The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-07-24
AMATEUR SCULPT0RS
THEY NEED COOL HEADS AND FIRST
CLASS PLASTER.


the Baby'a Hand.
Few people realize the pleasure and
instruction that can hc gained from
making plaster casts. II Is Inexpensive
nnd the utensils required are found III
every household. \ east of the babys
chubby hand or foot OF, In fact east
of any kind Is not only II delight, but
an ornament The great secret In max
ing successful plaster casts lies In not
getting excited. Care should he used
when getting the plaster that II he
plaster of paris and that II he bought
from some shop where il is sure TO he
fresh, as that which Is obtained from
II drug store is apt to he stale and win
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 soupsuds and, IL possible, some
common modelling clay and bottle of
ink are all the materials required. \
mold is first taken of the object, ana
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 he
found and Is more interesting than
most things. As the hand on the tile
Is the easiest, IL would be well to start
with that Place sheet of paper ON
a table and then grease the hand thor
N,stNl, hn oil an f1,igls commands
to prevent the plaster from sticking to
the skin when removing the mold.
When the hand is placed in the posi-
ton wanted, fill the spaces underneath
1t, where it does not touch the table,
with clay, or If clay cannot be obtained
use putty. II is convenient to make II
small wall of clay around the object to
prevent the plaster from running, but
II is not necessary. Put about 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
it the consistency of batter. If II little
salt is added or hot water instead of
cold is used, the plaster will harden or
set more quickly. \ small quantity of
ink or any colorng matter will make il
easier to distinguish the mold from the
cast and will also make il 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 I'M inch thick. 1t
will require few minutes for 1t to set
and Is ready to lift off when it can be
,,.itl Isnf t., tg.
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 II away with dali
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 ana then bc
filled with white plaster, the same con.
slstency as was used for the mold. \
wall of clay about IN inch high win
have to be built around the edge Of the
mold, which when filed gives the tile
for the cast to rest on. Let the whole
dry and then chip the mold away with
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 an inch in 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
In the plaster and before this has dried,
Is to put a 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.
ter and before 1t has hardened, pull the
string out which cuts 1t in two 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
molds like these. At shops where plas-
ter casts are made and sold and Il
number of the same casts are wanted
gelatin mold Is made. Being elastic,
it is easily pulled off without harm to
the cast and still retains its shape and
can be filed 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 palntshop. By adding
oil paint any desired color can be OBJ
talned. Rubbing with cloth gives a
high polish. a bronze finish can be
given by coating with mixture OF
white wax dissolved in turpentlne, to
which bronze or green paint has been
added.
fine set of casts. which would in
terest children and could be used In the
schoolroom. could be easily made. such
as fruit or vegetable forms. apples, ba-
nanas, potatoes and corn. or simple