Thread: Question about gauze/plaster strips

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hello all you fine, freaky folks!

I was going to buy some of that plaster-imbued gauze to use for prop making (skulls & the like), but then I was wondering if cheesecloth would do the same job if it was cut into strips and dipped in thinned plaster....kind paper mache style. I'm thinking the cheesecloth would be more pliable than the rolls of plaster gauze...am I wrong?

If this would work, does anybody have any suggestions about how much I should thin the plaster (if at all)?

Yep........cheesecloth is a more cost effective option. I wouldn't do anything extra special with your batch of plaster as far as thinning it.......here's how we have worked with it:

Cut your cheesecloth into manageable strips.

Make up a batch of stone (plaster, hydrocal, ultracal etc): We do this by sifting our stone into the water. Do this until your bowl of water has turned into what looks like a dry river bed. Once you get to this point, mix it in the rest of the way with your hands, getting any clumps out. You should now have a good ratio of stone to water.

Dunk a strip of cheesecloth into your mixture.

Pull the cheesecloth out and run it between your fingers, getting most of the mixture out of if.

Steve

Great information, thanks so much!