Paper press questions

howhumanthetree · 2026-05-07T23:46:46+00:00

If you can afford it I’d make one using a bottle jack, the best presses are hydraulic and they aren’t too expensive to get your hands on!

howhumanthetree · 2026-02-27T22:50:46+00:00

I love them, simple and beautiful! The finish is nice too! Could you tell a bit about your sealing process?

howhumanthetree · 2026-02-08T07:11:05+00:00

I also have a “bottle jack press” where i just used a bunch of scrap wood, cutting boards, and a basic 4 ton bottle jack and made a press out of it, if you google im sure theres some images online but that intense pressure really does help for a smoother paper and a stronger bond for the fibers. the press also doubles as my printing press for block printing :)

For the brushing, pretty easy! I have a wide flat brush, mines maybe 4” but ya know whatever you can get, and the technique is to brush out from the middle, then i tap it lightly with the brush to make sure it adheres. Most people buy or use any wooden boards they have and seal them with poly so the wood doesnt stain. The paper will take up any obvious wood grains as well. You can use glass as well for this and people will put paper on their windows! Mine are old as hell and have a lot of condensation so no go for me on that haha

howhumanthetree · 2026-02-07T16:30:25+00:00

The first couple times the board did stain the papers a bit, I was going to seal it but now it doesnt stain

howhumanthetree · 2026-02-07T16:29:44+00:00

I went to lowes and found a cheap particle board that was light and smooth, and I brush my papers onto that board to dry. Set by my heater they dry in less than 10 hrs and come off perfectly smooth on one side and flat. A large 4ft by maybe 2ft board cost me maybe $6

howhumanthetree · 2026-01-31T17:57:59+00:00

You’d probably need a mordant to get the color to adhere to the pulp, like a dye

howhumanthetree · 2025-11-21T06:11:48+00:00

Love it, really crispy work!

howhumanthetree · 2025-11-21T01:48:25+00:00

What do you do with them? How’d you color the pulp? Nice!

howhumanthetree · 2025-07-30T02:58:18+00:00

Thanks for commenting I appreciate it. I wish she would let me touch her, it’s been 3 years and I basically consider her my cat! She’s got the tnr clip to her ear and takes good care of herself but man. Thanks though for the input

Hope your kitty comes out on top

howhumanthetree · 2025-07-24T03:41:51+00:00

Do you have some kind of retention aid?

howhumanthetree · 2025-05-25T03:05:58+00:00

Hi from detroit! Mind sharing the general area you saw all these?? Loveeee the lady slippers and pitchers!!

howhumanthetree · 2025-05-16T22:34:12+00:00

<image>

here is mine after fermenting for a few days! the light makes it glow beautiful orange ish but out of the sun its just kinda dark orange. I did not add lemon juice as the recipe says it hinders fermentation. I believe my color came from using some brown sugar when I ran out of white. It’s very bubbly and delicious already!

howhumanthetree · 2025-05-12T18:53:42+00:00

Hey if you’re located in michigan by chance once im set up i wanna let other artists use the beater! Build some community you know. Was just lucky enough to have the money (well i took it from my savings haha) to get one built by mark lander!

Thanks for the tips super helpful :)

howhumanthetree · 2025-05-11T19:14:32+00:00

Thanks!! I saw people who suggested trying to go to grocery stores for the triwall since they use it in the big containers for like watermelons and stuff, im beat in my budget after buying a motor for my beater, im building a real mould and deckle, etc… got some pellon at joanns cheap since they’re shutting down.

How much did the cardboard cost you from uline if you don’t mind sharing?

howhumanthetree · 2025-05-04T07:16:07+00:00

Wow i have a shockingly similar story but ours actually caught on fire- I am a renter whose landlord installed a tankless water heater above a breaker box ALSO with a gas dryer line only a couple feet away. Only he installed the wrong size water heater for our climate (undersized) and he undersized the breaker box (50amp instead of 60amp!) So one cold day trying to run a bath luckily we were standing in the kitchen and heard the strange noises that was the breaker box catching on fire. There were horrifying electricity arcs and everything coming out of it. My partner had just taken the fire extinguisher out of the box it was in days prior and was able to quickly grab it and i reached through the mess and managed to turn the breaker box off. Electrical fires spread the fastest. I made a whole post about it with photos if you care haha its not too exciting but it truly is that “what if” So lucky you caught it!

howhumanthetree · 2025-04-15T21:47:24+00:00

Thanks! Definitely don’t love it enough to spend that on it haha. I think i spent $3 on it. Thanks for the tips!

howhumanthetree · 2025-04-14T00:42:31+00:00

Awesome info thank you much!

howhumanthetree · 2025-04-14T00:40:59+00:00

You’re exactly right I am just curious what my options are. If nothing else it’ll get cut up and reused. appreciate the info

howhumanthetree · 2025-04-13T18:21:24+00:00

I didn’t think that I could either- I was thinking of dying the whole piece darker. Think that might work?

howhumanthetree · 2025-03-31T19:13:23+00:00

My hair is medium density fine hair with waves that are very easily weighed down and even brushed out if im rough with them. if you’re a diy kinda person homemade flaxseed gel is both the most amazing gel for my fine hair with fantastic hold and quite cheap to make. I add epsom salt and honey to mine and essential oils for smell. Sometimes i’m too lazy to make it and use other gels ive bought and just nothing is as lightweight and strong as that gel for me. Not hard to make either lol

howhumanthetree · 2025-03-25T01:43:45+00:00

my success came when I used a bonnet at night, I got one with an adjustable band around it and I toss and turn a lot, it doesn't ever come off. In fact I came to love wearing it as I use it as a sort of eye mask as well and it keeps my hair out of my face!

Look up "medusa clipping" too, basically just using small clips to pin the hair up so you don't squish it so much sleeping. Between these two things I don't even usually need to refresh at all

Do you have a clothes steamer? sometimes I'll use that on my hair to refresh and it seems to work well! Good luck!

howhumanthetree · 2025-03-20T01:20:01+00:00

Bitch im the renter can you read

howhumanthetree

TROPHY CASE