| How do you keep the final level of a piece | | | | then grouting, but how do you make mosiacs |
| flat when using different types of china, | | | | like vases and other irregular objects. I've |
| etc.? I attempted a small serving tray, but I | | | | heard that you put the grout down first and |
| can't carry anything on it - everything | | | | press them in - is that right? Here's a quick |
| wobbles. | | | | lowdown on the "methods". |
| | | | |
| Mostly, you can't keep it level, I'm afraid. | | | | Gluing the tiles to the surface and then |
| For my coffee table I put in some plate bases | | | | grouting is actually the direct method. |
| for standing things on. | | | | |
| | | | nothing too curved, the plates and mugs will |
| Generally if you use a lot of small pieces of | | | | sit reasonable flat. The alternative could be |
| roughly the same thickness, and The indirect | | | | to use pieces of tile all of the same |
| method involves sticking the pieces face down | | | | thickness. |
| on a surface (e.g. | | | | |
| | | | I want to do a large floor mosaic under a |
| paper, a flat sheet or a mould) using a | | | | rustic arbour and seat . I've collected a few |
| water-soluble glue. When the glue has dried | | | | tiles, but can I use shards on the ground? I |
| you fill in from the back with grout or | | | | can see 3 ways of going about it. One would |
| cement. When that's set you soak off the glue | | | | be to lay a concrete area and press the |
| on the front. Then you grout from the front | | | | shards into it while it's still wet. |
| (as with the direct method). This method is | | | | |
| especially good for when you need a flat | | | | Alternatively you could cast your own paving |
| surface e.g. a stepping stone. I used a | | | | stones, using the "indirect method". The |
| variation on this method for my garden owl | | | | principle is he same as I used to make my |
| and the hemispherical plant pots. | | | | garden owl, but using a square wooden frame |
| | | | and a flat surface. |
| To mosaic 3D objects, such as the lamp bases | | | | |
| and the planter I use the direct method. I | | | | The easiest solution would be to use standard |
| would tend to use a ready mixed tile adhesive | | | | ready-made paving stones and mosaic onto |
| or a cement mix (rather than PVA/white glue), | | | | them, using cement mortar (3 parts cement to |
| because it's very sticky and grips quickly, | | | | 1 part sand) as an adhesive (a little blob |
| allowing you to work faster. But whatever you | | | | under each piece) and then grout when dry |
| use, you will have to allow for the effects | | | | with cement mortar (which could be coloured |
| of gravity e.g. by working on one section at | | | | if you wish). |
| a time. Also, ready mixed adhesive, being | | | | |
| rather like putty, can fill in gaps behind | | | | Some tiles and crockery shards can stand up |
| curved pieces. I apply the adhesive to each | | | | to being underfoot out of doors, but it might |
| piece at a time, and grout afterwards when | | | | depend on the amount of frost where you live |
| everything has set. | | | | and the quality of the materials - softer, |
| | | | cheaper crockery or tiles may chip underfoot |
| I almost never use the technique of putting | | | | if there's a lot of wear, or be prone to |
| down the grout and pressing pieces into it. | | | | frost damage in winter. |
| | | | |
| I mosaiced a round fibre glass table using a | | | | I'm terrible at drawing - stick people are my |
| mosaic glue adhesive for the tiles. I then | | | | specialty. I've heard there are computer |
| used grey grout with one tenth black oxide | | | | programs that can help with design and layout |
| mixed together dry then added water applied | | | | of mosaics. |
| it with squidgie. I ran out of grout so only | | | | |
| did half the table next evening mixed the | | | | I tend to use tracings of images, to make up |
| same up and applied it. I wiped off all the | | | | for my lack of drawing skill. You can scale |
| excess but it is very crumbly. Shall I put on | | | | up the size with an enlarging photocopier, or |
| more grout where it is crumbly or give it a | | | | using the scaling technique described here |
| coat of sealant such as Bondcrete or a slate | | | | (where you'll also find notes on software). |
| sealer? The best thing, if you can face it, | | | | |
| would be to remove as much of the crumbly | | | | I have recently started mosaics and I am |
| grout as possible, with wire or a brush (an | | | | having a difficult time finding interesting |
| old tooth brush might be useful). | | | | china pieces. Any suggestions? Try jumble |
| | | | sales, car boot sales, charity/thrift shops. |
| Then you can regrout. Possibly the cut edges | | | | Ask all your friends and family to keep |
| of the tiles absorbed so much water that the | | | | things they break. You could even ask at |
| grout wasn't very adhesive once you started | | | | crockery shops if they have any breakages!! I |
| spreading it over the tiles.....it can | | | | used to do some voluntary work for a charity |
| happen....if so, make the grout with a little | | | | shop and I was allowed to keep crockery which |
| bit more water, brush off grout which is | | | | was donated broken or was generally |
| starting to dry and re-wet it slightly. If | | | | unsaleable. |
| you don't overdo it, this seems to work OK, | | | | |
| even if it is bending the rules a bit. | | | | I think I understand the indirect method of |
| | | | gluing the tiles to the surface and |