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To Polish Alabaster

The object, received in the rough state from the hands of the sculptor or turner, is rubbed with finely-powdered pumice-stone, or dried shave-grass (equisetum) and water, and afterwards with a paste formed of finely-powdered sel. The operation should be repeated until and sifted slacked lime and water. The rough the liquid wax begins to rest unabsorbed on polish thus produced is then brought up and the surface of the plaster, when the article finished off by friction with finelypowdered must be placed aside (suspended) until the talc, or French chalk, until a satiny lustre is next day, when it may be polished with a produced. clean brush. None but the hardest, purest, 2031. To Prevent Expansion or and whitest wax will do for the above purpose. Shrinkage in Casting Plaster. Use lime That commonly sold is mixed with spermaceti, water instead of plain water to mix the plaster stearine, or tallow, and not unfrequently with of Paris. 1/2 an. ounce of sulphate of potassa Japanese wax and potato starch. (See No. dissolved in each quart of water will have the 1582.) same effect, but weakens the plaster. 2024. To Render Plaster Figures 2032. To Make Artificial Marble Durable. First thoroughly dry the plaster for Paper Weights or other Fancy figure in a warm dry atmosphere; place it in Articles. Soak plaster of Paris in a solution a vessel and cover it with the clearest linseed of alum; bake it in an oven, and then grind it oil, just warm. After 12 hours, take it out, drain, and let it dry in a place free from dust.

When dry it will look like wax, and can be washed without injury. 2025. Το Harden Plaster. Mix up the plaster of Paris with a weak solution of gum arabic (1 ounce to 1 pint of water); or, for common purposes, a weak solution of size.

This not only renders the plaster harder, but gives the surface a pleasing smoothness. 2026. To Harden Imitation Alabaster with Alum. Suspend the article by a fine silken cord or wire in a strong and perfectly clear solution of alum, letting it remain until the alum crystallizes on the surface; then polish with a wet cloth. 2027. To Make Hard Plaster of Paris. Mix with weak alum water, instead of water, for casting; or, a solution of 14 or 2 ounces of gum-arabic to the pint of water; or, for common purposes, a weak solution of size may be used. to a powder. In using, mix it with water, and to produce the clouds and veins, stir in any dry color you wish; this will become very hard, and is susceptible of a high polish.