The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-09-07
AMATEUR SCULPTORS,
THEY NEED COOL HEADS AND FIRST
CLASS PLASTER

THEY NEED COOL HEADS AND FRS
CLASS PLASTER
Ornaments For the Homs-Hlnfs ~ I
How They Can be Made II the b
ginnsr Has =. Little Ingenuity ."
Patience.
Few people realize the pleasure an
instruction that can be gained frof
making plaster casts, says Good Hosst
keeping. 1t is inexpensive, and tn
utensils required are found in ever
household. A cast of the baby's chubb
hands or foot, or in fact cast OF an
kind, is not only delight, but an or
nament. The great secret in MAXIM
successful plaster casts lies in not get
ting excited. Care should be used whel
getting the plaster that it be plaster o
paris, and that it be bought from SOM
shop where it is sure to be fresh, as tina
which is obtained from drug store 1
apt to be stale and will not set" prop
eriy.
A few quarts of plaster should be suf
hcient for first attempt; bucket o.
water, tin basin, tin spoon, some Of
OF soapsuds, and if possible some com
mon modelling clay and bottle of ink
are all the materials required. A mold
is first taken OF the object, and when
this is filled it gives the cast There
are two kinds of casts, those where only
part OF the object is shown, the other
part resting on tile or plaque, and
those that show the whole object or
are in the round" The hand is about
as simple an object as can be found
and is more interesting than most things,
as the hand on the tile is the easiest, it
would be we'll to start with that, Place
sheet of paper on table and then
grease the hand thoroughly with the
oil or thick soapsuds to prevent the plas-
ter from sticking to the skin when re-
moving the mold
When the hand is placed in the posi-
ton wanted, fill the spaces underneath
It, where it does not touch the table,
with clay, or If clay cannot be obtained
use putty. 1t is convenient to. make a
small wall of clay around the object to
prevent the plaster from running, but il
IS not necessary. Put about quart
OF cold water in the basin and keep the
spoon under water to avoid making bub-
bles. Use enough plaster to make it
the consistency of batter; if little salt
is added, or hot water instead of cold
IS used, the plaster hardens or sets"
more quickly. A small quantity of ink
or any coioring matter will make it
easier to distinguish the mold from the
cast, and will also make it more brittle
or rotten" and easier to separate the
two. Pour the plaster over the hand,
taking care that there are no bubbles,
until it is about half an inch thick. Il
will require few minutes for il to
set, and is ready to lift off when it can
be scratched with knife. It is easier
to turn the hand and mould up and lift
the hand out than to take the mould
off the hand. If any plaster has run
under the fingers, cut it away with
dull knife.
Should the hand not come out easiIy.
working the fingers separately will often
loosen them. The mold should be al
lowed to dry few hours and then be
hlled with white plaster, the same con-
sistency as was used for the mold. A
wall OF clay about an inch high will have
to be built around the edge of the mold
which, when filled, gives the tile for the
cast to rest on. Let the whole dry, and
thea chip the mold away with a knife
the mold, being of different color, can
be readily distinguished from the cast.
In making the mold for a cast in the
round, after the hand has been oiled.
sink it to about half its derth in a bed
OF plaster, leaving about half an inch
TOR thickness. Make the rim smooth.
and when hardened, oil; now cover the
upper half with plaster. When set this
should knock apart easily and the hand
be lifted out. Another way, but a more
difficult one, after putting the hand half
way in the plaster, and before this has
dried, is to put thin, strong string
around all the edges of the fingers. let
ting the ends come out at the wrists
When the hand is entirely covered with
plaster, and before it has hardened, pull
the string out, which cuts it in two.
This is the best way to cast a foot
The manner of filling both these kinds
OF molds is the same. Oil and tie the
two halves tightly together and fill with
plaster; let harden and lift the molds
off.
Only one cast can be made from motds |
like these. AT shops where plaster casts
are made and sold and a number of the !
same casts are wanted, a gelatine mold |
IS made; being elastic it is easily pulled |
of without harm to the cast, and still |
retains its shape and can be filled any
number of times. The yellow or ivory
inish that is given to many casts is |
obtained by using white shellac. which |
an be had already mixed from a paint |
hop By adding oil paint any desired |
'olor can be obtained. Rubbing with a |
10th gives a high polish. A bronze |
lnish can be given by coating with a
MIXTURE OF white wax, dissolved in tur-
'entine, to which bronze or green paint
las been added.
A fine set of casts, which would in
crest children and could be used in
he schoolroom, could be easily made.
UGH as fruit or vegetable forms, apples. |
ananas, potatoes, corn, or simple ami
ial forms, such as frogs, fish. etc. also
lodels that one has made and wishes
, preserve.