PAPER MOULDING. 135 
minutes. It is easy to separate them again into the required number of 
sheets in thickness. 
Another method which is equally good, if not better than the last, is, 
after making the tears in the doubled sheets as before, to unfold them, 
and then to roll them together and twist them up like a rope, and rub 
them well between the hands; then unroll them and beat them out for a 
moment, separating as many sheets as are required. Either of these pro¬ 
cesses loosens the fibre of the paper, whilst the slits prevent it stretching 
unevenly. After this treatment it feels to the touch more like wet leather 
than paper. 
As the mould grows thicker the pulpy paper will, from the continual 
beating, find its way into, and fill up, the deeper cutting; but it should 
be most carefully watched that the mould is not left too thin over the 
more prominent parts of the surface, and, with a little practice, the 
thickness is easily judged by the touch. It is always well to use the 
fingers frequently both in pressing the paper into its place and working 
in the paste. 
It is difficult to lay down any rule as to the thickness of a mould and 
the number of coatings of paste necessary. If the mould is of large size, 
and the carving presents prominent angles or large curves, it may need 
an average of thirty sheets in thickness to preserve its shape, and three 
or four coatings of paste; but if the carving is in low-relief on a flat 
surface, less than half the thickness will suffice. 
In hot weather, out of doors, a mould will take about twenty-four 
hours to dry; but it should be covered up at night from the dew. In 
damp forests or in bad weather I have dried most of my moulds by 
building up large wood fires at the distance of a few feet from the 
sculpture. 
It is best to take off a mould when it is cool—in the morning or 
evening. Don't be in a hurry about it. 
If the mould is torn or broken in taking it off the carving, mend it 
with paste at once . 
When a mould is taken off, lay it to dry in the sun on a flat surface, 
as there is usually some moisture left in it. If the mould is not flat in 
shape, support it carefully, so as to preserve the contours. 
When the mould is quite dry, it is advisable, but not necessary, to 
give it, both back and front, one or more coats of boiled linseed oil. 
