Cleans up with water while it is still in it's "white" stage. Once I set my tesserae into the thinset, I leave them for a bit before attempting to go in with my various implements to smooth it out. As long as water drains off the concrete and any cracks are stable and level (no one side of the crack should be higher than the other), you can tile an existing concrete patio or walkway. I am in the middle of making a new tutorial about the basics of using thin set and will fill you in with all the details but basically you follow the manufacturers directions on the packet and make a paste which you apply to your substrate and then push the tesserae one by one into the adhesive. Very interesting. Yes, thats right Maggie. Keep arecycled plastic yogurt tubin the bucket and use that to scoop out material. Epoxy Based Thinset Epoxy Thinset is quite different from cementitious thinset. We have a concrete mixing attachment that fits into our electric drill, and we use it for batches of 5 pounds or more. Such a beautiful ancient and durable art form that can add real beauty to a home. I have no reason for this other than personal preference. Its name, thinset, came about because it is designed to adhere well in a thin layer, which is perfect for mosaics. ALWAYS where a dust mask or respirator while exposed to thinset is in it's powdered state. Unused thinset in its powdered form must be stored in an airtight sealed container. I save this step for the very end. Yes, the thinset is coloured and yes Julie works in small batches laying her tesserae into the fresh adhesive and doesnt grout at the end because the thinset acts as a grout by coming up between the individual tesserae and holding them in place. If the tesserae stick well with just thin set, what is the function of grout? It is easy to use and ready when you are, if the container is kept sealed it has an extremely long shelf life. I just pat it / brush it as best I can, mostly with a dry brush or other tool (or, more frequently, the blunt end of a tool). For further info about Weldbond that are not answered here, see the manufacturers specifications available at. Is it safe to run gas fireplace all night. Non-Modified This means that no polymers are added and most manufacture will recommend that that you use an admix in place of all or part of the water for higher bonding strength and flexibility. This technique can also be used for flat tile. Thinset is used for outdoor mosaics, or mosaics which may come into contact with water, such as in a shower enclosure. The second day, we will grout the blocks. Modern mosaic artists prefer Weldbond as their go-to glue (especially for horizontal work done indoors). A collection of ancient mosaic Medusa heads. Parabens!!! Thinset comes in two colors, white and gray. It is always beneficial to score (rough up) smooth surfaces to give them a little tooth. It depends on where you are based. Mixing and applying thinset is easy to do, you just need to know how to obtain the right consistencies and then have the right tools for the mosaic project you are working on. It helps demystify things a little. Thanks for this very informative tutorial. My best thinset tip - I mix my thinset in an old sour cream container. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Moorman for Mosaic Art Supply, LLC. Required fields are marked *. You can break the plastic handle off your wifes favorite spoon or bend a thin piece of pipe in a hurry if the batch is large enough. As with glue, thinset can be used in either of two ways: It can be spread on a small area on which tiles are then placed, or it can be applied to the back of each tile individually. It really all boils down to working as neatly as you can from the start to save yourself the headaches later on, making sure your brush isnt too wet, and being patient. Mixing small batches of thinset is very different from mixing large batches that you would use for big installations. Not all thinsets listed below are chemical cures. Only flimsy plastics that bend and bow are incompatible with the decorative mosaic pieces. Julies work stands apart in being both fiercely beautiful and intelligently polemical. Achei maravilhosos, vc eh uma artista nata!!! Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. I am in the UK and use black Mortar Tone produced by Ever Build and available at Screwfix or other outlets: https://www.sealantsandtoolsdirect.co.uk/everbuild_208_powder_mortar_tone_colouring_1kg_black_ but I think in the US you can buy all sorts of colour additives for thinset from mosaic suppliers. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Most thinset is used only for attaching tiles, and so there is no need to dye the thinset if it will not be visible. I hope that helps. My best advice is to read the product label, experiment a bit and find what works for you always keeping in mind the longevity of your final work. A 100% waterproof glue, White Gorilla Glue is safe for indoor and outdoor use as well as strong enough to withstand the weather. Take care to mix all the way to the bottom of the bucket and scrape the edges to make sure that no powder, lumps or clumps remain. Mist with a spray bottle to control dust. Thank you! Its a pause, a space, a frame, it allows her to open the work up to infinite suggestions, to make emphases, to change direction and to add permutations and explorations both on and beyond the canvas. Thinset is very versatile. DO NOT empty or clean your tools into the sink or drain. Many thanks Julie! How do you use the adhesive with the thinset ? I use a slop bucket to clean up. Then we will create mosaics using found objects (shells, beads, wood, pebbles, jewelry, nuts and bolts, buttons, etc! Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Rinse away any residue with enough water so that you dont leave a white limestone scum on the grass, which could kill it if conditions are dry. Before we start, a caveat: This is what works for me, but it is by no means the only (or best) way to do it. How does she do it? Thinset is one of the best adhesives for outdoor mosaics in that it is waterproof and very stable in many environmental conditions and you can use it indoors too. Thinset is your best choice if your base is concrete, terra cotta, cement backer boards, Wedi board and most permanent installations. Bonds to most anything. It is a curing process that happens through a chemical reaction between the thinset powder and water. Thanks for your generosity in sharing this. So proceed with caution, take it with a grain of salt, use at your own risk, etc.So, how do I get the thinset in my mosaics smooth, both between my lines and tesserae and in the background? Here is a list of items recommended for mixing thinset: For small batches of 1 pound or less, we mix it up in a 32-ounce plastic yogurt container and use a putty knife or old butter knife to stir. This process creates a better bond when using most types of adhesives. Mosaics in the history of art (or not as the case may be). Make sure you clean up outside and do not pour unused thinset down drains. It helps to control dust if all the mixing happens near the bottom of the bucket. If you dont fix it now, youll have major issues in six months. For Versabond thinset, we add 1/2 cup or 4 oz of water per 1 pound of dry thinset powder. Can this method be used for outside mosaics? As always, chat with me if you have questions before or after you buy. This is concrete not cookie dough! HOWEVER, if you live some place with extreme cold or extreme wet, it never hurts to go to your local building material store and ask what contractors are using in your area before choosing a paint or a roofing material or a sealant or anything like that. This section will help guide you in your selection of what to sticks to what. Thanks for posting this lesson! I am delighted to present a guest post (my first) by award winning Canadian mosaicist Julie Sperling about using thinset for mosaics. Excellent tutorial! Save my name, email, and site URL in my browser for next time I post a comment. Lunch (vegan) and drinks (including wine, if you need to take the edge off) provided. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Amei sua arte musiva!!!! Try to dispose of most of your unused thinset as solid waste. For outdoor mosaics, thinset mortar (a sticky concrete with added polymers) is a better adhesive choice than any other. (A good test is to cement a few rocks together, wait about 6 days, and then bust them apart with a hammer and look for crumbly material or a lack of adhesion.) Sometimes I have to switch to a smaller brush to work closer to the tesserae, but normally I can make it work by angling my foam brush this way and that to follow the curves of the outer tesserae. Then I take a foam brush, wet it with water, and squeeze the excess out with my cloth so the brush is just dampthis is very important, because if your brush is too wet you risk getting white splotches on your thinset once it dries. Thinset, (according to Wikipedia) is also referred to as mortar, and is made of cement, fine sand and a water retaining agent such as an alkyl derivative of cellulose. May I ask what the surface is you are working on in these pictures. Choosing the right adhesive for your mosaic. Wow! Use a spray bottle at its finest setting to mist your work area with water as you stir and scoop. Because it is permeable to water, dispersion adhesive cannot be used as a grout. The grouting bag with nipple allows us to dispense the thinset in a very controlled way as if from a bottle of glue. Workshops in Greece and Scotland. Wonderful, clearly-explained (in words and pictures) and enjoyable to read. Smooth thinset in between lines and tesserae. Buckets with lids dont. You are brilliant!! This is particularly important when working with glass mosaic tile, which is non-porous and difficult to bond securely. Recently we added a liquid concrete dye to Versabond thinset, and we used many, many times the recommended dosage for concrete without any noticeable loss in bond strength or hardness as far as we could tell, although we make no guarantees. Use a clean paint paddle or sturdy rod to stir, and make sure that your stirrer is stout enough for the job. Thinset Mortar comes in 25-pound bags. The thinset bag has mixing instructions on the label, but those were written for mixing the entire bag. