Missouri Valley times., 1901-08-08
AMATEUR SCUl,pTOnS
THsy FEED COOL HEADS ANn FIRST
GLASS PLASTER.


BE Made Is t;.c Beginner Has IL Lit
tie Inisc..C..y ;;nd Patiencc-Cnst OF
the Rnby,'s Hand.
Few people realize the pleasure and
making plaster casts. 1t is inexpensive,
and the utensils required are found in
every household. n cast OF the baby's
chubby hand or foot CT, i'll fact Il cast
of any kind is not only Il delight but
an ornament. The great secret in MAX
ing successful plaster casts lies in not
getting excited. Care should bc used
when getting the plaster that it he
plaster of paris and that it he bought
from some shop where it is sure to be
sresh as that Which is obtained from
Il drug stcle is apt to be stale and will
not set properly.
\ few quarts of plaster should be
sufficient for Il first attempt. G bucket
oi water. tin basin. Il tin spoon, some
Gil OF scapsuds and, if possible. some
common modelling clay and !: bottle OF
| ink are all the materials required \
mold is first taken of the object, ant!
when this is filled it gives the cast.
There arc two kinds of casts-thosc
where only part OF the object is shown,
| the other cart resting OH Il tile or
plaque. and those that show the whole
object or are in the ground" The hand
is about AZ, simple an object as can be
found ai:l is more Interesting than
; most things. AS the hand OH the tile
is Tie easiest. it would bc we'll to start
With that. Place a sheet of paper Oil
table and then grease the hand thor
oushly with the oil or thick soapsuds
to prevent the plaster from sticking to
the skin when removing the mold.
When tho hand is placed i'm the posi-
ton wanted, iill the spaces underneath
| ii. Whcro it does not touch the table,
With clay, or il clay cannot be obtained
use putty. 1t is convenient to make IL
small wall of clay around the object to
| prevent the plaster fraHl running, but
| IT is Not necessary. Put about n Quart
OF cold water in the basin and pour the
| plaster into it, stir quietly and keep the
spoon under water to avoid making
bubbles. Use enough plaster to make
ii the consistency of batter If Il little
salt is added or liat water instead of
cold is used, the plaster will harden or
set more quickly. \ small quantity of
lnls or amy Colorin- 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
i b,,,tys
/ taking care that there are no bubbles,
until it is about half am inch thick. 1t
viii require II fcw minutes for 1T to set
and Is ready to lift off when it can bc
scratched With Il knife. 1t is easier to
turn the hand and mold up and lift
the hand out than to take the mold off
the hand. Ii amy plaster has run under
tie fingers, cut 1t away with dull
knife.
Should the hand not come out easily,
working the fingers separately will Of
ten loosen them. The mold should be
allowed to dry Il few hours and then be
filled with white plaster, the same con.
slste'lcy as was used for the mold. \
wall OF clay about am inch high will
have to be built around the edge of thc
mold. which WHOM filled gives the tile
for the cast to rest ON. Let the whole
dry and then chip the mold away with
a knife. The mold. being of Il different
color, can be readily distinguished from
| the cast
In making the mold for q cast in the
round. after the hand has been oiled,
sink 1T To about half an inch in a bed
OF plaster, leaving about half an inch
for 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
ore after putting the hand half way
III ti.c plaster ard before this has dried,
u; to put thin strong string around ull
the edges of tic fingers, letting the
ea@:' coiae out ut the wrists. When
the lla,el is entirnly covered with plas.
ter AID before ii LAS hardened pull the
string out. which cut; it i'll two. The
h"iii'@r ci lling both these kinds of
lnolois is the same. Oil and tic the two
'H.lNcs tightly together and fill with
| plaster, let harden and lift the mol,ls
| off.
only Gre cast can he made from
mods like these. AT shops w..erc plas-
ter o;ists az" made AID sold and a
| I.unlicl' Gf the s;,:.lc casts are wanted
Il gelatin mold is made Eeiig elastic.
ii is easily pulled of without harm ia
the cast and still retains its shape :,lld
can he filled any number of times. The
| yellow or ivory lini.sh that is; given to
many casts is oi;;ainel ay using wllite
sllellac, which can hc Lad already
lnlacd fronl Il paintsl.op. BY adding
oil paint any desired cclor can he oh
tanned. Rubbing With cloth gives a
high polish. \ bronze finish can he
given by coating with IL mixture of
white WAX dissolved in turpcntine, to
which bronze or green paint has been
added
n fine set OF casts, which would In
ltcrest children and could be used in tile
sclioolroom. could he easily made, such
as fruit OF vegetable forms, apples, ba-
hanas. potatoes and Germ, or simple
animal forms. such as frogs, fish, etc.;
also models that one has made and
wishes to prcserve.-Go Housckee,-
ing.
L
An Exception.
A little girl read composition be-
fore the minister. The subject was "a
Cow" She wove in this compliment:l-
rs sentence: "A COW is the most use