For me dry grouting is done as follows:

You have grouted your project, and let it set-up long enough to be firm to touch (approximately 5 - 10 minutes. Then you take dry fresh grout of the same color used in the project, and put it loosely onto your mosaic.

Take pieces of pool noodles (see link below for picture), that have been cut into chunks, and rub the dry grout around on your surface. Use the dry grout liberally, and over top of newspapers. As the dry grout is rubbed this will take you to your first haze stage.

Continue till whole project is rubbed, using dry grout from newspaper (recycled) can be done. But do not try to use it in a new project since it will contaminate the fresh grout.

Let the mosaic sit for about 20 minutes, and then do your final cleaning.

This method works better on some projects than others. Also I've found it is not so good for unsanded grout.

Is that clear as mud? lol Let me know if you have any questions. ~: )

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

I never realized this meant different things to different people. Dry grouting for me means not adding a lot of water to the initial mix. If you can picture confectioner's sugar that has just a tad of liquid added so that it can roll into a ball. It is NOT slack. I take that "dry grout" and mush it into my piece with the back of my gloved hand or fingers. Then I take a dry rag and clean off the excess.

Dry grouting to me means using dry towels to remove the haze rather than a wet sponge.

Well this is a very good discussion since we all have different meanings to this term, "dry grout." When I use the term "dry grout" I mean less liquid so the grout is moist so that it sticks to a spoon (like peanut butter or toothpaste) when picked up and held upside down. I've tried wiping with dry towels or newspaper but found I prefer the look of wiping with a very damp sponge.
Specifically, I grout, let it sit for 10 or 15 minutes, then wipe with a sponge that has been rung out as best as I can. I repeat this and have to clean the water several times but I feel the grout looks smoother than dry wiping it.

wow i had never heard of that first technique before what are the advantages of doing it that way does it set faster?

SHELLY: I can only speak for my dry method. The advantage is that you don't have a pile of dirty clean up water to dispose of after you've finished grouting.

Shellybelly26
rosemarythyme is correct with the water, also it makes it so there are no empty areas from grouting.Everything is evenly grouted. No dips, no bumps, none of that. Smooth! The set time is much faster.

hmmm, never tried it that way. Good info here.

thanks ladies its always good to learn new things i will deffinatly try this soon as i get some more glass ugh i wish there was some place arround here to get it i hate waiting on shipping
btw this lady on ebay is selling 12 peices of glass with free shipping for 42.00 I dont know what the quality is but its only 3.50 per sheet so it seems to be a fair price any questions i should make sure i ask first before bidding

It means the same to me as several of you, in not using as much liquid when mixing the grout, and to me, most important - is using little or no liquid in the clean-up. I mostly use pieces of t-shirt for the clean-up process. It is so much less messy, and I think much quicker. I also usually do that last step like d3bbi - damp sponge really, really wrung out....and use it for just for one last swipe over everything.

HRSG - your method is very interesting. How did you ever come up with that? Did you read that somewhere, or did it just come to you from experimenting? Very good explanation!

HRSG, I had never heard of that method before, but last night I was looking through one of my mosaic books "Making Mosaics" by Leslie Dierks, and she discribes using this method.
I usually tint my grout to a darker color, so this method wouldn't work for me.