Basic process of making handmade paper

 

The raw materials used for Handmade Paper are cotton rags and agro fibers.

The process of making Handmade Paper involves the following steps :

 

1.  Sorting : Rags are sorted out to remove non-cotton fibers.
2.  Cutting  : Sorted rags are cut into small pieces by means of hand knives or power operated rag chopper.
3.  Dusting : The cut material is dusted on a wire mesh or by using dusting machine to remove impurities such as dust & dirt.
4.  Beating/Pulping : Cut and dusted rags are beaten to pulp/stock in a beater machine using water and sizing chemicals.
5.  Paper lifting : Pulp is lifted by vatman with the help of a wire mesh frame either by dipping the same into traditional vat containing pulp or by pouring measured quantity of pulp into the mould held in the improved type paddle operated univat containing water.
6.  Couching : The wet sheets are transferred onto a woolen felt by mild pressing of the mould.
7.  Pressing : The wet sheet along with the woolen felts are pressed in a screw press or hydraulic press to remove maximum water.
8.  Separation : The pressed sheets are then separated from the woolen felts, which are used again. Dried sheets are then laid on wooden stands for drying, in a drying chamber.
9.  Sorting &
     Cleaning 		 : The dried sheets are sorted out and are cleaned by means of a wire brush.
10. Glue Sizing or
      Tub Sizing 		 : The cleaned sheets are then dipped in a glue solution to make them suitable for printing, painting and writing.
11. Calendaring  : Dried paper is plate glazed inter leaved  between zinc G. I. sheets and passed to and fro under heavy mechanical pressure through a power operated calendaring machine to obtain desired finish viz. rough, medium, smooth.