Handmade Paper help ~

[tiffanyharvey.livejournal.com]

I've made a few batches of handmade recycled paper now, but I am not happy with how they are drying. They really are rather straight, but still too wobbly for my tastes. Mostly they look flat but do not really sit flat on the table I guess...


I was wondering if anyone had any tips ~ right now I am letting them air dry on shop cloths (for couching) and then ironing them after they are very dry. I tried pressing the last batch until they were all the way dry... I removed them when they were very nearly dry & then they curled up all of the sudden.

Also, I will stack them & try to press them, like after they are dry or after they are ironed, but if one sheet has a curve then the next sheet takes that shape & the curve just gets bigger.


Also, I was wondering if anyone has had troubles with wobbly shop cloths ~ I use them for couching. They are so nice & straight off of the roll, but then once they get wet the middle stays straight but two of the edges become very wobbly. Even ironing does not get rid of the curls. I am wondering, did I just buy a bad brand or is this a normal thing?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I am going to teach my friends in a few days to make the paper, so I would really like to have the drying down better by then so I don't send them away with curly sheets.