2030. To Polish Alabaster

2030. 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 and sifted slacked lime and water. The rough polish thus produced is then brought up and finished off by friction with finely-powdered talc, or French chalk, until a satiny lustre is produced.

2031. To Prevent Expansion or Shrinkage in Casting Plaster

2031.      To Prevent Expansion or Shrinkage in Casting Plaster. Use lime water instead of plain water to mix the plaster of Paris, 1/2 an ounce of sulphate of potassa dissolved in each quart of water will have the same effect, but weakens the plaster.

2032. To Make Artificial Marble for Paper Weights or other Fancy Articles

2032.     To Make Artificial Marble for Paper Weights or other Fancy Articles. Soak plaster of Paris in a solution of alum; bake it in an oven, and then grind it 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.

2033. To Polish Mother-of-Pearl

2033.    To Polish Mother-of-Pearl. Go over it with pumice stone, finely powdered (first washed to separate the impurities and dirt), with which you may polish it very smooth; then apply putty powder as directed for ivory, and it will produce a fine gloss and a good color. (See No. 2000 (To Polish Ivory).)

2034. To Clean Alabaster

2034.    To Clean Alabaster. Soap well and wash with hot water. If stained, apply fuller's earth, pipe-clay, or whiting, for 3 or 4 hours, then wash off. If very dirty and stained, first wash with aquafortis diluted with water. Or: Take ground pumice stone of the finest quality, and mix it up with verjuice ; let it stand for 2 hours, then dip in a sponge and rub the alabaster with it; wash with a linen cloth and fresh water, and dry with clean linen rags. Any kind of marble may be done in the same manner.

2035. To Polish Marble

2035.     To Polish Marble. With a piece of very fine sandstone, rub the slab backward and forward, using very fine sand and water, till the marble appears equally rough, and not in scratches; next use a finer stone and finer sand, till its surface appears equally gone over; then, with fine emery-powder and a piece of felt or old hat wrapped round a weight, rub it till all the marks left by the former process are worked out, and it appears with a comparative gloss on its surface. Afterward finish the polish with putty powder and fine clean rags. As soon as the face appears of a good gloss, do not put any more powder on the rags, but rub it well, and in a short time it will have a fine polish. Defects may also bo brought up with tripoli, followed by putty powder; both being used along with water.