|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Cast
Party |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
So
you have finally found your very own trace fossil and you want
to preserve it the way museums do? Well, we're here to tell
you that palaeontological skills are just around the corner.
Casting and molding at home are as easy as 1, 2, 3! |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
Stuff
You Need:
Your fossil (or another object, if you just want to test your
skills)
Clay
Plaster of Paris
Old plastic bucket or food container
Spoon
Water (for mixing the plaster)
Styrofoam cup
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Step
One: Squishing
To get this party started, you're going to want to get out your
clay, your Styrofoam cup, and, of course, your beloved trace
fossil. Push the clay into the bottom of the cup and flatten
it out until it won't flatten anymore. That's right, the flatter
and smoother it is on its surface, the better your cast and
mold are going to be! Alrightie! Is it flat? Okay, now get your
fossil or other object and press it into that flat clay surface.
Remove your fossil from the clay - see the depression? That's
a mold. Voila! Step one, complete!
Step Two: Mucking
Now that your little mold is just waiting for its cast, youčre
going to want to mix up the Plaster of Paris. Grab an adult,
your bucket, your spoon, some water, and the dusty plaster mix
and follow the instructions on the plaster bag. You've got it
together now? Oooh, goodie. Let's do some pouring. Grab your
cup with your little molded clay in it and pour that plaster
on top. Go wild! Okay, it's not really that hard. The end of
step two is the slowest part: wait for the plaster to dry. This
will take about three hours.
Step Three: Ripping
So is it dry now? I don't wanna be hearing about any cheaters
who moved to step three without waiting the required hours,
so make sure, sure, sure you watched the clock. Okay, then,
grab your cup and tear the Styrofoam off your clay and plaster.
Now grab each side (the clay and the plaster) with one hand
and pry those two apart. Ooh la la, lookie there! You've got
the clay and the plaster - also known as the mold and the cast.
You're a palaeontologist in the making. Congratulations! |
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
