Creating a wooden flower press for drying flowers is a simple yet effective way to preserve flowers for crafts, gifts, or decorations. The process is inexpensive, requires basic woodworking skills, and offers a rewarding result. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to make your own flower press.
Materials Needed:
- Wooden boards (2 pieces): Choose a wood type like pine, plywood, or any softwood, as it is easy to work with and affordable.
- Wooden slats or strips (4 pieces): These will be used as spacers between the wooden boards to apply even pressure.
- Clamps (or screws): To hold the press together tightly.
- Screws or bolts: To fix the boards and spacers together.
- Washers: To distribute pressure evenly when using screws or bolts.
- Drill: To make holes for screws or bolts.
- Sandpaper: To smooth out rough edges and surfaces.
- Rubber bands (optional): To provide additional pressure or hold flowers in place.
- Tissue paper or blotting paper: Used to separate the flowers inside the press.
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Wooden Boards
Start by cutting two rectangular pieces of wood to the size you prefer for your flower press. A common size is around 10″ x 12″ (25 cm x 30 cm), but you can make it larger or smaller depending on your needs. These will be the top and bottom pieces of the press.
Tip: Ensure the boards are smooth and flat. If they’re rough, sand them down to make sure the flowers inside won’t be damaged by sharp edges.
2. Cut Spacer Strips
Cut four wooden strips to act as spacers. These strips will be placed between the two boards to maintain an even pressure when you clamp the press. The strips should be around 1-2″ (2.5 cm – 5 cm) in width and about 10″ long, matching the shorter length of your wooden boards.
Tip: The spacers should be cut slightly thinner than the thickness of your wooden boards to allow the press to be tightened.
3. Drill Holes for Fastening
On both wooden boards, measure and mark where you want to place the screws or bolts. You’ll need at least four holes for securing the spacers.
Drill holes through both boards and the spacers. Ensure the holes are aligned so that the screws or bolts can pass through all layers, holding them together tightly.
Tip: If you’re using screws, drill slightly smaller holes than the screw diameter to ensure a firm grip.
4. Assemble the Flower Press
Place one wooden board as the bottom layer. Next, stack the spacers on top of the bottom board, evenly spaced. Then, place your second wooden board on top of the spacers.
Insert screws or bolts through the pre-drilled holes to hold everything in place. If you’re using bolts, be sure to add washers to distribute the pressure evenly and avoid damaging the wood.
Tighten the screws or bolts enough to hold the boards firmly together but not so tight that they cause damage.
Tip: If you don’t want to use bolts or screws, you can use a set of adjustable clamps to hold the press closed.
5. Prepare for Drying Flowers
Once your press is assembled, you’re ready to start pressing flowers. To begin, place a piece of blotting paper or tissue paper on the bottom layer of the press. Lay your flowers on the paper, making sure they are not overlapping to ensure even pressure and drying. Place another piece of blotting paper on top of the flowers to protect them.
Add more flowers as needed, layering the press with tissue paper between each set of flowers. Once the flowers are in place, carefully close the press and tighten the screws or clamps to apply pressure. You want to make sure the press is tight enough to press the flowers flat, but not so tight that it crushes them.
6. Let the Flowers Dry
Place the flower press in a dry, cool, and dark place, like a closet or drawer, for 1-3 weeks. Check the flowers occasionally to ensure they are drying properly. The drying time depends on the thickness of the flowers, humidity levels, and the amount of pressure used.
Tip: If you notice that the flowers are too moist, you can change the blotting paper to help absorb the moisture.
7. Using the Dried Flowers
Once the flowers are fully dried, carefully remove them from the press. The flowers will be flat, dry, and ready to use in a variety of projects, such as scrapbooking, card making, or framing for artwork.
Additional Tips:
- If you’re pressing delicate flowers, such as violets or orchids, you may want to use wax paper instead of blotting paper for extra preservation.
- You can experiment with using different types of paper, such as newspaper or parchment, to see which works best for your flowers.
- If you want to add decorative elements to your press, you can paint or stain the wood, or add a design using wood-burning tools.
By following these steps, you’ll have a functional and efficient flower press that will help you preserve beautiful blooms for various creative projects. The best part is, it’s entirely customizable based on your preferences!
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