The Framers Forum

Does anyone have instructions for cooking wheat starch paste on a gas hob in a sauce pan? I don’t have a microwave. Once cooked and cooled what is the best way to store and how long does it last?

Also, when weighting the pasted hinge on the artwork what do you use between the hinge and weight? I’ve read about using blotting paper over the hinge but would that not stick to the artwork

Thanks,
David.

to cook wheat paste use have to use a double boiler as with cooking a custard.

Mix dry wheat paste with purified water 1:4 - (by volume) stir as it is heated with a fork or whisk. As the paste cooks it will turn translucent from its original opaque color(stay under 100°C - 90°C is fine). If you overheat, you will have weaker paste. Strain in a tea strainer or sieve. store in a sterilized glass container in refrigerator. If too thick add a bit more water. Use for hinges at room temperature. Storage time is about a week.

I use scraps of release paper between what I do not want the hinges to stick to. My hinging weights have scraps of rag board permanently attached as blotters. They are replaced when dirty.

You can buy a material called Bondina (a release paper), from Conservation by Design. It is expensive but you can use it again and again. These can be cut into smaller sizes and then use thick blotter to remove the dampness, then a weight, this will produce a perfectly flat hinge.. Good luck.

Tyvek can also be used as a barrier.