paper mache

I'm interested in more functional paper mache, maybe more rugged, or maybe more quick-drying. Quick-drying would allow me to prototype things quickly.

I strongly believe that fabricating ⟺ crafting ⟺ artwork is a continuum, and that it's impossible to draw neat-and-clean dividing lines. I am happy to borrow ideas from across the aisle.

resources

• papier-mâché at Wikipedia
• Jonni Good @YouTube (Ultimate Paper Mache) UltimatePaperMache.com
  • paper mache recipes
  • paper mache for scupltures
• PapierMache.co.uk
  • there's a decent community here, including individual galleries and a forum with posts going back to 2001

people who are using paper mache in ways that I'm interested in (who have built a knowledge base that I might be able to leverage)

• parade floats are sometimes made of paper mache [google images]
• the military has used paper mache, to assist with projectiles in a cannon tube, and as temporary aircraft fuel tanks (the largest tank being 200 gallons)
• quite a few astronomy domes have been made
  • A list of astronomy domes through history. It includes a 29 foot dome that contained 1000 lbs of paper, and a 30 foot dome that contained 2000 lbs of paper.
  • a scaled-down (6 foot) astronomy dome created by one individual
    • TODO — the author mentions that it was shown off at an astronomy conference... are any photos of it available somewhere?
• quite a few full-scale canoes have been made [2]

optimizing for strength

• Jonni Good says that using wood glue (Titebond III) results in a fairly strong result

optimizing for fast-drying

• various tips from Jonni Good on what makes paper mache dry slower or faster

armature material

• chicken wire is often used as an armature material for paper mache sculptures [2]
  • Jonni Good says she prefers to not use chicken wire because the sharp exposed ends poke your skin so much.
• Jonni says she prefers to use crumpled newsprint and masking tape for the armature
  • She clarifies further: "One problem with crumpled paper as an armature is that you will have lots of bumps and edges that you didn’t really want, unless you use lots of tape. I use tons of tape, so my crumpled paper sculpture is as close as possible to the shape I want my finished project."

Jonni says that paper mache armatures can be temporary: "Once several layers of paper and paste have dried you can easily saw it in two, remove the interior form, and then put it back together with more paper strips."