Portrait Busts -- an original technique

Step 5 Mixing the Grout

I made a boat-shaped mixing bowl out of silicone rubber.  It can be flexed and scraped to remove even hardened grout since nothing much sticks well to silicone rubber.  The boat shape is for ease in pouring when it is used with plaster of Paris to make molds. 

I usually add the water first and then the dried powder.  Stir with an old spoon, or other tool, or by hand, but you have to wear plastic or rubber gloves.  I use "disposable" gloves, reusing them until they tear.  The thin material almost lets you feel like you are working bare handed. 

The grout can be mixed with varying amounts of water to give it thicker or thinner consistency.  It all has its uses. 

Comments

[pjstewart]

How do you make a bowl out of silicone rubber?  I cut in half a large plastic ball.

[Thinkenstein]

On a non-stick plastic surface (a stretched out trash bag works) I made an overturned boat shape out of clay, and covered it with silicone rubber.  When the silicone was hardened, I lifted it off the plastic surface and removed the clay.