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Question:

Can you make paper mache with glue as well?

I know that paper mache is usually flour and water, but would it hold together better with a little bit of glue in it, like mod-page? Or would it not work at all? I have to use paper mache, but it has to hold together from now until the end of June, when I actually have to use it, so I wanted to know if glue would help keep it together.

Answer:

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All the things mentioned for saturating the papers (or other paper-based products) used for making papier mache are adhesiveso starches (like in flour or wallpaper paste or in liquid laundry starch) are adhesive, as well as what we hear referred to as glues White glues are very compatible with porous materials like paper, so the're most often used as the adhesive when a glue is used in papier macheYou'd want a permanent white glue though (Elmer's GlueAll would be the cheapest and is the most commonly used, though others could be usedand ModPodge is basically just thinned down white glue.) You'll generally want to thin most regular white glues down though (even the thinnest ones like Elmers), so they'll more quickly soak into the paper and you won't have to use any more glue than you needStarches and glues are also used for papier mache because they become stiff when they're dryWhite glues will be the stiffest, but using more layers of wallpaper paste or a flour for example between layers will also result in a very strong papier mache item once dry White glues will also be highly water resistant automatically once they're dry, which is ideal if you won't be painting over (with a permanent paint) or otherwise sealing the papier mache itemif you use flour, for example, you will have to do the sealing as a separate step if you want moisture resistance and more permanenceHTH, Diane BP.SIf you do want to use a form or a mold for creating your papier mache item, put a piece of plastic wrap or aluminum foil between the mache and the form/mold to act as a releaseor for non-porous forms/molds, you can use a coating of Vaseline, etc.

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