A much better set of instructions, since my quick and dirty run down on my last post left a lot to the imagination.
I made my screens and deckles from old matching picture frames and dollar store canvases, where I pulled the canvas off the frames and stretched old polyester or silk scarves for the screen half.
Here’s a diagram with the staple order to get the tightest surface if you’re MacGyvering your own paper-makers. It won’t seem intuitive if you’ve never had to stretch your own canvas, but I’ve stretched dozens of screen and canvases — this is the best way. You’ll get a better result if the fabric is wet, but careful not to put too much tension on a weak frame.




Okay, so, basically anything with fibre can be paper pulp. I scrape all the the excess starchy bits off the peels and hang them to dry, like I have a clothesline of dessicated banana peels in the kitchen. Once they’re bone dry I throw them in a bucket. When I have enough, I soak them again, blend, make paper. Nothing needs to be added, but you can throw in extra scrap if you want.
Too much starch makes paper brittle.
Dope! Thanks homie!