Handmade Paper Process

RAG CLEANING Rags received from hosiery mills, preferably white in color, only 100 % cotton rags are accepted. These rags need cleaning to remove synthetic fabric, pins, buttons, elastic, and color threads etc.   RAG CUTTING Cleaned rags are cut into small pieces [1” in length] to ensure uniform beating.   PULPING Rags are put in water in a beater machine. After 4 to 5 hours of beating and with marginal input of organic chemicals pulp is ready.     LIFTING Pulp is discharged into tanks and according to the grammage of the paper, a certain quantity of pulp is put into a mould.  It is spread evenly on a steel net and then pressed on a piece of fabric. At this stage, the paper is ready but contains a lot of water.   PRESSING A pile of paper and fabric is put into a hydraulic press to remove excess water.     DRYING After pressing the paper is separated from the fabric and is put for drying.  Natural drying is preferred.     CALENDERING Fresh dried paper has coarse texture; this is polished in a calendaring machine.   CUTTING / PACKING All polished paper is sorted out for quality and cut into given sizes and then it is packed in any desired quantities.      RAW MATERIALS Rags / Water / Organic chemicals like Alum Diacol , Vegetable dyes. Regular size of handmade paper is 22” x 30” Packing is ream wise i.e. 500 No – 1 Ream, 250 No – 1/2 Ream.