Finishing Alabaster

["Scott Engering" <Scott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Don't forget that Alabaster is a variety of Gypsum, a slightly soluble
calcium sulphate. By boiling the alabaster, you are effectively cooking it
and apart from dissolving the surface, heating effects are likely to
penetrate much deeper and like the weathering of any stone alters the
crystalline structure beneath the surface, albeit slightly. Alabaster is a
fragile material, full of small cracks and veins which are, at room
temperature, structural weaknesses. Alabaster expands when heated and this
will put further stress on the weak points within the material.

I haven't tried myself to carve alabaster myself or boil it BUT I do
remember the old advertisement for Hamlet Cigars. Bach playing in the
background and the Venus de Milo with one arm on the floor, the result of
one blow too many on a plane of weakness!

As far as I know, boiling may not make the slightest practical difference to
the durability and strength of alabaster but I believe that everyone should
have a good think before they try this.

Scott Engering

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