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Just make sure that the tile adhesive/thinset mortar that you buy is suitable for outdoors. We use the following materials to keep the work clean and efficient: The plastic tray or recycled container lid holds a small amount of thinset for use. What happens if you use tile adhesive instead of grout? Slide the bag into the bucket and shake it until the bag fits into the bucket. Typically, they are only used to bond to difficult substrates or where extraordinary chemical resistance is needed and there are drawbacks. If you are using the thin set method you dont need to grout because you are pressing the tesserae into the thin set so they are self grouted and held in place by the thin set. Polyurethane. Incredibly strong adhesion to a wide range of materials including wood and many other types of plastics such as Lexan. A pass or two with a clean palette knife (wiped with a damp cloth) will make your life much easier. I spread my thinset on the background, usually in stages (I find doing one side at a time works well for me). Learning how to use thinset mortar is easy, but Warning: you become dangerous when you start working with thinset, because this is what you use for outdoor, weatherproof mosaic pieces and wall murals that might last for thousands of years. Whether your spread the thinset or apply it to each individual tile, you will need a way of keeping your hands clean and a way of cleaning up random drops and smears. There are certainly other choices, but with this list you will have a solid base for making decisions as you go forward creating. Thinset is a cement-based adhesive you mix with water OR a liquid polymer additive for added flexibility and durability. Thank you Julie very informative and enjoyable read and technical discussion. The scraping power of the trowel comes in handy during clean up too. There are many different manufactures of thinset and each manufacture may even have several types. All rights reserved. To keep moisture out of the backing board and give the glue something to stick to, seal your work. In addition, the grout joint will be shielded from discoloration. Im guessing the thinset is colored? Once the water is to "icky" I pour off the top liquid in a corner of my garden and allow the rest to dry out. E6000s ultraviolet (UV) resistance isnt specified. It is the only adhesive you can use to really 'float' tiles. The most widely used and preferred by mosaic artists is WeldBond. Non-Toxic, safe for children and fume free. You can then nip off the corner and apply it to your surface like using a cake decorating bag, just spread with a palette knife. Contemporary mosaics for interior and exterior spaces. You use grout or not depending on what method you are using. Polyurethane is one of the most long-lasting wood glues on the market today. Keep in mind that we used a concrete dye and not acylic paint or some other source of pigment that might interfere with the adhesive additive. Thinset, grout, concrete, and other products that contain portland cement are mildly caustic and can dry out the skin very rapidly and cause irritation. I cant wait to try the method..the explanation is great to understand and follow it. I have just written a new blog post about the basics of the thin set method which talks about the substrates too: http://helenmilesmosaics.org/blog/tile-adhesive-method/. This means you can build up the adhesive under a thinner piece of tile so that it is flush with the thick tile next to it. Heres why, once inhaled the thinset comes in contact with your respiratory system which is full of moisture. These products already have the polymer in them and are meant to mix with water. What do you use to dye your thin set? For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Mosaic sealing is an important step in the mosaic process because it protects against moisture and improves the adhesion of the adhesive. After reading your post I am anxious to finally get started learning how to do mosaics. This is interesting, thank you for sharing. I am working on a blog post on the basics of thin set to further explain this great method coming out soon! It is the method I have learned through trial and error to compensate for my complete lack of palette knife skills. (Although improvised tools such as an old butter knife can be used for this work, the benefits of the palette knife become obvious in just a few minutes. Continued success. Thinset is better and stronger if it is given an extended period to cure. I use BAL Turbo Set Tile Adhesive from Topps Tiles which comes in grey and white and then you add pigment (available from art shops)but of course it will depend which country you live in! Julie uses Wediboard which is easily available in the US. Scraping with a trowel is the best way to remove the crust of thinset that forms on buckets and stirrers. The nitril gloves we sell are ideal for this purpose because they are latex-free and powder free and are more durable than the latex medical examination gloves we used to sell. For larger batches, we mix in a 5-gallon bucket so that we can mix vigorously without slinging out any material. Wear a dust mask and do this outside. It works, it's permanent, and if they can tile your kitchen floor and the sides of buildings with it, it will certainly work for anything you will make! In this workshop, you should come away with the knowledge, practice and confidence to complete a variety of mosaic projects on your own, including wall murals, kitchen backsplashes, showers, tabletops, garden sculptures, etc. Stir slowly until the powder is wetted, and make use of your spray bottle