‘MAKING OF’
Ingredient Treatment and Mixing
Sawdust Base
ONE
Measure out 70g of filtered sawdust.
TWO
Add 20g sugar, 50g plain flour, you can also use cassava flour which can help to promote gluten release from the sawdust.
THREE
Mix together fully as you would baking ingredients, using your hands as mixing spoons. Do not wash your hands unless completely necessary as they have ingredients on them that you can still use. Do not use gloves, the warmth of your hands encourages gluten to be released.
FOUR
Add appropriate fillers:
There is so much waste out there that could be potential additive ingredients, if you have an inclination or an idea of another particular potential addition, go with it. It made feel like a diversion however this is how the best findings come about.
These are few of the materials that worked successfully for me.
Tangerine peel: contains oils that are released into the gluten from the sawdust - flour - sugar combination, which then not only add an orange hue to your material, but also make the mixing and dehydration process release a more tame scent. You can add high quantities of tangerine peel to your material, but do not exceed 100g to your 7:2:5 S:S:F ratio as it would compromise the gluten binder by over-diluting it.
Marble Dust: Adds a solidity and weight to your material, although adding anything more than 60g to a 7:2:5 S:S:F ratio can compromise the structural integrity of the material as it encourages a brittle texture.
Cork: can be used to bulk out the material and make it more substantial without adding excess weight, do not exceed 30g for your 7:2:5 S:S:F ratio.
Stinging Nettle Fibre Extract: Creates a softer, more fibrous ingredient to work with, allows for a more malleable surface, colour changes to a deeper brown hue, any quantity can be added to your sawdust base, however the higher the quantity added, can promote shape distortion.
Marine shells: creates a variant of surface texture within the material, dont add more than 10g to a 7:2:5 S:S:F ratio.
Paper pulp: Can bulk out your sawdust base more significantly than other additives, still adds weight, can compromise strength of gluten binder if another natural binder is not used within the paper pulp ingredient. Do not add more than half of this ingredient to your original 7:2:5 S:S:F ratio.
Larger wood shavings: allows for a different surface texture to be developed within the material, which might feel more raw and clearly demonstrates the origins of the material, however if added in excess can also compromise the structural integrity of the material. Do not add more than an extra 10g to a 7:2:5 S:S:F ratio.
FIVE
Mix in 250ml water for 7:2:5 S:S:F ratio.
SIX
Kneed for 15 minutes to release gluten which is your natural binder. This should almost feel like a baking / cake mix of some sort in texture and consistency. The longer you kneed for, the more gluten will be released, acting as a stronger binder, however after 15 minutes you will not see great differences.
SEVEN
Line your mould with cling film. This must be kept and reused. Keep as flat as possible.
EIGHT
Slowly place small handfuls of your mixture into the mould, using your knuckles and thumb to mould and join different sections of the material. Work methodically around the shape. Excess water will be released in this process, don’t worry, this will evaporate in the dehydration process, just make sure the sawdust material underneath is not uneven.
NINE
Form and refine your edges while they are still damp using clingfilm to even it out.
TEN
Dehydrate until solid, the time period will depend on what additives you have used / the thickness of your material and the size of your form. Should take between 24-30 hours at 75 Celcius, once solidified, carefully remove from mould.
ELEVEN
Remove all cling film, and clean, ready for reuse.
TWELVE
Place form back in the dehydrator, allow to continue dehydrating for 5 hours.
Your form is now ready.