glowinghand arts = handmade paper = vacuum tables and drying boxes

this mould is a laid mould. it is made of bamboo and is left without a "frame", so it is quite flexible. a fine woven cloth is placed between the mould and deckle

a larger deckle box is constructed of pine and waterproofed. the mould and box are held snug together with very small bungee cords at each corner

pulp is dilluted in about 2 gallons of filtered water, then dumped smoothly into the decklebox. notice the cloth on the mould. after draining for about ten minutes, the pulp sheet will be transferred to the vacuum table bottom cloth

drying larger sheets can be troublesome on windows. another method of drying flat sheets of paper is to use a drying box. the drying box is constructed of sealed marine plywood, a bathroom ventilation fan, and rolls nice on some casters

the vacuum table removes water by attaching the intake of an air compressor to the table, with a water collecting containter in the middle of the two. this vacuum table is 4 feet square and uses a soda machine reservoir.

the surface of the table is formica with evenly drilled holes attached underneath by tubing to the water collection tank

the layers for the vacuum table are:
1. table
2. bedsheet
3. pulpsheet
4. bedsheet
5. thin plastic - the trick is to use a sponge to distribute water along the perimeter of the bedsheets to form a waterseal between the table top and the plastic. the compressor can then function at maximum vacuum - the water will drip into the tank, and out of the pulp.

the layers for the drying box are:
1. three sheets acid-free double-walled corregated cardboard. it is essential than the channels of the cardboard run in the direction of airflow from the fan. these will allow fresh air to be pulled through the box
2. davey board - like a very thick blotter board
3. sheet of paper to be dried
4. davey board
5. three more sheets of the archivable cardboard
6. lastly, when all layers are stacked, the drying box lid. it should be sealed around the edges with somekind of rolled insulating foam to make the box as air tight and efficient as possible

the lid can be weighted down with buckets of water, and litho stones in this case. the fan is turned on, and in 24 to 48 hrs your large sheet will be dry.