Tissue mache

[Pinz]

Morning all

So in school we would use paper mache but do you think I can remember how to make it

So does anyone have a recipe? I’ve read up a few but there made with flour I can’t see that being strong enough so can I use a glue instead?

 

[Gary MacKenzie]

Flour and water is a powerful glue.
Leave the last few cornflakes from breakfast in a bowl , and try to ry them off later if they dried out and stuck to the bowl.
Its the starch that causes the glue action https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papier-mâché

And yes , in that web link it suggests other glues.

 

[Mr Bowcat]

I've used newspaper dunked in thinned PVA glue, works fine for papier mache.

 

[Pinz]

I've used newspaper dunked in thinned PVA glue, works fine for papier mache.

I’ve got a lot of toilet tissue so do you think I could just use that with pva?

 

[Mr Bowcat]

i don't see why not, just give it a good squeeze out to get rid of excess liquid. Wet tissue on it's own can dry fairly hard.

 

[Ian M]

Flour and water is a powerful glue but be warned, it can go mouldy.
Cheap PVA thinned with water. Or good old wall paper paste.
PVA is good as it dries quite quick. But is a mess to work with and clean up.
Wall paper paste takes longer to dry, but is easy to work with and clean up. And a lot cheaper.
News paper, ripped into postage stamp size, or run through a shredder. Mix up some paste to a thin mix (a bit like emulsion paint) Mix in the paper and mash it all together and leave for a few hours, Cover the bowl to keep it moist. You should end up with a porridge like masse which you can form over things with your hands, a bit like squishy clay. After a few days to a week it should be hard enough to paint and handle.

 

[rtfoe]

I’ve got a lot of toilet tissue so do you think I could just use that with pva?

David, yes you can. There are two ways to use it. One is to mash it up with PVA glue and a bit of water until it becomes the consistency of dough. You can use it to build up terrain shapes. The other is used in sheets to seal foam polysterene coating first with PVA and laying sheet after sheet and spreading PVA over it just like the dio I have done here where you can still see the glued tissue at the edges in black...



Cheers,
Richard

 

[Pinz]

Thanks guys
So there is no need to spend on mod podge? Do I still need plaster Paris? So I can be sanded and get a smooth river bed?

 

[Gern]

I cant imagine being able to sand papier mache to a smooth surface, but plaster of Paris can be. If you need a shiny finish though, you'll need varnish before painting. Can't help you with mod podge though.

 

[Pinz]

So I’ve put wall paper paste with shredded tissue and it recommended 3.5 litres of water to a small bag
after mixing for couple of minutes it got real thick so I’ve added an another 2.5 litres of water and it’s lovely it’s like a porridge texture now to see how long it takes to dry

 

[rtfoe]

David, actually the less water you use the better to lessen the shrinkage while it dries. In this case apply in layers...don't want it to end up like lava cake, hard on the outside and soft in the middle.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Pinz]

So I’ve put wall paper paste with shredded tissue and it recommended 3.5 litres of water to a small bag
after mixing for couple of minutes it got real thick so I’ve added an another 2.5 litres of water and it’s lovely it’s like a porridge texture now to see how long it takes to dryView attachment 329996

Just a heads up was terrible
I put way to much in spots and realised it would NEVER dry so I’m starting again but with all your guild lines so live and learn

 

[AlanG]

Nothing like learning from your (and others) mistakes.