Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1901-07-04
AMATEUR sCULPTORs
THEY NEED COOL HEADS AND FIRST
GLASS PLASTER.
How Ornaments For Home Can
Be Made if the Beginner Has n Lit
tie Ingenuity and Patience-Cnst of
the Baby's Hand.

Few people realize the pleasure and
instruction that can be gained from
making plaster casts. 1t is inexpensive,
and the utensils required are found in
every household. A cast of the baby's
chubby hand or foot or, in fact. a cast
of any kind is not only a 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 it be
plaster of paris and that it be bought
from some shop where it is sure to be
fresh, as that which is obtained from
a drug store is apt to be stale and will
not set properly.
A few quarts of plaster should be
sufficient for q first attempt. A bucket
of water, a tin basin, a tin spoon, some
oil or soapsuds and, if possible, some
common modelling clay and a bottle of
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-those
where only part of the object is shown,
the other part resting on q 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 well to start
with that. Place a sheet of paper on
a 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, 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 Il
small wall OF clay around the object to
prevent the plaster from running, but
it is not necessary. Put about a 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 a little
salt is added or hot water instead of
cold is used, the plaster will harden or
set more quickly. A. small quantity of
inko or any coloring 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. 1t
will require a few minutes for it to set
and is ready to lift off when it can be
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 a dull
knife.
Should the hand not come out easily,
working the fingers separately will of.
ten loosen them. The mold should be
4 allowed to dry a few hours and then be
filled with white plaster, the same con.
sistency as was used for the mold. A
wall Of clay about an incl 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 a cast in the
round, after the hand has been oiled
sink it to about half an inch in a bee
of plaster, leaving about half an incl
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 thu
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 a thin strong string around al
the edges of the fingers, letting TIL,
ends come out at the wrists. Whe1
the hand is entirely covered with plas
ter and before it has hardened, pull thu
string out, which cuts it in two. Th,
of filling both these kinds o
moids is the same. Oil and tie the tw,
halves tightly together and fill will
plaster. let harden and lift the mold:
off.
Only one cast can be made iron
molds like these. At shops where plas
ter casts are made and sold and
number of the same casts are wanted
a gelatin mold is made. Being elastic
it is easily pulled Off without harm t,
the cast and still retains its shape an,
a be filled any number of times. TIL,
yellow or ivory finish that is given t.
many casts is obtained by using whit
shellac, which can be had alread,
mixed from a paintshop. BY addin.
oil paint any desired color can be oh
tanned. Rubbing with a cloth gives
high polish. A bronze finish can b
given by coating with a mixture o
white wax dissolved in turpentine, t
which bronze or green paint has beel
added.
A fine set of casts, which would in
terest children and could be used in til
schoolroom, could be easily made, sue
as fruit or vegetable forms, apples, ba
nanas. potatoes and corn, or simpl
animal forms, such as frogs, fish, etc
also models that one has made an