea that I cooked up, probably about 5 lbs dry weight before cooking. (This is what fits in my largest size pot that we have at the moment to cook up a batch of pulp.)
It was partially hand beaten after cooking, then pressed between some boards using C-clamps, then air-dried.
The intent was to demonstrate a market potential for pre-processed bamboo pulp, especially for educational/classroom projects and arts and craft applications.
Hand made paper making has been becoming increasingly popular over the years because suppliers have marketed the materials needed, by first doing all the time-consuming and somewhat hazardous work to prepare the pulp, leaving the consumer with the fun part of papermaking ... being creative and developing skills.

Pre-processed bamboo pulp is currently a very rare comodity for papermaking in the US.

Mark

[Agrobambu]

Mark
I'm interested to know more about bamboo paper. I have a knowledge about papermaking (sisal long fibers mixed with short ones from eucaliptus or pinus fibers) at a plant from Mellita(bigger cofee&paper filter maker of the world)/Brazil near Porto Alegre(subsidiary from Germany Co.) were I had worked near 4 years as plant manager.
The main problem it is how much will cost this paper!- I have too much P.aurea in my bamboo forest as you know (pics), but will be necessary to have more details about equipment to reduce the size of poles (to the better size of the fibers)/ blanche / dry/mix/strike the fibers/mix with additional charges/water/to distribute over a screen/dewater/ and dry, in a little scale.
Have small equipments to papermaking? Something like laboratory research?
If you have some tips to do these operations I could to try . Will be fun to return to this old business again.
P.aurea it is the best bamboo to papermaking?
People from Asia know too much about this, including little scale papermaking.
If others members have interest, we can do a group to exchange experiences.
Ene

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/503/thumbs/359Firstdayofharvest.jpg First day of harvest - Phyllostachys aurea grove ( http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=884)
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/503/thumbs/359P_Aureagrove_-_Before_harvest_2_0181b.jpg Before Harvest (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=854)

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Joseene,
This is great news to hear of your background with paper-making!
I am very interested in learning more about the history and current state of the art of bamboo paper making.
Several years ago I embarked on making bamboo paper from our grove for only one reason - to see if I could do it.
It really was a magical, (and laborous) experience!

> Have small equipments to papermaking? Something like laboratory research?

Just a little backyard research, cooking up 1-5 lbs at a time.

> P.aurea it is the best bamboo to papermaking?

This is inconclusive. I will have to try out the other 1199 species of bamboo first, before I can give you my opinion!

The main reason for making paper is for the experience of exploring a process of using bamboo that for most of us is mysterious, unknown.

I haven't met anyone (in the US) who has made their own bamboo paper, (where are you, bamboo paper makers?)...
I have met others who make paper from pre-bought (non-bamboo) pulp, or have made `easier to pulp' paper from other garden plant fibers, or recycled paper.

Papermaking in the US is mostly a recreational artistic endeavour. The actual cost of making the paper is generally not taken into consideration.
There are some things in life that are better if you don't include $$$$ in the equation. It would lose it's appeal.
Some people look at bamboo and only see $$ signs. (poor sods)
If they want to make money out of making bamboo paper then a factory / production procedure will need to be addressed to improve efficiency.

The other way is sell the paper after artistic expressions have been applied to the paper.
I have never been a paper artist, that is, I don't really draw or paint on paper, though this is where an artist can get a better price for a sheet of paper - selling it as a piece of artwork. If the artwork doesn't sell, the paper could always be recycled into new paper!

I will be preparing a new batch of pulp in the next few weeks, to use for demonstrating at some workshops that are coming up in February, so I will take pics and notes during the procedure.
I also have some pics of past paper making experiments to upload and as soon as I can get around to it.

> If others members have interest, we can do a group to exchange experiences.
Agreed! We can also exchange samples of our paper.

we could make a new forum called `Bamboo Paper Pulp & Textiles'
... which would cover bamboo paper making, pulp sculpting & the textile arts, which use somewhat related procedures that produce different outcomes...

Mark

[drososki]

I have a friend, that grows bamboo, that is interested in finding literature on bamboo paper making. I would like to get this for him as a gift. Do you know where I could find some information?