Replies

1. 
   Bear | Apr 25, 2005 03:01am | #1

   I don't think they use any thing to tighten the paper, it is just glued on with rice paste very carefully.

   Bear

1. 
   larkins | Apr 26, 2005 10:25am | #6

   Thank you. I have never heard of rice glue, howver.

1. 
   mikegagne | May 02, 2005 10:03am | #12

   modern shoji have a plastic type replacement that looks like paper but lasts a lot longer and is easier to install. the paper craft is being lost as we speak. shoji are quite popular in Hawaii but we almost never do the paper type now....... Aloha, Mike

1. 
   larkins | May 03, 2005 09:14am | #13

   Thank you all for the helpful information. I have ordered the books referred to by some respondents from Amazon. I wil be using paper, not plastic. I am still in the last century.   Regards to all at Knots from down under.

1. 
   Zname | May 13, 2006 07:21am | #15

   I came into this discussion a little late... but, I think the traditional shoji paper is made from the bark of the mulberry tree -- just a little trivia.

2. 
   larkins | May 14, 2006 03:12am | #16

   Thyank you. I have to say, however, that the chances of me strippiong a mulberry tree are slight !

2. 
   WillGeorge | May 03, 2005 06:29pm | #14

   plastic type replacement ..

   The way to go but the post asked about paper..

   I just love that water-marked paper in the sun light..

   But just me...

2. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 25, 2005 02:21pm | #2

   Glue is made from well cooked short-grain rice (not converted rice).

   Wash with cold water and rinse until water is clear. Drain and let it sit in the colander (covered to keep moisture in) over night.

   Next morning mix one part water with one part rice and boil in a heavy cast iron pot that has a cover. Bring to a rapid boil. When it just about boils over, turn the heat way down and let it simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes.

   In other words you are making a rice that is perfect for eating! Well cooked but not mushy.

   Get a clean wooden board and gently mash the rice with a knife edged wooden stick. Sort of hard to explain but you sort of rock the stick over the rice to mash it into a smooth and pasty glue. You can also use a good quality wall paper paste.

   This glue is used for the wooden joints AND for the paper.

   This glue will dry in about 4 to 5 to five hours depending on environment and can be scraped or planed off. It will not hurt your plane blade like yellow glue can.

   Shoji paper (not made from rice!) has a smooth side and it should face out when applied.

   made taught...  Careful cutting and using the correct amount of glue helps ALOT!

   I am NO expert at this but the grid frame (kumiko) supports the paper very well so there is really no need to pull the paper taught. Just VERY CAREFUL handling of the paper.

   Rice glue takes awhile to dry so you have time to position the paper carefully. Gee.. you can even go for a 'snort' or two in the process..

   I would suggest taking some of the paper and practice on a small frame you can make. You can even use part of you screen. If the glue dries the paper can be removed by misting it with water. Glue can be removed with careful scraping with a cabinet scraper without damaging the wood. Be sure the frame is dry before starting again.

   Get the book..Making Shoji by Toshio Odate. Linden publishing..

   The book however does not cover much on how the paper is actually applied.

   It is sort of like doing your old paper model planes. Not the doped cloth.. Like doing the old tissue paper covered ones.

   Good luck and have fun! It is sort of like making a good timber joint. Patience and Practice!

   
   

   ---

   Edited 4/25/2005 7:31 am ET by Will George

1. 
   larkins | Apr 26, 2005 10:27am | #7

   hank you. I have never heard of rice glue, but yljur information is very helpful. Larry

2. 
   MatthewSchenker | Apr 26, 2005 08:01pm | #9

   "In other words you are making a rice that is perfect for eating! Well cooked but not mushy."Sounds so wholesome, I'd love to try it!How strong is rice glue? Can it be used for anything other than shoji screens?

   Edited 4/26/2005 1:02 pm ET by Matthew Schenker

1. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 29, 2005 07:34pm | #10

   Sorry for the late reply.. I didden't see it  Geeeeeeee..

   I do not know for sure.. All I know is it is not very water proof! Just traditional usage I think.. I think you can make a glue out of almost anything that has starch or gluten.

   Ever try to get crumps from toast off a plate?  LOL..

   I think the main reason the rice glue was used is because the paper is replaced every year and to make repairs easy.. Just wet the paper and presto! Besides they had A LOT of rice!

1. 
   MatthewSchenker | May 01, 2005 09:52pm | #11

   Will,
   I have noticed that if rice sticks to ceramic or metal, then dries up, it takes a huge effort to remove it! Water eventually gets it off, but with a lot of elbow grease.

3. 
   scarfjoint | Apr 25, 2005 05:13pm | #3

   As others have said, the paper is glued down with the rice glue. Make sure you smooth it out to reduce wrinkles. It doesn't have to be perfect. After is all dries, take a mist bottle full of water and lightly mist the paper. As the paper dries it contracts and becomes tight as a drum. I think this process is described in Van Arsdale's book on shoji making. He's the one that taught me how to do this.

1. 
   larkins | Apr 26, 2005 10:28am | #8

   Thank you. I will give it a try

4. 
   Peter36 | Apr 25, 2005 05:28pm | #4

   Will George certainly sounds like he knows what he is talking about. If you are trying to pull the paper tight though, you could build 2 frames and place them end to end [narrow edges together] place a piece of 2x4 under the opposite ends [not the edges touching, the opposite ends] This will shorten the distance between the ends. Apply the paper, and only glue the short edges with the 2x4 under it. When the glue is dry, apply glue to all the remaining areas and then remove the 2x4's and press down the paper. When the glue has dried cut the piece between the screens. Obviously all this varies with the paper, how thick the 2x4 blocks should be etc. etc.

1. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 25, 2005 09:16pm | #5

   Will George certainly sounds like he knows what he is talking about....

   Geee  THANKS! Wish I could have got my kids to think that when they were growing up.