I have gathered together most of the materials for making my own paper. I have a couple of reference works but nothing that directly relates to carbon transfers onto the paper ... mostly just for decorative uses or as a water color base.

Has anyone here done this? Any links or references you'd recommend? Any theories, ideas, recommendations, warnings, etc.?

Most of the hand-made paper that I have seen is not very smooth. Quite the contrary, often it is made by hand with the intent of creating texture or even a sculptural look. I suspect that your biggest challenge will be to get a surface that is uniform enough to be able to transfer to it.

I remember making paper in college. The biggest problem like is already noted: getting it smooth enough and smooth enough for carbon printing. The funniest thing about making the paper was using a VW bug for the press. We had sheets of plywood with the paper between and backed the bug for the press. We used old fiberglass window curtains. We made a paper slurry out of old egg cartons, old drawing paper and what ever scrap paper we could find using a old blender. Poured it into a form to remove the excess water and then pressed it out.

Hope this helps!

Actually, that does help ... it's a great idea. I am aware of the smoothness issue ... I figured if I got the fibers very fine and could press it hard enough I should be able to get a fairly even surface ... I wonder what a Ryder truck costs to rent for 2 days?

Hey Jim! The paper will have withstand a 110 F or so for up to 15 minutes and some cool water after that. That's a tough paper! have fun!

Vaughn

Sort of like my idea of making Wooodbury's.

Crank up a 500 lb weight to about 25 feet in the air and drop it. Put the gel relief and lead on a slab floating in wet sand. Smack it with the falling weight. Kablooie, a Woodbury relief in the lead.

Now there is a trailer park just behind my building so I can't imagine what they would think of periodic 500 lb weights dropping from 20 or 30 feet in the air might be like. I can see trailers jumping a foot off the ground, occupants and all! It is interesting that impacts of this kind are weird in their effect. Materials that are ordinarily brittle can bend. Glass can do this under certain circumstances. However this is more in the explosive impact realm. Then maybe a 5 lb charge of TNT might do it. Then the trailer park will really get upset -- and maybe the City authorities too.

Sorry, I'm a little giddy at this point.

--Dick

Sounds like something we might be able to charge admission to.