tin can papermaking

Make Your Own Paper

Recommended Grade Level K-12

Objectives
Students will be able to: 1) understand the paper recycling process; 2) learn the importance of recycling paper; and 3) make their own paper.

Method
Students will use waste paper to make new paper.

Materials
Blender
Used paper (different colors, including white)
Large steel food cans, at least 2
Support screen
Papermaking screen
|Sponges
Pressing Board or Block
Couching sheets or papertowels
Newspaper
Water Supply
Plastic dishpans (optional)
Aprons (optional)
Iron (optional)

Ordering Information

Tin Can Papermaking Kits" are also available. Kits contain screens, sponges, pressing boards and instructions.
Contact:
Greg Markim, Inc.
Post Office Box 13245
Milwaukee, WI 53213
1-414-453-1480

You may also want to locate a copy of Arnold Grummer's Tin Can Papermaking: Recycle for Earth and Art. This book is available for loan from Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, Inc.

Vocabulary
recycle, pulp, deink

Procedure

Before class, gather and prepare the necessary materials to make paper. You will need two tin cans for each papermaking station. We suggest one papermaking station for every four students in your class.
Cans: Twenty-six ounce coffee cans work well and make a usable sheet of paper. Other cans will work but the size of the finished paper will be determined by the diameter of the can you use. (Ham, sardine and other cans can be used to vary the shape of the paper.)
Blender: Any blender will work, though we recommend using a blender that will not be used to process food afterward. Paper pulp is sometimes difficult to clean out of the blender, especially if allowed to dry. We recommend one blender to every 10-15 students.
Tin Can Papermaking Kit: If you do not have a tin can papermaking kit, you will need the following:

	Support Screen: Used to support your papermaking screen which will be covered in wet, heavy pulp. This screen should be rigid. Hardware cloth is excellent. You will need at least one 6 x 6 inch piece per station.
	Paper Screen: Try using non-metal window screen. A minimum of two 6 x 6 inch peices are needed per station. Some cloth may also work.
	Sponges: Used to soak up excess water from the paper.
	Couching Sheets/Paper Towels: Used to remove even more water from the paper. Couch sheets are available in kits, but you can also use paper towels. If you are careful, you can dry paper towels and reuse them.
	Pressing Board: Used to apply pressure to the sheet of paper, allowing you to eliminate even more water and compress the fibers of the paper. Find a plastic or wooden block.

Start with two of your cans. Cut one end out of the first can (see fig. 1). Cut both ends out of the second (see fig. 2). If the cans are different sizes, be sure to cut both ends off of the smaller can. Repeat for the cans you will use at other stations.
tincan4.gif (1487 bytes)

In class, discuss the meaning of the word "recycle." Recycle means to make new objects out of waste materials. Discuss the benefits of recycling (conserve natural resources, reduce use of landfills and incinerators, more energy-efficient manufacturing process, create less pollution than manufacturing products from scratch.)

Discuss the paper recycling process. One additional step in the factory-made recycled paper process that we will not simulate is the deinking process. Deinking is the removal of inks and dyes from paper using chemicals or a washing process. We are using the inks and dyes to enhance the beauty of our recycled paper, but factories must deink it because people sometimes need white paper.

Cover your work station with newspaper or plastic. (You can also use a dishpan to catch excess water and paper pulp.) Take the one-ended tin can and place it with the open-end facing upward. Place the support screen over the opening (see fig. 3).

Place the paper screen on top of the support screen. Cover both screens with the can that has two openings. If the cans are the same size, make sure the rims are lined up, otherwise, the pulp will pour down the side of the bottom can. If the top can is smaller, center it within the larger can.

Tear waste paper into small pieces. (You can use holiday wrapping paper, cards, junk mail, construction paper, newspaper, comics, etc.) This may also be a good project to have your students do ahead of time. Put pieces into the blender, covering the bottom blades. Add water until the blender is about half full. For more fun, you can add glitter, flower petals, herbs, dryer lint to your paper. These additives will be chopped up. If you prefer flowers and leaves to remain whole, see step 8.

Place the lid on the blender. You'll need to run the blender for about 30 seconds. We prefer the "chop" mode. Run the blender longer for even smoother paper, shorter for chunkier paper. This batch will probably make enough pulp for two sheets of paper.

Pour half of paper pulp into the top can (see fig. 4). (While you are waiting for the water to drain into the bottom can, you may also add whole flowers, leaves, or small cut-outs to your paper by pressing them into the pulp. This works better if they are damp first (see fig. 5). Wait for the water to drain into the bottom can and then raise the top can straight up. Your paper will be sitting on the screen.
tincan1.gif (3203 bytes)

Place a couching sheet over the top of your paper and blot with a sponge. Excess water should drain into the bottom can and your paper will stick to the couch sheet. Squeeze your sponge and continue to blot out excess water. Remove the couch sheet with your paper stuck to it.

Cover the couch sheet and paper with a heavy drying paper from your kit, paper towels or newspaper. Press down with the pressing board. Use as much force as possible.

Carfully peel the couch sheet and towels away from your paper. Place on newspaper to dry overnight. Mark your name near your sheet of paper. To speed the process, you can iron the sheet if you place a piece of cloth over it. Use the iron on top heat but be sure the steam is turned off.

Additional Activiites

Set up a school paper recycling program.
Write a poem about recycling and copy it onto your paper after it dries.

Evaluation

Have students describe the paper recycling process.
Collect examples of products made from recycled paper. Make a classroom or school display.

*Adapted from Keep America Beautiful, Inc.'s Waste in Place elementary curriculum and Tin Can Papermaking by Greg Arnold Grummer.