From: Daniel McGuire <dandmcguire-AT-mac.com> 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 _______________________________________________ List address: puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org Admin interface: http://lists.driftline.org/listinfo.cgi/puptcrit-driftline.org Archives: http://www.driftline.org
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