How to make gypsum at home

Gypsum (Blaster of Paris) is one of the easiest materials used for making rock models in the technical fields, wall decoration and medical sectors.

Gypsum is made from a fine powder consisting of a chemical compound called calcium sulfate hydrate, which allows the gypsum to become solid when wet and leave it to dry completely within a period of time.

It is short, and it can be made using different materials at home, so in this article we will show you how to make gypsum, and tips to help you make it.

Methods of making gypsum

Gypsum can be made using one of the following methods:

How to make gypsum from flour

Flour can be used to make gypsum instead of gypsum powder by following one of the following methods:

First method 

Heat a cup of water to become warm, and its temperature reaches 38 degrees Celsius.

Add two cups of flour to a suitable bowl, and pour water over it, and it is recommended to pour it evenly over all parts of the flour to facilitate mixing.

Stir the flour and water well until it becomes a thick, smooth paste, free of lumps of flour for 10 minutes. It is recommended to add more water if the mixture is too thick, or add more flour if it is liquid.

Immediately after stirring, pour the gypsum into a mold, and leave it to dry completely for 48 hours at room temperature.

The second method 

Warm two cups of water until lukewarm.

Put 3 cups of flour in a bowl, add warm water to it, and stir them together until the lumps of flour disappear to form a cohesive and smooth dough.

Knead the dough for 5-7 minutes until it becomes a thick, gypsum-like paste.

How to make gypsum from glue

White glue or white glue can be used to make gypsum by following one of the following methods:

First method

• Heat 2-3 cups of water to a temperature of up to 38°C.
• Put one cup of warm water in a bowl, add two cups of gum to it, stir with a rubber spatula, and gradually add more water in small amounts until it becomes a homogeneous soup-like consistency.
• Pour the gypsum into the molds as soon as they have been stirred within 15 minutes; So that it does not solidify in the mixing bowl instead of in the moulds.
• Leave the plaster to dry completely for two to three days at room temperature.

The second method

• Mix quantities of glue and lukewarm water, so that the amount of glue is double the amount of water.
• Stir the glue and water together well until it becomes a homogeneous consistency.
• Gradually add more hot water until the gypsum consistency is of medium density between the liquid and the paste, ready to be poured into the moulds.

How to make gypsum from gypsum powder

Gypsum powder sold in building materials stores can be used to make gypsum at home by following these steps:

• Prepare an amount of water and gypsum powder, so that the amount of powder is twice the amount of water.
• Put the water in a mixing bowl, and gradually add the powder; One spoonful at a time, making sure to distribute it in the water as best as possible.
• Use a spoon to tap the sides of the mixing bowl so that the powder is well dispersed in the water to remove air bubbles from the mixture.
• Add the remaining amount of powder while continuing to knock on the bowl, until the powder begins to cover the surface of the water instead of melting in it, and the texture becomes pastey, and the temperature of the water and the type of gypsum powder will affect the difference in the quantities required slightly to reach this stage.
• Gently stir the water and gypsum powder mixture with a plastic spoon to avoid the formation of air bubbles.
• Add an acrylic or poster color to the mixture to dye it the desired color.
• Grease the molds with Vaseline or cooking oil before pouring the gypsum in them.
• quickly poured gypsum into the molds; Because it will start to harden during the first minutes, and leave it for 20-30 minutes to dry completely, and it is worth noting that the gypsum will emit high heat while it dries, so its coldness indicates that its drying is complete.

Tips for making gypsum at home using gypsum powder

It is recommended to follow the following things when making gypsum using its powder at home to get beautiful shapes correctly and safely:

• Maintain safety measures to avoid inhaling gypsum powder by wearing a dust mask, wearing protective gloves, and opening windows in the area used for making gypsum.
• Avoid touching the powdered plaster while it dries. Because its temperature may rise to 60 degrees Celsius, which may cause skin burns.
• Add gypsum powder to the water and not the other way around, to get a smooth, homogeneous gypsum.
• It is recommended to pour the gypsum slowly into the molds, evenly distributing it inside the mold on all its surfaces to form a base layer and to avoid the formation of air bubbles, then pour the remaining amount of gypsum into the mold.
• The powder poured in very quickly within the first ten minutes of making it.
• Avoid cleaning tools used to make gypsum in the sink; Because gypsum clogs the drain.
• Store ready-made plaster in an airtight container that prevents air from reaching it.