For a class what ya think?

19 years ago

Teaching a class, and want to send home a sheet with just the basics, did I forget anythning really important?

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/stainedglass/

This is a website that has a ton of great information, advice, examples, pictures and really fun people!

http://www.thejoyofshards.co.uk/links.shtml this one has a listing of a lot of different websites having to do with mosaics.

Mosaic Basics:

The thing you place on your surface is called tessarae. It can be glass, tile, china, buttons, jewelry, anything you can think of that can be glued to another surface.

You can cut your tessarae with a hammer, a tile saw, or nippers. My favorites are Leponitt wheeled nippers. They are very accurate if aimed correctly!

You may use a variety of adhesives, but I prefer using pure silicone, such as GE Silicone I or II, found at any hardware store, or, E6000 carried by Michaels. The silicone cures fairly quickly, which is nice, especially when working on a vertical surface. Both these also dry clear, which is nice if you want to do a glass on glass and put against light.

After curing for 24 hours, or whatever your directions say, you will mix grout with water, and grout the piece. Make it about the consistency of frosting, and "frost" the whole piece, with your hand, or a rubber spatula. Be sure you press the grout into all the little spaces between your pieces. Wipe off the extra with a slightly damp sponge. Or just use a dry rag, and start scraping the excess off. You will finish with the grout only in the spaces. A little haze left will wipe off the tessarae with a dry towel when completely dry. Use a grout sealer to seal the piece against stains. Be sure when shopping for grout, you buy "sanded grout". It is for use on spaces larger than 1/8". Grout comes in many colors, but you can also color it with paint mixed in with your water, or even paint it after itÂs dry.

Many surfaces can be mosaic friendly. Just be sure to only use wood indoors as moisture will cause it to swell, and all your hard work will pop right off!

When using glass, you can turn an ice-cream machine into a tumbler by removing the inner paddle and tilting the bucket at an angle. Your newly cut glass will have the sharp edges knocked off and wonÂt cut your fingers when working with it! Add water to just above the glass, add a little dishwasher detergent and let it spin for 3 or 4 hours.

Just be careful. If you find yourself enjoying this too much, you may have a mosaic addiction. It is very hard to ever come back from this condition. Enjoy!

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Comments (6)

silvamae
19 years ago
I think it sounds good. Following is the handout I furnish my students. You can see if there is anything there you can use:

Mosaic instructions:

Substrate:

For indoor projects, use wood, terra cotta, glass, etc., almost anything except flexible plastic. The substrate must be rigid. If it flexes, the grout will crack.

For outdoors, do NOT use wood. Wood will eventually warp no matter how well it is sealed. Use hardibacker, cement backer board, glass, or concrete.

Tesserae:

Ceramic tile, vitreous glass tile, stained glass, smalti, broken china and pottery, glass beads, shells, pebbles, and jewelry. I usually avoid wooden beads and organic beads such as those made from beans or pods.

Adhesives:

For indoor projects, use Weldbond water-based glue (except mirror tiles).

For mirror tiles, use GE Silicone II Kitchen and Bath clear sealant.

For outdoor projects use Mapei brand Ultra Flex 2 polymer modified mortar (this is a thinset to be used as an adhesive).

Grout:

Polyblend sanded grout mixed with Acrylic Mortar Admix.

Sealants:

For indoor projects, use Aqua Mix Grout Sealer. Brush on, polish off the tesserae.

For outdoor projects, use Aqua Mix UltraSeal Premium Stone & Tile Sealer. Spray on, polish off the tesserae.

Mosaic Steps to follow:

1. Glue on tesserae. Wait 24 hours.

2. Grout. Clean tesserae. Wait 24 hours.

3. Seal. Clean tesserae.

Tools:

Tile nippers. The best are the wheeled Leponitt nippers.

Carborundum stone. This can be purchased at an Ace Hardware and is called a kitchen sharpener.

Sponges, rectangular, to wipe the grout off the tesserae.

Old terry cloth rags, craft sticks, plastic bins for mixing grout and for water.

Gloves.

Blue painterÂs tape

Methods:

Direct Â glue tesserae directly onto the substrate. Tesserae can also be glued to mesh and then transported elsewhere and affixed to a wall for example.

Indirect Â lay tesserae in a mold, upside down, and pour cement, as for a stepping stone, or glue tesserae upside down onto brown Kraft paper. The indirect method is usually used when a smooth surface is required, or when mosaics are made in a studio and then transported elsewhere for installation.

A helpful book is Classic Mosaic by Elaine M. Goodwin.
bamasusanna
19 years ago
WAIT!! I have a little motorized ice cream freezer that I don't use. I never would've thought to use it to tumble glass in!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!
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texaswild
19 years ago
But, DIAMOND - not for three/four hrs. I only tumble for 30 to 45 min. in the tumbler, and it's enough to take the edges off. Remember NOT to tumble Van Gogh.
barbfrizzell1955
19 years ago
Amen Slow, about the Van Gogh...that was an expensive lesson!

Barb
diamondjennie
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks guys, for the ideas. I will try tumbling less time, but I had pretty sharp edges when I did. Do you use an abrasive Slow? Good luck with your new tumbler Bama! Works great! Jennie
texaswild
19 years ago
No, DIAMOND, just water is all that's necessary.