Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2006 20:54:27 -0600
To: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] Strengthening mat board


Folks,

I'm building shadow puppets. I'm using a new kind of desktop laser to 
cut the many holes. Traditionally, wayang are made of parchment - ie 
leather, but the laser has problems cutting leather . I wonder if there 
is a way to strengthen mat board materials. I understand that persimmon 
juice is used in Japan to waterproof and strengthen paper used for 
stencils, but I cannot find a source for it here in the states. I 
wonder if linseed oil would be at all helpful. Mat board is both a bit 
too rigid and to fragile - fold it more than 30 degrees it breaks and 
rips. I wonder if sandwiching Tyvek between two pieces of board might 
work better - it would be certainly have more tensile strength, and be 
harder to rip.

Plastics seems to be where I am headed - but it too can be brittle.

In short, I'm looking for something that is tough like leather, 
flexible like leather, perhaps translucent like leather, but ain't 
leather.

Suggestions?

Cheers,
DMCG

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