# HELP!!! CraftyDopers! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 22, 2003, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-craftydopers/150140 "2003-01-22T03:01:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dot\_Commie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@Dot\_Commie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dot_Commie)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-craftydopers/150140/1 "2003-01-22T03:01:51Z")
My art school roommate is in the middle of an important project and has **completely** run out of Plaster of Paris. Any supplies found at the art school at my college are exhausted and so are our funds. Is there any way that you guys know of to whip up a plaster of paris type molding solution??? Any help is appreciated!!! ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-craftydopers/150140/2 "2003-01-22T03:22:13Z")
Depends…what is the application? ---
**Author:** ![Dot\_Commie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@Dot\_Commie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dot_Commie)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-craftydopers/150140/3 "2003-01-22T03:28:40Z")
To make small sculptures. She is putting together condoms filled with the agent in order to make freestanding objects… ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-craftydopers/150140/4 "2003-01-22T03:34:12Z")
For low-temp molding, you can use a dough made from flour and water. Expect some amount of shrinkage though. Drying time can be accelerated with baking in an oven. But not too hot, or cracking can occur. ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-craftydopers/150140/5 "2003-01-22T03:37:39Z")
Hmm…my mom had a recipe for home made play-dough that we made a lot as kids. It got quite hard when left to dry. Let me see if I can find something similar. This recipe found [here](http://mcdowell.ces.state.nc.us/newsletters/fourhnews/00-11/10.shtml) seems like the one I remember. > [@](#): > > - 1 cup flour > - 1/2 cup salt > - 2 tbsp. cream of tartar > - 1 cup water > - 1 tbsp oil > - food color > > Mix dry ingredients in a heavy pan. Mix water, oil and food color in a separate bowl and add to the dry ingredients. Stir with a whisk to get out lumps. Cook on low heat stirring constantly until stiff. Place on wax paper and knead to cool. Store in air tight containers. Of course, you can omit the food coloring unless you want to make a colorful statement. Hope that helps! ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-craftydopers/150140/6 "2003-01-22T03:44:03Z")
Wall patching plaster may be had, very inexpensively, at most hardware stores. It’d likely be cheaper than buying flour. ---
**Author:** ![Dot\_Commie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@Dot\_Commie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dot_Commie)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-craftydopers/150140/7 "2003-01-22T03:58:38Z")
Hey everyone! Thanks for the quick help. The wall patching plaster is what we ended up finding and so far she is good with it. Once again - thanks for making my room a little less insane!!!