Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-19
Making Plaster Casts.

Dear Boys: There Is plenty Of fun In
working with plaster Of paris. Plaster Is a
white powdery stuff really 1t Is burned
gypsum. or sulphate of lime. burned and
dried When water Is added to 1t a chemi-
cal change takes place. which makes 1t
harden into SOFT white stone. This hard
ening is done very quickly that one must
work rapidly after the water Is added.
You may begin by trying to make cast
of your hand. First procure your plaster
1t Is cheap. costing about cent pound
Get at least ten pounds to begin with. and
If there are many of you to play with 1t
get more. Next go out to the woodshed or
some other place where the dirt and rub
Dish will not trouble your mamma. Take
with you dish of some sort for mixing.
and a large iron spoon for stirring and
pouring.
For making a cast of your hand take
about a pint Of the plaster and wet IT,
to pour with a spoon. Immediately pour
it over the hand, which should first be well
creased and laid, palm down. upon piece
Of paper. Hold the fingers quiet and In
ten minutes the plaster will be hardened
so that you may take 1t OF as you would
a glove Be very careful not to use too
much force and thus crack and ruin your
mold. Now let 1t dry little. then. with a
nish should be gum sandelac mixed with
alcohol. You can get the gum at the drug
store; ten cents worth Will last a long
while Give several coats of this varnish.
Next prepare more plaster, and be very
careful to see that it Is thin enough TO run
well into the mold. but Is not watery.
good way is to add the plaster to the wat
err stirring gently from the bottom all the
time. as your mother does her cornmeal
when she makes mush but the more quick
ly it is mixed and poured the better DO
not beat 1t SO as to mix air with 1t; that
would make holes in the cast.
When the mold is full lay 1t away for a
day at least. Then very carefully break
away the rough outer mold. and there Will
be your hand revealed, with every vein, the
little nails the warts and ALL Handle the
fresh cast with delicate care and let 1t dry
thoroughly; then it will be quite hard and
white, almost like marble.
You may cast many things In this way,
and if you are both brave and careful you
may have casts of your own faces, which
will be beautiful and interesting to keep
forever. To do this, first get two pieces of
small rubber tubing, about two inches
long. such as you find on fountain syringes.
These little pieces are to breathe through.
Insert them in your nostris and try
breathing through them little while, to
get used to 1t. Then lie down on a bench.
or on the grass, insert the tubes and let
one of your comrades try the experiment
of putting a wet, cool cloth over your face.
covering 1t completely. If you find that
you can endure that without opening your
mouth. or struggling. or gasping. you are
a good subject for plaster 1t Is not well
to try this on children. For safety. al
ways have grown person present.
To get ready, tie a handkerchief tightly
and smoothly over your hair, and anoint
your face carefully with butter, lard or
vaseline. Be sure to- put 1t on thick over
the eyeashes and brows. Have an at
tendant hold a large towel around your
head, below where the~plaster is to come
the towel Is twisted into a roll and on Its
edge the plaster will rest.
Mix at least three pints of plaster, rather
thin. and at once begin to pour it with a
spoon. The first spoonful may go on the
forehead. the next one over the eyes. then
on down the face. Be careful to keep the
lips and eyes closed but not to compress
them In an unusual manner. Cover all the
face and the chin. letting the plaster reach
the neck. When the plaster is poured
about the nose, some one should see that
the tubes are kept clear.
Do not do anything to distract the per-
son In the plaster. lest he smile or try to-
or possibly open his mouth. In few min
utes the mold will be hard enough to take
of, when 1t should be dried little taking
care not to put 1t near the fire. Then put
on the varnish and make the cast.
-Afterward these masks may be hung in
the hall. Place them where they get a
side light and they look exactly like the