PAPERHANGERS' PASTE

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1641, 14 May 1925, Page 6

PAPERHANGERS' PASTE

HOW TO MAKE IT.

(By Stephen Haines, in the London Daily Chronicle.)

Unless the paste used for hanging wall papers is well made the work will be spoilt. A simple way to make the paste is as follows: — Into a big basin put some white flour, and having made a hole in the middle of it pour in some cold water very gradually, working the flour in from the sides until a stiff batter has been formed and is quite free from lumps. Now thin it carefully with more cold water until it resembles the consistency of thick cream, but on no account make it too thin.

Have a big kettle of boiling water ready, and ask someone to pour the water slowly into the batter while you beat vigorously all the while In a short time the paste will thicken and be ready for use If there is no one at hand who can lend a hand, only a small basinful of flour should be used, in order that one person may beat and add the boiling water at the same time A second lot of paste can be mede if required The paste should not be used until it is nearly cold, and if a skin has formed on the top il should be removed.

If any paste is left over and is likely to be used in the immediate future a few drops of oil of cloves should be adde dto keep it sweet. It is not advisable to use ground alum, as this will affect ingrain papers and take the colour from those with metallic effects.