Mosaic Beach Blog

Epoxy Tips

I receive lots of queries regarding epoxy. Here are some of the things I do to save time, effort or the piece. When in doubt read the instructions. The NU-Lustre 55 that we sell has quite the how to handout!

For those of you not familar with epoxy it is a hard glass like surface equal to 55 coats of varnish. You mix a resin and a hardener together to create a chemical reaction. The biggest thing to be concerned with when epoxying is ensuring that you mix the 2 parts equally. If not, the surface may not harden properly. Definitely measure. I use plastic disposable shot glasses from the dollar store. I also mix the epoxy in disposable beer cups from the dollar store 'cause trust me...you do not want to be cleaning these bad boys.

I mix the hardener & resin together with a popsicle stick for 2 minutes (to create the chemical reaction) and I apply it with that popsicle stick. You can use a foam brush too. It is self-levelling so it seems to smooth out nicely without much help. I simply blow on any bubbles that form. I set the whole piece on cling wrap in-case there is any drippage and then watch for & remove any drips for the 1st half an hour. After that it is pretty much set up. Ensure you work in a well-ventillated and dust free area. A lot more fun than it sounds and it isn't that hard to do.  HAVE FUN! 

Grout Drama's

Great question from Mario in Ottawa that I wanted to address for everyone regarding unhappiness with our grout colours.

http://mosaicbeach.typepad.com/mosaicbeachblog/2006/11/grout_haze_ever.html#comment-66580418

Firstly, just so everyone knows grout almost always dries lighter than it looks wet (black being an exception). However, it should be close to the sample card so check those out. When in doubt do a test. But barring all that you can colour grout after the fact. What I would do is tint it by mixing latex or acrylic paint 50/50 with water & then painting the entire piece (tiles included cause you just can't miss them).  Let it sit for 5 minutes and then buff the paint off of the tiles. The colour should stay in the grout. I would mist the grout first to give it an even better chance of bonding. If that doesn't get it quite to the colour you want just continue to paint & buff every 5 minutes until you achieve your dream colour. With masking tape this is also a way to experiment with multiple grout colours. Then I would definitely seal the grout to protect the more fragile painted surface.

I'm not even commenting on your use of unsanded grout 'cause we all know how I feel about that but in some cases it can be ok. Send us pictures Mario & I will post them here!

What base for outdoor tables?

Thanks to Erin Frizzell of Broken by Design Mosaic Studio in Vancouver BC for today's question.

Outdoor tables are a bit tricky, especially for us here in Canada. If you want to leave it out year-round the only real option is concrete board. I cut a piece the size I need & then screw a piece of exterior grade ply underneath it for support. Screw from the outside in. This way if the board does rot you can remove it and screw in another piece to support the mosaic. The only adhesive that is suitable for tables outside is thinset mortar. Full stop.  I find it difficult to work with in the direct method so I always use the indirect or mesh methods when using thinset.

For three season tables I use a product called Crezon or Armorboard. It is a signboard used by the government for street signs. It resists expansion & contraction unlike real wood. Prime it really well & be sure to bring it in in the winter. The good thing with Crezon is that it cuts like wood. So much easier than concreteboard!

And please, feel free to ask questions via the blog or the website..I will continue to add and update the blog as I get them.

Working with Epoxy

Someone asked me yesterday about working with epoxy. Most of the stuff you need to know is in the instructions but here are a couple things I have learned.

1. Tape the outsides of tables with paint tape & REMOVE the tape within an hour of epoxying. If you leave it on while it dries the epoxy will break when you pull it off, ruining your finish.
2. Watch for drips. I check it every 15 minutes or so for an hour, using a gloved finger to remove the drips.
3. I like to place little things like coasters on cling wrap while I work. Lay out a second cling wrap sheet for when it starts setting up (1/2 hour or so) and move them to that sheet after checking all of the sides for drips. Let 'em dry in a dust free environment.

There...some of my best (learned the hard way, by screwing it up the first time).  Got some great tips & tricks? Share please!!

Grout haze everywhere!!

The power of plain white vinegar is a sight to behold. Dirty, grout-speckled mosaics become beautiful works of art again with the assistance of a toothbrush (or nail brush or other soft brush) and straight white vinegar.  Having problems getting the grout out of your vitreous glass tiles or the haze off of your ceramic? Wait a day after grouting. (even 3-4 hours will do) Take the vinegar and brush liberally onto your project. Give it a good scrub. Let it sit for a minute or two & then scrub it again. Sponge liberally with water (this is caustic stuff and will continue to chew away at your grout if you don't remove it) and for the love of mosaic if it is done on wood or MDF do NOT stick it in the sink!! Then buff it with a dry, lint free cloth. IT is TERRIFIC. And even if you have old projects kicking around it will still help. Give it a go. I swear by it and so do my students.

Have fun! Tanya