The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-07-10

tie Ingenuity and Pntience-Cnst of
the Dnby's Hand.
Few people realize the pleasure and
instruction that oan be gained from
making plaster casts. 1t is inexpensive,
and the utensils required are found In
every household. 4 cast of the baby's
chubby hand or foot or, III fact, 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 be used
when getting the plaster that 1t he
plaster of paris and that 1t be bought
from some shop where II Is sure to be
fresh, rs that which is obtained from
drug store is apt to be stale and will
not set properly.
\ few quarts of plaster should be
sufficient for II first attempt. A bucket
of water tin basin, tin spoon. some
oil OF s0apsuds and II possible some
common modelling clay and bottle OF
Ink are all the materials required A
mold Is first taken of the object, and
when this Is filed 1t 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 eau be
Found and is more interesting than
most things As the hand on the tile
Is the easiest. 1t would he well to start
with that. Place sheet of paper ON
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 post
tlon wanted, I'LL the spaces underneath
II, where II does not touch the table.
with clay, or If clay cannot be obtained
use putty. 1t is convenient to make
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 aud keep the
spoon under winter to avoid making
bubbles. Use enough plaster to make
II the consistency OF batter. III little
salt Is added or hot water instead Of
cold is used, the plaster VIII harden or
set more quickly. A small quantity of
Ink or any coloring matter will make IL
easier TO distinguish the mold from the
east and Will also make 1t more brittle
or rotten and easler 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
VIII require few minutes for II to set |
aud Is ready to lift off when 1t can be |
scratched with knife. 1t Is easier to |
turn the hand and mold up and lift |
tho hand out than to take the mold Off |
the hand. If any plaster has run under
the fingers cut 1t away with duh |
knife
Should the hand not come out easily, |
I "Vrklug tue HrIgerT seIIuraroIy VIII ur'
| ten loosen them The mold should be
allowed TO dry n few hours and then be
filed with white plaster. the same con.
| slstency 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
knife. The mold. being of n different
color cnn be readily distinguished from
| the Gust
In making the mold for a cast In the
| round, after the hand has been oiled
| sink 1t to about half an Inch In n 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,
hand be lifted out.
Another way, but II more difficult
one nftcr putting the hand hnlf way
In the plaster ana before this has dried,
Is to put thin strong string around all
the edges of the fingers. letting the
ends come out at the wrists. When
the hand Is entirely covered with plas,
ter and before it has hardened, pull the
string out which cuts 1t In two. The
manner of filling both these kinds OF
mods Is the same. Oil and tie the two
halves tightly together and fill with
plaster, let harden and HIT the molds
of.
Only one cast can he made from
molds like these. At shops where plas-
ter casts are made and sold aud n
number Of the same casts are wanted
gelatin mold Is made. Being elastic,
II Is easily pulled off without harm to
the cast and stu retains It's shape and
ean be filed any number of times The
yellow or ivory finish that IL given to
many casts il obtained by using white
shellac, which can be had already
mixed from palntshop. BY adding
oil paint any desired color can be OBJ
taned Rubbing with cloth gives n
high polish A bronze finish can be
given by coatlng with n mixture Of
white wax dissolved in turpentine, to
which bronze or green paint has been
| added.
A fine set Of casts, which would In
terest children and could be used Ia the
scboolroom, could be easily made, such
as fruit or vegetable forms. apples, bn-
nanas, potatoes and corn, or simple
animal forms. such as frogs fish, etc !;
also models that one has made and
wishes to preserve.-Good Housekeep-
ing.
Professions Not overcrowded.
There Is n dearth of thoroughly train
ed men IN all professions The more