It's good to have extra raw material on hand in order to experiment with thickness and quality. Expect to lose the equivalent of a page or two of material in the process. Use old paper that has interesting texture. The harder to tear, the longer the fibers are in the paper. Long fibers create strong paper.
Short fibers create smooth texture.
Interesting yet durable paper balances these two ingredients. Lint from clothes-dryer lint trap is ideal paper fodder. Grab anything you can shred and that floats. But use these specialty items sparingly, otherwise the page won't hold together. Inc. All Rights Reserved.