Thread: paper mache recipe??

Tweet

Is there a recipe thats better for paper strips? Preferrably cheap lol as I will be using a lot of it. Im gonna attempt to make an alien body. I know there are tons of recipes online but I was hoping someone here could recommend one that worked well for them.

The best I have found is to use half elmers white glue and half water.

I have also just used water and flour, but I like the glue better.

Some people add corn starch, I have tried it but didn't really notice a difference.

Wrote this about the popular recipes on my little blog:

Ye olde flour and water: Mix flour and water together to the consistancy you want. Easy, cheap, effective. Not that strong.

Ye olde cooked flour and water: Mix flour and MORE water, bring to boil and simmer down to consistancy you want. Same as above, but ensures no lumps.

Glue and water: Can't get more easy. Slightly stronger than the flour/water, but does not flatten down as well, and prone to cracking.

My own concoction that produces a STRONG glue (1 pinata, 8 layers of this glue and newspaper, 30 kids ranging from age 5 to 12, 3 swings (un-blindfolded) a piece, a 10 ft fall when the rope it was hung from broke, and it still took an adult with a baseball bat to break) that is slightly flexible once dried:

The UnOrthOdOx Power Grab Paper Mache

Need: 1 tube all purpose Power Grab
2 cups Flour
Water
Salt
pot you don't mind possibly ruining.

Measure 6 cups of water into the pot and bring it to a boil.
While it's heating up, in another bowl measure 5 cups water, 2 cups flour, some salt to prevent mold, and 1 tube power grab. I used a whisk I bought at the local good will store.

Now, add the contents into the boiling water, stirring constantly till it reaches the desired consistancy. Think pancake batter. (About 3-5 min) Let cool before using.

*Optional* If the smell bothers you, add in some cinnamon to the mixture to mask it somewhat.

This stuff, has been a joy to work with so far.

With only 3 layers, it was strong enough to remove from the molds, and hold it's shape while applying more layers. And, with only 3 layers, it could withstand me squeezing on it with flattened hands. But, it did tear in a spot when Jen put that pressure more on her fingertips. Not a problem for the pinata at this point, and valuable information for future halloween uses.

Once I get a fair few more layers on, I'll be curious just how many kids will have to wail away at this thing before it breaks.

Now, as for the warning on the pot. I bought a junker pot just for these kinds of things. Boiling newspapers, making wierd experiments, etc. And, while it was in poor shape to begin with, we managed to take off more of it's teflon while cleaning the glue off.

It does make quite a bit. But, it can be refridgerated or even frozen.


Personal opinion:

If you're using a pulp, or tissue paper or something of the sort, the glue/water is fine for most halloween purposes.

If you're using heavier paper, such as newspaper or the sort, the flour recipe's give you more ability to skulpt everything smooth, if that's important for your work.

I'ld use the power grab stuff for larger items where strength might be a concern. (like the 2 10 ft tall 'totems' I made, or something that might get banged or handled a bit.)

I've always used the flour/water/salt mix, and it works very well.

I went with (cooked) flour, water and salt... so far its working wonderfully

(mix 2 cups water, 1 cup flour & 3 TBS salt ... pour mixture into 4 cups boiling water)

Best recipe I've invented is:
a whole bottle of white school glue (.17 a bottle at walmart)
4 Cups hot water
1 Cup white flour

Whisk it all up and go to town!

I use 1 cup cornstarch, 1/2 cup water, and 1/2 cup elmer's glue

Wallpaper paste. A box of the powdered stuff and warm water makes a bucket full. I have 16-year old giant skull made from it, and it has held up great.

I have used similar methods as those posted, but the wall paper paste is a new idea, if it lasted 16 years, it must be good !