ok, I have four midsized black walnut trees on my propert from which i collect about four 50lbs sacks full of husked walnuts each fall. Now, the husks satin just about anything, I was wondering if anybody knows how I might make ink out of these things? I was thinking something along the lines of boil, strain, boil, strain, and evaporate. Also, I know paper is basically fibrs pulped bleached and pressed into shape... any ideas on making homemade paper? I was thinking about using old hair or rags, but I'm not sure how mashed up it needs to be, nor how much pressure is required to get the stuff into shape, and keep it that way.. any ideas?

-- jeremiah (braponspdetroit@hotmail.com), November 04, 1999

Answers

jeremiah,

I once saw paper made out of old cotton clothing when I was 8 years old. What I remember being done is:

1. Cloth is ground up fine and put into a water-tight box or bowl filled with warm water - should look like mush. (Make sure the bowl is very large, approx. 16" - 18" wide.)

2 Create a box sieve with fine screen, say mosquito netting. (The sieve should fit into the bowl with some room to spare.) Take the sieve and dip it into the cloth "mush". Get a decent coating on the mesh.

3. Take a piece of wood and gently push out some of the excess water and then set the sieve somewhere where it the mush can dry.

4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 as necessary until you get the paper to the right thickness (strength).

I don't remember how they kept the cloth mush from sticking to the mesh in the sieve, but perhaps a little grease on the mesh would work.

Hope this helps.

-- Deb (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), November 04, 1999.

maybe they put the mush through a roiller after it has dried a bit... i'll keep it in mind thanks! (paper will be at a premium after y2k i think...)

-- jeremiah (braponspdetroit@hotmail.com), November 04, 1999.

With wood based paper, recycle your old phone books, anything. Make a very liquid slurry of pulp then pour onto a fine mesh screen as described above. After the paper has dried, spray it with spray on starch or ironing aid. This acts as a "sixe" and prevents ink "feathering" when you write on it. Cheers Pauline from Australia

-- pauline jansen (paulinej@angliss.vic.edu.au), November 04, 1999.

Black Walnut is used to kill parasites as a herbal preparation. Fill a large GLASS jar (like a cookie or candy jar) full of "green" whole walnuts. "Green" means the hull is green and ready to fall off the tree, or very freshly fallen. fill remainder of jar with Approx. 80 Proof vodka to the top, to cover all nuts. After 3 days, drain and save walnut tincture. This will last indefinately. I wouldn't advise anyone to take this,hint,hint, but I would take several drops in hot tea if I wanted to kill liver flukes, and other intestinal bugs. This, in combination with wormwood(another hint) and cloves will do 'em in. Or it can be used as a hair or clothes dye, or stain.

-- King of Free Estimates (your@town.USA), November 04, 1999.

When I was in elementary school we had a class project of dying sheep wool with hot walnut husk/water (and vinegar? - can't remember) - did a great job. We later carded the wool, spun it on a wheel and wove it on a loom (with lots of help from an elder). I look back at those times and feel a strong desire to homeschool my son - I don't think they do much of that stuff in school anymore. Sigh....... Anyhow, don't know about ink but it is a great cloth dye.

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), November 04, 1999.

Hi, Do a search for Griffen Mill in one of the search engines.I the scrapbook section is an old ink receipe

-- Papermaking (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), November 08, 1999.