mercury

[Ellie]

Someone suggest adding mercury to plaster mix but did not provide reason for using mercury. Does anyone know?

[fritchie]

Someone suggest adding mercury to plaster mix but did not provide reason for using mercury. Does anyone know?

Ellie - This sounds like a very bad idea. I have no idea why anyone thinks mercury might be usefully added to plaster, but my background is in chemistry, and I know there generally is no good reason to use mercury for anything besides very specialized purposes, with plenty of safeguards.

Exposure to mercury can cause permanent brain damage, and it is easily breathed whenever it is present. I suggest you drop any idea of using mercury for anything.

[PeterG]

Ellie :eek:

I strongly second Fritchie's comments. Apart from the hazards of using it, I cant see the mercury being chemically bound into the plaster, resulting in a toxic sculpture that would contaminate any one who came in to contact with it. (art with a lasting impact)

Ha!..."Toxic Sculpture"...could be a good name for an exhibition...

Peter

[sculptor]

perhaps cinnabar as a colorant?
(mercuric sulfide) makes a brillliant red

Several years ago, mercuric compounds were commonly used a fungicides and colorants, also for tanning, and blocking hats("mad as a hatter"), and for fillings in dentistry until their highly toxic and debilitating nature was understood.
Now the're considered toxic waste.

[Ellie]

thank you so much for the warning. I have decided against using mercury. I am terribly exciting about work-in-progress on my life-like and life-size of an elderly. I discovered about yahoo group's slideshow and it is so amazing. The only drawback I have is in order to view my work-in-progress ( numerous photo), one must fill out a short form to join yahoo membership.

I'm sorry I have not been around but you'll see.. I'm going to stick around. I have found this site to be extermley helpful. I thank you so much for all your wonderful help.

Ellie :)