DIY: Crafting Eco-Friendly Door Knobs from Paper Pulp
A pile of old newspapers...
Today I have an unconventional tutorial for you that will allow you to utilize piles of old newspapers and kitchen paper towel rolls, transforming them into original door knobs. As I mentioned earlier, I'm a fan of both concrete interiors and unique accessories. If you also appreciate unique decor elements, then this guide is for you!
The Process
The first step is to prepare a pulp from the newspapers, which is then placed into molds and secured with appropriate screws. You can find the recipe for the paper pulp below this post. Then, leave everything to dry. And that's when the magic happens :-) Door knobs are a small but significant element of interior decor that enriches the space without overwhelming it. Thanks to them, we can add a personal touch even to the simplest doors or cabinets.
Experiment!
After complete drying, the knobs proved to be extremely durable, which was a pleasant surprise. You can additionally protect them with a clear matte lacquer as after some time traces of hands will surely appear on them. Moreover, you can adjust their thickness and length according to your preferences. All you need is a bit of creativity and imagination – you can use thin plastic tubes or other objects of a similar shape that you have on hand.
Patience
The only challenge we may encounter while making the knobs is the waiting time for the paper pulp to dry completely. The drying time depends on the size and thickness of the tube itself. It took me a few days. The advantage is that you put them on the windowsill in the sun and the drying process goes by itself. You just need to arm yourself with patience and sometimes check if the knobs are ready. And that's it!
The Power of Detail
Door knobs are a small but significant element of interior decor that enriches the space without overwhelming it. Thanks to them, we can add a personal touch even to the simplest doors or cabinets. Their simple design perfectly fits into various interiors, they match both wooden and metal doors.
Discover New Possibilities
Designing door knobs from newspapers and paper towel rolls is not only a way to create practical accessories, but also an opportunity to use up scraps of various materials and give them a second life. Let your imagination run wild and see how many interesting things you can do using what you have on hand.
The materials and tools I used in this project:
Paper towel roll core
Utility knife
Clear punched pocket
Adhesive tape
Scissors
Screw
Sandpaper
For paper pulp:
Old newspapers
PVA glue
Water
Mixer/blender
Below is the link to the paper pulp-making instructions:
I cut the paper towel roll core into two parts, obtaining two forms with a height of 4cm. I chose a size of 4cm, but you can decide on the size of the knobs according to your preference.
I smooth out the edges of the molds with sandpaper.
I cut a strip from a clear punched pocket to fit the height of the mold.
And I secure the strip inside the mold using adhesive tape.
I prepare the paper pulp mixture.
Next, I fill the mold with the paper pulp mixture.
I place the screw along with the washer into the paper pulp mixture.
And I cover the entire thing with the paper pulp mixture. I smooth out the edges.
After drying, I smooth out the entire surface with sandpaper.
