Make a Quick and Easy Plant - Flower - Book Press

[@jessicalee7119]

Thank you ~ I appreciate your "right to the point" style. 👍✌

[@captainglad4966]

Thank you as well! this isn't at all like the one I used in college but I think this is the one I am going to go with for my future plant presses.

[@jeannepaglio5582]

A simple process I can do on my own. Thank you.

[@Offred]

Very straightforward - thank you!

[@lnewms8349]

This is so clever!

[@onrykiten]

Thanks for this! I am in the process of making my own

[@kryptik0]

Great idea. I would make the screws about 1/4 of the size shown here, making it easier to disassemble the press quickly.

[@marshalmade1567]

Length of the bolts you use would depend on the thickness of what you're pressing. So if it's narrow handmade journals or a few plant specimens then you could easily go for a shorter bolt length.

[@mist4926]

I do several flowers so it takes several layers. But yes make as long or short as you like. I don't have the bolt so I'm going to try clamps for now

[@breanna6600]

I just made mine. Ty so much for this video!!! So helpful

[@marshalmade1567]

Awesome! Enjoy!!!

[@annegray8845]

Very nice! A very helpful tutorial! Thank you!

[@hollycampbell4103]

Thank you! I'm making one for my grandson.

[@mist4926]

Can i use pine board.

[@BaltzerVids]

That looks a bit light to me. If you made another would you go thicker ply and bigger bolts?

[@natayquesodeleche380]

Hi John. What is the length of the bolts. I want to load several layers of cardboards and flowers and was thinking that the bolt has to be long. Thanks

[@marshalmade1567]

Length of the bolt is up to you. I used 5-6" bolts. Some people think that is too long, but for me that length worked great for doing multiple layers as you described. If you're just doing a layer or two, you spend extra time spinning the wing nuts down the excess of each bolt.

[@themuddycow2024]

So do you put the book in between the press with the flowers in it? Or just put the flowers in the press? What actually dries them out then? I'm a little confused.. Sorry.

[@marshalmade1567]

Some folks use this press for making books and journals. If you want to use it to press flowers, you can put them between layers of newspaper and corrugated cardboard and tighten the nuts. The newspaper draws out the moisture over the course of a week or two. You can also use thick craft paper or purchase specialized blotting paper. You're just looking for paper that can absorb the moisture. Hope that helps!

[@nicojo3042]

You'll want to make a layered press 'sandwich'. From the bottom up stack it in-between the wood like so: cardboard, newspaper, absorbent paper, mounting paper, plant specimen, parchment paper, absorbent paper, newspaper, cardboard. Do this for each individual plant or flower specimen for the best results. The pressure from the force of the press along with absorbent paper releases all the moisture from the plant, preserving it flat. So be sure to arrange it how you like before pressing!

[@kerrywright8950]

How long does it take to dry in the press?

[@marshalmade1567]

That depends on the moisture content of what you're drying. A couple days for sure, but some thicker speicimens may take longer. If you have some sheets of corrugated cardboard on either side of your blotting paper or news paper you could always put it on front of a fan to speed things up a bit.

[@somedwarf1059]

we did a plant press like this in elementary school, but I sadly don´t have mine anymore :

[@alainaweidner978]

thabk you this will help with my school prject

[@audyo14]

Did you just say your name is marshal John? My uncle is John Marshall

[@marshalmade1567]

Hi Audrey, I actually worked at a western themed camp for a number of years and Marshal was my title like an old-time US marshal. All the kids called me Marshal Jon:)

[@audyo14]

@@marshalmade1567 that's so cute! ☺️