How to Create Casts of Kluski's Ghost Hands

Now let me explain – step by step and with photos – Kluski's method of creating ghost hand casts, which, according to his followers, is "impossible for humans to do."

You'll need the following materials and equipment to conduct the experiment: paraffin wax, two containers of hot and cold water, and a thermometer to measure the water temperature. These are the exact same props used during Kluski's sessions.

I need to start by making a few comments about the types of wax I tried. There are several types of wax in terms of melting point, and the first one I used was regular wax [used for candles] that melts at 55 degrees Celsius. I didn't expect it to be so hot I couldn't do anything with it. So I lowered the temperature to 52 degrees Celsius to try again, but the wax was still too hot.

After this first experiment, I realized that there were other types of wax with a lower melting point, so I decided to use one of them in my next experiment. The photo shows paraffin wax "155." Its melting point is 48.5 degrees Celsius, so it no longer poses a problem.

wanted to check if Kluski had used the same type of wax with a lower melting point, but I couldn't find any indication. However, even if he did use the most common type of wax, I must emphasize that temperature is by no means the main problem with this experiment. During my first attempt, I was able to withstand up to 52 degrees Celsius, and in Polidoro's report, who first reproduced hand casts, he didn't mention that 55 degrees Celsius was too high. The most appropriate temperature depends on the individual's abilities and the results of the exercises.

Now that the materials and equipment are ready, let's describe how to conduct the cast-reproduction experiment. Pour 6 liters of hot water into a large container and add 300 grams of wax (the company I ordered the wax from sent me 1 kilogram of it, but as we know, wax can be reused after melting, and 300 grams was more than enough for me).

When making a cast of your own hand, you need to decide what shape you want before placing your hand in the melted wax. When the water temperature drops to about 50 degrees Celsius, squeeze your hand firmly and place it in the melted wax. If the wax doesn't completely cover your hand, try two or three more times.

As you can see in the photo, the wax has completely covered the hand. Now you need to remove the hand from the mold without damaging it. Kluski's followers claim that removing the hand from the mold is "impossible for a human." However, I discovered by doing this that it is absolutely possible—as long as you do it carefully and skillfully.

First, remove the wax from your wrist. If you're using both hands to make the molds, don't worry about damaging the molds; just move your wrists to remove the wax.

Then, hold the waxed hand with your other hand—between your wrist and elbow—and pull the skin toward the elbow. This also pulls the skin attached to the wax, allowing the wax to be easily removed from the skin. If you're using both hands to create the cast, bring them together and move them upward.

Then, carefully slide the wax down several times to create a thin gap between the skin and the wax. By carefully and slowly withdrawing your hand(s) and removing it(s) from the wax mold, you'll achieve something you didn't think possible. Because the wax has a certain hardness, and human hands are more flexible, this is perfectly possible for us.

It may seem impossible to remove the entire hand because the wrist is thinner than the hand, even if you can remove each finger from the wax.

However, it is possible using a method invented by Harry Houdini. The wax has a certain elasticity until it cools and takes its final shape. Therefore, if you proceed carefully and pass through the first part [of the mold], the rest of it will expand slightly, and then you can remove the entire hand without damaging the mold. I've already tried this and can confirm that the wrist part will not tear if you carefully remove the hand. If the palm part has expanded slightly, this can be corrected by completely removing the hand [from the mold].

Here's a photo showing the "wax mold" after removing the hand. Below is a view of the mold's interior, from the wrist side.

Then fill the mold with plaster.

Then remove the wax covering the plaster - this is how you will get a "cast of the hand of Frank Kluski's ghost".

also tried to achieve more complex shapes. The first set of photos shows a cast created using the left hand. The last two photos show the finished casts

The next set of photos shows a cast of two hands. While taking the photos, I accidentally broke off my index finger, so I had to reattach it with glue.

Throughout the experiment, sometimes the wax molds would break when I removed my hand, and other times, although I managed to make a mold, I would make a mistake during the casting process. All of these trial-and-error adventures were challenging and interesting. I learned a great deal from the experience I gained.

And Franek Kluski? He conducted five experiments, the first two in November and December 1919, one in September 1921 at his home in Warsaw, and the last two in April and May 1922. As we read in the documents, with the passage of time and repeated experiments, he was able to create increasingly complex and intricate models. He may also have used a trial-and-error method.