Eggbert's Guide to Building a Simple Pour Hand Mold   

A pour mold can be built to any dimensions desired. Building it to the dimensions suggested here will produce handmade paper approximately 8 1/2" x 11".

Materials

• 2 pieces of wood 1" x 3" x 13"
• 2 pieces of wood 1" x 3" x 8.5"
• 2 pieces of wood 1" x 1" x 13"
• 2 pieces of wood 1" x 1" x 8.5"
• Hardware cloth 8.5" x 13"
• Screen 8.5" x 13" (purchased commercial papermaking screen or non-metal window screen)
• Velcro for straps (30" each of loop and hook sides)
• Nails
• Staples (optional)

Construction

1. Nail the four 1" x 3" pieces together in a frame (Fig. 1-A)
2. Nail the four 1" x 1" pieces together in a frame (Fig. 1-B)
3. Cover the 1" x 1" piece frame with hardware cloth (Fig. 1-C). Secure with nails or staples.
4. The 1" x 3" pieces form the deckle. The 1" x 1" pieces form the papermaking screen support, which can also serve as the drain rack. To assemble, place the screen on the support's hardware cloth, then place the deckle on top of the screen. You'll need to secure the screen support tightly against the deckle for sheet formation, but loosen it to remove the screen suppport and new sheet after sheet formation. Use velcro straps (can be loose or stapled to one side of the deckle on the outside of the 13" side. Use 15" of loop side and 15" of hook side overlaping "end to end" for each strap. Straps can be stapled to the outside of one of the 13" sides of the deckle.

Thank You Sweetie :-)