> -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf Of Alice Howell
> > Wheat paste IS flour and water, cooked together. Use plain, > unbleached > flour that has no additives, plus water, and you have pure wheat > paste. One part flour to five parts water, cooked for a > minute or two, > stirred frequently. For the small fan I made, I needed only about a > teaspoon of flour. > > Happy lacing, > Alice in Oregon Although Japanese wheat paste is (obviously) "flour", it differs from flour that you buy in the grocery store. I think it is really starch, very fine and pure. I was originally informed about this by the conservator at the rare books library at the university where my husband used to work. I had written to ask his advice (he is, bar none, the most informed individual I've ever heard regarding issues of conservation) for what to use to mount the fans. He told me that regular (supermarket) wheat flour still has many impurities that may in later years cause stains. He highly recommended the use of the Japanese wheat paste (Zen Shofu). It is a very pure form of flour, and I think it is finer. Of course his experience is with books, not textiles, but the same concerns apply. I use a 1:5 ratio paste:distilled water (1/4 tsp. was enough for my very very large fan) cooked 15 seconds in the microwave. I keep it frozen until I need it and it has lasted for years. Here's some more information: http://www.nedcc.org/plam3/tleaf66.htm (Northeast Documents Conservation Center) "Conservators recommend paste that is homemade from pure starch extracted from flour, usually wheat or rice flour. This starch is available from conservation suppliers in powdered form. A recipe for starch paste follows, as well as directions for making paste in a microwave oven. " And for those of us who have scorned the idea of using wallpaper paste, here is a permutation from the same source as above (using wallpaper paste compared to methyl cellulose to me is as using store flour to wheat paste): "ANOTHER SIMPLE PASTE: METHYL CELLULOSE Methyl cellulose, the main ingredient in most commercial wallpaper pastes, is acceptable for conservation purposes if used in its pure form. It is available from conservation suppliers as a white powder and does not need to be cooked." More information, and instructions, about each method and more appear on their web site. I still think it worth the time and expense in hope of having my lace look nice longer. Regards, Carolyn - - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
