The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-06-25


may acquire it and get the most pleas.
ing results. 1t is an inexpensive
amusement. The plaster costs only 81
a barrel, says the Boston Globe, and
enough may be had for rs cents to last
the most enthusiastic amateur fol
months.
The first thing to consider in making
cast of hand is to have the hand
to be experimental with in the best
possible condition. The nails should be
carefully shaped and the cuticle press
ed into place. The hand should be
washed in warm water so that the mus
cles become relaxed and the fingers
supple and the cold tap run over ii
long enough to close the pores, rub the
hand and as far up the arm as the cast
is to be taken, with glycerine. This
will prevent the plaster from sticking.
Great care should be taken not to let
the glycerine escape any part. 1t
should be brushed under the finger
nails with small cancels hair brush.
Take a large bowl and pour the water
into 1t, then sprinkle the plaster in I'M
I'll 1t reaches the surface Of the water
Stir brislly until the whole is of uni
form consistency. 1t must not, how
ever, be stirred too long or the plaster
loses its nature and will not harden.
When it is first mixed the plaster
should be like very thin cream. The
hand upon which the glycerin has been
rIhbn6 Ia fhnYl Lott 81
rally upon piece of old sheeting or
soft towel, which is dropped upon the
table and allowed to assume it's natural
pose. Then the plaster should be tax
en- out in small teacup and poured
over the hand in as thin a coat as pos
sible at first. So that no air bubbles
may remain the caster should blow the
plaster until every bit of air has es-
capped. After the hand is well covered
with the first coat, the rest of the pIas-
ter should be quickly added and even
ly distributed until the cast is about
two inches thick. The hand should be
kept perfectly quiet until the plaster
has set. This takes about fifteen min
utes. AS soon as the hand begins to
feel the heat Of the plaster it should
be carefully lifted up by the caster and
turned over. Then all the little bits of
paster which have leaked through be-
tween the fingers should be broken
away by the caster Sometimes a dull
tool, such as a stone-cutter's chisel. is
Of much ASST tance, and it must be re-
membered that all the patience of the
caster and I'll 9 sitter are required to
remove the HIND without injury to the
mold. After the plaster has had ten
or htteen minutes in which to set the
sitter may begin to wiggle and gradu-
ally work the fingers without doing
harm to the cast, and though the hand
appears to be firmly imbedded in the
plaster, it will soon be felt to be break
ing away If the muscles of the fingers
are firmly stretched backward and for
ward, Once the hand is free the cast
must be placed where it will drv slow
ly. 1t should not be touched for two or
three days. Before the cast is made the
mold should be washed out with boiled
oil and soap. This should be appIied
with soft brush which will not in
lure the fine lines in the mold After
he plaster has set for the second time
he outer covering can be gently chin
led out by blunt stone cutters chisel
md hammer, This DESTROYS the |
mold, but should leave the cast per-
ect. To mount the hand, fill a small
'blong tray which has been well rinsed
With either glycerin or boiled oil with
'laster Of paris, and before it is quite
lard place the hand on the plaster so
hat the finger tips, wrist and palm |
ust become imbedded enough to adj
ERE,
The casting Of the face is no more
ificult than the casting of the hand.
it is done in the proper way. II is
1ost simple to have the sitter lie on
is back, with a low cushion under the
cad. Great care should be taken in
oVering the face, particularly the eve
DIS with glycerin.
The eyebrows should be covered with
thin coating of clay, and a mustacbe
lould be built out with clay, modelled
! just the form in which it grows. and
len glycerined. A towel should he
laced far back under the chin, brought
round the front of the ears, and fas-
med firmly over the top of the fore
cad, just where the hair begins.
Small pieces Of wax or clay should
inserted in the nostrils, through
hieh the sitter draws breath. This
lows the lips to be kept naturally
osed while the mold is being taken
the mouth.
Before the plaster is applied il is
ost essential that the caster explain
the sitter that after the plaster has
ZEN applied he win become conscious