![]() Sound about right? Any hints on this will, of course, be appreciated. When that side dries I’ll remove the dam, soap up the side of the plaster where it will meet the other half mold plus the remaining half of the mask and do it again. Then make my plaster and dribble, then spoon or spatula it on. I figure plastine might be easier to remove later from the original? Then I’ll stick a “dam” of clay up the middle and green soap it all up. I plan to use plastine to fill in potential undercuts. So I’m gearing up my bravery cells for that one next week. My next big step is a 2-part mold of an already fired mask (too many undercuts to do in one piece). All these odd assortments of materials to work with, heavens! My studio looks like a combination kitchen and apothecary! I also used green soap tincture on the original (one original was of plasticine, the other regular clay) and that worked fine too. Thanks for the info on not sitrring to keep out air bubbles–I had lots of them in my first successful batch, less the next when I figured that out. … success! I made two simple molds, each from separate batches (so I could get the feel for it twice). ![]() So I could just use that eyeball method now that I have seen how the right amount really looks. And I sprinkled it in over the water and, yup, it made that nice peak of dry mix at the point when nearly all the weighed amount of plaster went in. The resulting mixture was MUCH thicker from the get-go. Now … I bought fresh plaster and pulled out a scale and carefully weighed out 1-1/2 parts plaster to 1 part water. Those goofs were (I believe) my culprits. And I’d measured by volume, not weight (someone told me about that – the box didn’t explain THAT!). Yeah, I’d goofed by adding more water after my initial mix, so I messed that up! Plus I think the plaster was old. The reason is that an absorbent mold draws the moisture out of the new plaster and aids in the curing process. Another factor that may be part of the problem is that plaster works best in another absorbent mold. Plaster is cheap…just throw out a bad mix. Don’t ask me why…guess it just ‘works’.Īs to the pie tins drying slowly, as you discovered, you altered the mix by adding water. Old time plasterers used ‘dead’ plaster to patch pin holes or bubble holes in their finished plaster. Casters pour slip into plaster of paris molds, pour out. Yes, plaster can get too old and become ‘dead’. Formerly the term dishmakers was applied only to men who shaped the dishes by hand over a mold. You knew that.) Then let it sit a minute more and pour in the mold. I keep a bucket of water handy to rinse it off. ![]() I never stir the mix but GENTLY squish the mix with my hand till it’s creamy. I usually do not measure, just put in enough water for the amount of mix I think will be enough PLUS some overage, then sift through my fingers the plaster till it fills most of the water with a little peak standing above. Sparky…the advice that James gave you is good and essentially the method I learned.
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