as needed. Making a mosaic on mesh and transporting it to a new location for installation is a breeze. Then the mortar is allowed to sit for 5 to 10 minutes, and then it is mixed again for a minute or two. It can be applied directly from the bottle. What beautiful work you do Julie and thanks Helen for hosting this. I have often wondered. Thanks Julie and Helen for sharing! What is the best glue for outdoor mosaics? Whether you spread the thinset in small patches or put a smear of thinset on the backside of each tile will depend on your style and pace of work. You can also visit the manufactures website to learn more. Alternatively, a measuring cup can be used for the water, with 1/2 cup being the equivalent of 4 ounces weight. You can use that same ratio of 1 part water to 4 parts thinset to mix up tiny batches of thinset, such as 1 ounce of water plus 4 ounces of thinset. I lightly brush the thinset with my damp brush to smooth it out, taking care to keep my brush strokes going in the same direction. The only person who will be happy about that is the plumber! Dries clear. For mounting sheets of tile on mesh or paper, its a lot simpler: Spread the mortar on the wall with a notched trowel, butter the back of the sheet of tile, and then press the sheet to the wall. DO NOT add water once the mixture has set more than 5 minutes. I have wanted to experiment with thinnest as a larger part of a piece. Keep in mind this is only a guide. For either technique, a painters palette knife is the ideal tool for handling the thinset. These materials will wick (draw) the moisture out of the thinset to quickly and weaken it. Note that these gloves are much thinner and offer much more dexterity than the thick grouting gloves. I recommend Kilz, but it is always best to consult specifications for the product you are using. I will demonstrate how mosaic sculptures are created and how to make an undulating substrate - using thinset and fiberglass mesh - that can be mosaic tiled. When too much thinset accumulates on my brush, I rinse it, wring it out in my cloth, and keep going. I dont know where you are based but in the UK we call it tile adhesive (and I use BALs Turbo Set Flexible Tile Adhesive for Walls and Floors available from Topps Tiles) and in America it is called thin set. To increase its UV resistance, it can be painted over after being coated with E6000. There are craft and home improvement stores that sell the materials needed to make mosaics. Sometimes the thinset dries shiny and smooth.I dont particularly care for this look, so I will take a slightly thinner mix of thinset at the very end (when Im cleaning up the background) and just dab it into the small spaces, being very careful not to get any on the tesserae. For detailed mosaic artwork where you are placing each tile by hand, you will probably want to mix 1 to 3 pounds at most. Premixed thinset This a ready to use no mix, no-mess alternative to traditional thinset mortars and a great choice for interior artwork where no water is present. Required fields are marked *. Helen. I find that a flat headed brush is key. There is a wealth of information included and products vary. For larger projects, it is common to use a 3/8 notch trowel to produce a 3/16th inch thick coating of thinset still a thin layer, just spread over a larger surface. Do not attempt this until three days have passed since the grout has dried. Below you will find a list of the most often used adhesives in mosaics. Because Im not really great at using a palette knife and because fixing it later doesnt particularly bug me. I found it harder to get hold of here in the UK and very expensive so I use Jackoboard which is essentially the same thing. Youre welcome! Keep the bucket covered and use the putty knife or margin trowel to scrap the sides of the bucket so that all the thinset is in a blob and doesnt dry out. The first thing you need to know about thinset is it is an adhesive it is not a type of grout. Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. Scrape fingers off on the wadded newspaper in the garbage can. Anything is fair game, including fingers. I will describe methods used to create outdoor mosaic wall murals and table tops with thinset. All rights reserved. Only mix as much thinset as you can use in one two hour work session. Thank you so much! Ive found its far easier to work with the thinset once it has set up a bitits less sticky and far more compliant. As I go forward in this section Weldbond is the product that I will be referring to and the one I recommend. If left in the open bag it will absorb moisture from the air and begin to cure. plastic bucket or plastic container for mixing. Website, Text and Images 2003-2022 J.E. Thanks so much. Another consideration is color. And Helen for all your other tutorials which are very clear and helpful to me as I am a beginner in mosaics. In her hands mosaics move out of the decorative realm and into a hybrid world where art meets politics meets activism. Now, if you want to save yourself work, make sure your initial bed of thinset is as smooth as you can make it. Whats the point of sealing? The use of glass tile can also enliven your outdoor area. Geoffreu. Remember thinset will harden underwater and in your pipes! You can scratch them up with a sharp object or sand with a coarse grade of sandpaper. In many of her mosaics the substrate is part of the piece rather than just a surface to be mosaicked. In between your glass tiles, apply penetrating sealer. Bags leak. We use a small kitchen scale or postal scale for weighing out the thinset and the water. Made from epoxy resins and a filler powder. Although you should wear a dust mask when scooping and mixing the thinset powder, it is best to control dust at the source by slow careful scoops and stirs and never pouring or dumping the powder. Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection. Lovely work thanks for sharing. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'kylonpowell_com-banner-1','ezslot_11',109,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-kylonpowell_com-banner-1-0')};Base objects for a mosaic can be made from sturdy materials such as metal, wood, terra cotta, or concrete. You will notice somewhat hard clumps of varying sizes. Youll want to make sure its sturdy enough to support the mosaics weight. Due to its waterproof qualities, this glue is ideal for both indoor and outdoor projects. Great when bonding transparent and semi-transparent materials such as glass to glass. These instructions are written for doing detailed work one-tile-at-a-time by hand, and so this page might make using thinset sound more difficult than it really is. Use this procedure to use only 3 rags: If the above instructions arent detailed enough, I have also written an expanded version of this technique in a blog article called How To Keep Your Hands Clean When Using Thinset Mortar. Mix the mortar until it has the consistency of dough with no lumps. A tip: Working it by moving it around by kneading or stirring will help to soften it a bit and give you more work time. Withall the above types of thinset there also a subset of rapid setting vs. standard set time. Also, you need to test your dye with your thinset to make sure that it doesnt affect the bond strength or hardness. Glass, marble, terra Cotta, wood, Formica, etc. Please note that the setting or drying process of thinset is not a drying process at all. An aluminum ice scoop or a large steel kitchen spoon can be used to scoop out the thinset powder, but you can also use a recycled plastic container (such as used for cottage cheese or yogurt) and just store this improvised scoop in your bucket of thinset. Hot days and sunlight are not your friend, nor are porous backers that wick the moisture out to quickly. The key thing you need to know is that thin set IS adhesive. High temperatures and low humidity will speed the curing process. Why? Go for it! Hi, great works Once mixed with water it is safe to remove. Some artists are intimidated by it and some just dont like having to mix up powders and having that mess, and I agree, it is messy but it provides great results for our mosaics. thinset mortar in 2.25-pound convenience packs, How To Keep Your Hands Clean When Using Thinset Mortar. There is only a tiny amount of water in a fine mist, and so you dont have to worry about it messing up your unused thinset or throwing off your measurements, but it is highly effective at getting the dust out of the air. See how she does it here in Heat (Each Decade Hotter Than The Last) where the central graph is separated by a perfectly balanced border of thinset: Thinset (or mortar) isnt an attractive word or in most peoples books the most appealing aspect of mosaics, but in this blog post about using thinset for mosaics, Julie shows us how this most mundane of substances can be used to create stunning effects. Table tops, wood, stone, and concrete can all be used as substrates for mosaics. Rapid set thinset is rarely a good choice in the art world unless you are installing on a vertical wall and are VERY well prepared to apply your pre-mounted mosaics quickly. What works best for one person may not be favored by the next. Receive the latest news, exclusive deals, and more when you sign up for email. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Im guessing that there is no grouting of the pieces involved in the end? Great pics and explanation! What kind of addisive did you use? We have assembled a collection of Mosaic Technique Videos that will give you the knowledge to ultimately do almost anything you can think of with thinset - regardless of your current skill level. The detail photos are particularly illuminating. I have a few projects in mind that will work well I hope with the colours of rock that I have collected. Scoop a small amount of thinset into the tray and keep the rest of the thinset in the mixing bucket. Your email address will not be published. Do you adhere the tessarie first ? Many confuse the two and they are totally different. Check it for clumps even if you have just purchased a new bag. First, my go-to implements for the task: an array of paintbrushes, spatulas, and palette knives, as well as water and a rag. You have to pour the water in gently and stir slowly at first to avoid creating dust before the powder is wetted. For outdoor and wet mosaics, thinset is recommended instead of adhesives. The cure is complete once it has turned clear. Yes, it can 100 per cent be used outside. In other words, with a bin of tiles and a bucket of thinset mortar, you will become downright dangerous. Too much or too little water can affect the quality of the cure of the product.