The Thinnest Paper in the World

"It is a very old Orange Catholic Bible made for space travelers. Not a filmbook, but actually printed on filament paper. It has its own magnifier and electrostatic charge system." He picked it up, demonstrated. "The book is held closed by the charge, which forces against spring-locked covers. You press the edge - thus, and the pages you've selected repel each other and the book opens."

Re: The Thinnest Paper in the World

#5

Post by [deleted] » Thu, May 07, 2020, 10:54 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: The Thinnest Paper in the World

#6

Post by nubero » Thu, May 07, 2020, 10:54 AM UTC

I knew without clicking that it had to be Japanese… fascinating product…

Re: The Thinnest Paper in the World

#7

Post by Wildgoose » Thu, May 07, 2020, 11:15 AM UTC

I find it interesting that they use mulberry trees, seeing as silkworms famously feed on mulberry trees as well and the end products are somewhat similar.

Re: The Thinnest Paper in the World

#8

Post by thomas » Thu, May 07, 2020, 12:05 PM UTC

Reminds me of Tomoe River Paper [0]. They originally made paper for industrial purposes but now sell it to fountain pen users. It’s made in japan as well, and unlike any paper I’ve seen produced elsewhere.

[0] https://unsharpen.com/company/tomoe-river/

Re: The Thinnest Paper in the World

#9

Post by lioeters » Thu, May 07, 2020, 12:43 PM UTC

Here's the company Hidaka Washi mentioned in the article:

https://www.hidakawashi.com/jp/paper-TENGU/index.html

They make "tengu jo-shi" (典具帖紙), the world's thinnest paper, also called "the wings of a Mayfly". Around the beginning of the 20th century they achieved a thickness/thinness of 0.03 millimeters.

The paper became popular for typewriter paper, as well as napkins, wrappers for precious stones, coffee filter, lens polishing, calligraphy, pressing flowers, fish printing.

Some paper varieties: https://www.hidakawashi.com/jp/items/index.html

After World War II, its popularity waned with the decline of typewriters.

However, in recent years it was discovered that the papar was suitable for restoration of paintings, sculptures, and historical documents. It's been used to restore murals of Michelangelo, and works in the Louvre.

Re: The Thinnest Paper in the World

#10

Post by agumonkey » Thu, May 07, 2020, 12:52 PM UTC

lioeters wrote: post #9

Here's the company Hidaka Washi mentioned in the article: https://www.hidakawashi.com/jp/paper-TENGU/index.html They make "tengu jo-shi" (典具帖紙), the world's thinnest paper, also called "the wings of a Mayfly". Around the beginning of the 20th century they achieved a thickness/thinness of 0.03 millimeters. The paper became popular for typewriter paper, as well as napkins, wrappers for precious stones, coffee filter, l…

while we're on thin and japan companies, youtube taught me about Disco, the wafer slicing disc company. Such a "trivial" problem in definition yet very impressive when you think about it.