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Hi everybody! What a nice forum!
I'm trying to make several flat rectangles or sheets of papier mache which will later be stuck together to form a large box. So far I have not met with success.
Flat rectangles can't be totally impossible to make because I know people make walls for dollhouses and such, not to mention the tables (which I assume had flat tops) that used to be made of papier mache.
So far I've tried using a cardboard mold with cling wrap over it...the result took forever to dry and was horribly warped. Then I tried long balloons taped together...more warping.
I just read an article on the web about historical papier mache manufacture, which said that rollers and large presses were once used, then later somebody discovered that the dry papier mache could be steamed and shaped.
So has anyone here tried using a steam iron to flatten a warped sheet of papier mache? Any other suggestions? Shall I just buy a large rolling pin and resign myself to spending a few days and nights squashing air bubbles and thwarting warps?
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I'm a newbie and don't have a good answer, but you made me laugh. I've been wondering the same thing with the thought of making faux gingerbread houses to sell around Christmas. I've had an eye on my Italian pasta machine, but common sense - so far - has told me NO! Don't get paste on the rollers! 
I'm looking forward to reading answers to your question.
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I haven't tried it but there is a technique in which sheets of paper are laminated together on top of a thick sheet of glass with lots of burnishing between layers. The trick to avoiding warping is to use as little water as possible. I would use undiluted whte glue applied with a brush between layers.
For gingerbread houses you might also try using something like milk cartons as a "lost" armature that you leave inside the finished piece.
-Ken-
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Interesting problem!
So you would need to keep it (force it) flat, but also expose it to air at the same time so it can dry.
The only thing I can think of is to maybe buy two sheets of expanded metal mesh & some clamps. Lay down one piece of mesh, then two sheets of paper without glue (you don't want it to stick to the mesh), then glue on top of that as many sheets of paper as you think you'll need, then two unglued sheets on top, and put the second piece of mesh on top. Clamp around the edges and hang the whole thing so both sides can be exposed to air (or at least tilt it up against something).
And I would take Ken's good advice to heart about excess moisture.
This just a theory, but it would be nice to know if it works!
Sue
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Good idea about using a milk carton or other box as a base for "gingerbread" houses. I used to make very elaborate ones out of the real thing - dough, icing, etc. - but they're difficult to store (mice) and eventually have to be disposed of. The milk carton idea would work very well because I could cut them into whatever shapes I want and staple them together. Thanks for the idea, Ken.
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