Plaster of Paris question

[michelle]

I'm a beginner at sculpture, and I have a question about using plaster of paris. If I allow the plaster to harden in a large bucket, can I remove it easily? If not, what do I have to do to remove it? Thanks!

[obseq]

I'm a beginner at sculpture, and I have a question about using plaster of paris. If I allow the plaster to harden in a large bucket, can I remove it easily? If not, what do I have to do to remove it? Thanks!


Michelle,


I was actually working with some plaster the other day and inadvertantly allowed the remaining contents to harden in a small bucket.

With a bit of manipulating the bucket by hand, you should be able to get the plaster out. Keep in mind though that mixing in addition to correct water:mix ratio will factor into whether you are left with one solid piece or several.

I would suggest using an electric drill with a mixing paddle attachment with very cold water to increase working time.

You might want to apply a bit petroleum jelly to the inside of the bucket as well.


Good luck!

[anne (bxl)]

I work a lot with plaster and always use flexible plastic bucket, take off the main content, let the remaining plaster harden and then roll-on the bucket so to crumble the remaining plaster. To clean up the bucket, just fill it up with clear water for a while, the last traces of plaster will dilute into the water.

[michelle]

Obseq,

Thanks for your advice! It'll help a lot!

Michelle

Michelle,


I was actually working with some plaster the other day and inadvertantly allowed the remaining contents to harden in a small bucket.

With a bit of manipulating the bucket by hand, you should be able to get the plaster out. Keep in mind though that mixing in addition to correct water:mix ratio will factor into whether you are left with one solid piece or several.

I would suggest using an electric drill with a mixing paddle attachment with very cold water to increase working time.

You might want to apply a bit petroleum jelly to the inside of the bucket as well.


Good luck!

[michelle]

Thanks, Anne! I hadn't thought about the clean-up, but this will help.

Michelle

I work a lot with plaster and always use flexible plastic bucket, take off the main content, let the remaining plaster harden and then roll-on the bucket so to crumble the remaining plaster. To clean up the bucket, just fill it up with clear water for a while, the last traces of plaster will dilute into the water.

[dondougan]

Michelle;

Before using the bucket for mixing plaster, lightly apply some oil to the inside of the container with a rag -- any kind of oil will do (aerosol cooking spray, WD40, used motor oil, etc.).

I use cheap plastic buckets for students to work with, and often they leave plaster in the bucket. Usually I use a handy piece of scrap lumber (2x2 or 2x4) to whack on the side of the bucket all around and it breaks the plaster up so it can be dumped out. If you are too vigorous with the whacking the bucket splits, but if it is cheap it is easy to replace.

Don
www.dondougan.com

[sculptor]

in chicago, a local building supply company(stone cement,sand,ready-mix,etc) sold used mud buckets for a buck apiece-------great investment-----

You might try calling a couple

sometimes I forget and leave some plaster in the buckets---oops
I bang out what i can, then fill with soapy water and let set----next day(or whenever i get around toit) I scrub the excess out----I usually get to reuse the bucket a lot.

an old sculpting mentor once said
"If you ain't having fun, you must be doing something wrong"

cool?
rod(sculptor)

OH: P.S.
be carefull what you smear on the inside of the bucket------if it is a surfactant(sp?) the plaster won't set. (I hate it when it does that)