Page 47 - BSAM 2016 Q4

B Prop the stone on plasticine or putty and get it C sitting the way you would like, looking at the front of
the stone. Check side and top views.
C Select a plastic container large enough to hold the stone without it touching the sides. Place the stone in the container, with its plasticine props, to check. Mark a pencil or chalk line on the stone to indicate how deep you want the stone to sit in the wood base. Coat the inside of the plastic tray and the base of the stone with baby oil or similar. is is to allow good release of the stone from the mold and the mold from the plastic container.
D To create a Plaster of Paris mold, mix the plaster and water to the recommended consistency by fol- lowing the package directions; pour it into the plastic container, tamp down to level the plaster and then slowly lower the stone together with its props into the plaster. e props are there to make sure you have the stone angle right and to allow the plaster to ow under the stone. Best if the stone does not touch the plastic tray. You only want enough Plaster of Paris in the tray to come up the stone to a little above where you want the top of the daiza to be. Later, the extra plaster will be sanded to the desired level.
E When the plaster is set, remove the whole thing from the plastic container and then carefully separate the stone from the mold. I do this by rst trimming around the base of the stone with a sharp knife to clean up any unwanted plaster adhering up the side of the stone, then gently tapping around the sides of the mold with a piece of timber to dislodge the stone from the mold. If the mold breaks you might be able to glue it back together to be able to get your stone outline.
D
E
F When you have the stone out of the mold, using a belt sander, sand back the top of the mold to a at surface with sharp edges around the inside of the mold at the level you want the daiza to be.
F
October/November/December 2016 | BCI | 45