Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-07-30
AMATEUR SCULPTORS
THEY NEED COOL HEADS AND FIRST
CLASS PLASTER.
riow Ornaments For the Home Can
he Made II the Beginner Vas Lit
tie ingenuity and Fatience-Cnst or
the Baby's HIND.

Few people realize the pleasure and
instruction that can he gained from
making plaster casts. 1t is inexpensive,
and the utensils required are found III
every household. y cast of The baby'S
chubby hand or foot or, In fact, cast
of any kind is not only delight, but
an ornament. The great secret IN max
ing successful plaster casts lies III not
getting excited. Care should be used
when getting the plaster that 1t be
plaster Of paris and that 1t be bought
from some shop where 1t Is sure to be
fresh, as that which is obtained from
q drug store is apt to be stale and will
not set properly.
A few quarts OF plaster should be
sufficient for first attempt. y bucket
of water tin basin, n tin spoon, some
oil or soapsuds and, if possible, some
common modelling clay and bottle or
ink are all the materials required.
mold Is first taken of the object, and
when this is filed it gives the cast.
There are two kinds Of casts-thosc
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 OH the tile
is the easiest it would be well to start
with that. Place a sheet Of paper on
q table and then grease the hand thor
oughly with the oil or thick soapsuds
to prevent the plaster from sticking to
the skin when removing the mold.
When the hand IS placed in the posi-
ton wanted, ill the spaces underneath
1t, where II does not touch the table, |
with clay, or if clay cannot be obtained
use putty. II is convenient to make Il
small wall of clay around the object 10
prevent the plaster from running, but |
it is not necessary. Put about quart |
of cold water in the basin and pour the |
plaster into ii, stir quietly and keep the |
spoon under water to avoid making |
bubbles. 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 will harden or
set more quickly. A small quantity OF |
ink or any coloring matter will make 1t
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 ii is about half an inch thick. 1t
will require a few minutes for It to set
and is ready to lift Off when it can he
scratched with a knife. 1t is easier to
turn the hand and mold up and lift
the hand out than to take the mold Off
the hand. IF any plaster has run under
the fingers, cut it away with dull
knife.
Should the hand not come out easily,
working the fingers separately will Of
ten loosen them. The mold should he
allowed to dry few hours and then he
filed 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 then chip the mold away with
a knife. The mold, being of a different
color, can be readily distinguished from
the cast.
In making the mold for 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 more difficult
one, after putting the hand half way 5
IN the plaster and before this has dried, {
Is to put thin strong string around all
the edges Of the fingers. letting the
ends come out ut the wrists, When !
the hand Is entirely covered with plaS- Z
ter and before it has hardened, pull the
string out. which cuts it in two. The
manner Of filling both these kinds OF /
molds is the same. Oil and tie the two c
halves tightly together and fill with $
plaster, let harden and lift the molds ,
off.
Only one cast can be made from !
molds like these. At shops where plaS- \
ter casts are made and sold and a
number Of the same casts are wanted {
n gelatin mold is made. Being elastic, I
it is easily pulled off without harm to f
the cast and still retains its shape and /
can be filled any number of times. The !,
yellow or ivory finish that is given to :
many casts is obtained by using white :
shellac, which can be had already
mixed from Il paintshop. BY adding u
oil paint any desired color can be OBJ f
tanned. Rubbing with cloth gives n a
high polish. \ bronze finish can be ;
given by coating with mixture of
white wax dissolved in turpentine, to
which bronze or green paint has been h
added. /
\ fine set of casts. which would in "
crest children and could be used in the
'choolroom, could be easily made. such !
rs fruit or vegetable forms. apples, ba- h
lanas, potatoes and corn, or simple
animal forms. such as frogs, fish, etc: l.
also models that one has made and r.
wishes to preserve.-Good Housekeep- I
ng. fl
An Exception. q
A little Sirl read n composition be- u
ore the minister. The subject was "A q
Cow." She wove in this complimenta- a