Making a Sheet of Abaca

[@criswilabacafarmvlog2023]

wow its amazing video content.

[@ginapisello3143]

Thanks Helen for the demo of how you make abaca paper.

[@ArtyWildmaker]

GORGEOUS process and I love your amazing copper screen. Liz Faust had a similar screen and it made laid. Gorgeous mashed potato look of the fiber!

[@jenniferwatson7118]

Fascinating thanks!

[@bubblegum6817406]

I love this! Can I get this fine of a pulp without a Hollander beater aka can I use a blender?

[@HelenHiebert]

Hi Lindsey, unfortunately, to get a really fine paper like this you do need a Hollander. You can purchase prepared pulps from Carriage House Paper (it's heavy, so shipping isn't inexpensive).

[@MariaBk-fl2in]

This was great to watch. Thank you! Does the premium abaca sheets come with sizing? Do you add PEO to these abaca sheets or is PEO only used when youbstart from long raw fibers?

[@HelenHiebert]

Sorry for the delay - I was traveling. There is no sizing in the abaca sheet pulp. You don't need PEO - I use that only with raw plant fibers, and you don't always need it. PEO is needed when the pulp drains too fast - it helps suspend the fibers during sheet formation.

[@joeffreysegundo4665]

Amazing! We have abaca plantation in Philippines 🇵🇭 i will try to copy your procedures I hope i can get same results.

[@HelenHiebert]

The abaca I use comes from The Philippines! There are people in your country making paper with it, too. Good luck!

[@rosieee1390]

@@HelenHiebert how many papers can u make with 1kg abaca fiber?

[@HelenHiebert]

It really depends on the size of your sheet and how thick you make it. You can make quite a few sheets with 1 kg - I might get 50-75 12” x 18” sheets because they are quite thin.

[@dingflores8007]

That is a funny noise. :D