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Hi, never posted here before and this is my first mosaic job.
I was going to use black thin-set for grout, but I've heard about epoxy grout
though not enough to know if I can use it. I tested thin-set on the bottom.
It's ok, but this will be outdoors half the year, so I might want something even stronger.
Also, because of all the ups and downs, it's a pretty crude surface, a squeegee
immediately got roughed up by all the sharp edges and corners.
When I do the whole thing, I was going to try to get it on very thickly
and wait an hour to sponge it, and use a dremel to "dig out" the mirrors>
Any advice here from any of you adepts would be hugely welcome!
never used mirrors, but I think you don't have to dremmel them out. I've pressed the grout in with the palm of my gloved hand (like pressing cement into wire mesh), then wipe away with a very wrung out rag. wait a bit and you can wipe away the dust left on the tiles.
as usual you've outdone yourself!!! what a fun project!! will she reside in one of your gardens?
Greyma, thanks!
I'd better use some really hefty gloves, or maybe try not to stroke, just press?
Well, I still have the hands and face to deal with (not looking forward to it).
I'd almost want the grout to "stand out" in her case, not be flush or slightly concave
like normal grout.
Have you tried epoxy grout?
Yes, she will be in the darkest area of an old, unpruned orchard, where it's always cool
and shady. There are a few other mirror things in there, it really works.
I hope she'll spook the daylights out of the deer!
Jan, thanks, do you really bead gourds?
Here's how far I've got.
Oh Lordymuffins!
I didn't know about this forum. Looked at your latest amazing Christensen-inspired job, wow!
Is that wax you're building bas relief with? and setting the beads in? With tweezers?
What size beads are those? (I have billions of 60 beads we use for beaded bags)
Do you use any kind of grout to finish? What happens if they get hot?
Yes it is beeswax that I sculpt to form and then push each bead, one at a time into the wax. I don't apply anything one it is done as the wax holds the beads in place. You don't want to display any of then in a sunny window as it is wax. However, they will stand the years of time if kept it a good location as any work of art. You don't display any works of art in direct sun. Here is a photo of bead application with a tool that I make from a tpin that is covered with fimo clay for easy handling. The project that I am working on in the photo is of a white buffalo. The gourd is huge. I can't even put my arms around it. I will send you some photos of it on your dmail.
Jan
Did you find out anything about the epoxy grout? Does that mean that it is water proof? I need a waterproof grout also but it seems to be a great mystery - I can't even find a name brand on pond sites...hhhuuuummm. Please let me know what you find. I'd hate to have my floor under and my walls inside my shower mosaic rot and have to pull everything up...or worse yet ...go through the floor in a few years:( Thanks...
Looks very cool but what is the manequin made out of? The couple manequins I have in my clothing store are made out of some kind of paper mache and would definalty fall apart if I left them outside.
No news about epoxy grout as yet, I'm going to ask on the garden art forum,
I'll let you know what i find out.
The mannekin is made of some very dense wood fiber, she's pretty heavy.
I'm counting on the "goop", the grout and maybe a sealer.
I was going to permanently attach all parts, but may opt for some kind of
rubber gasket instead.
Also, I'll be watching her :o)
Here's the "other winter work", 200 bags we need to finish in the next week or two.
Hello I am steve from Vermont a fulltime tile setter, work with epoxy all the time, There are many manufactures of epoxy grout, I would rather work with Spectra lok, made by latticrete, often sold at Lowes, its a sand of a color and an A plus B mix,three parts, Epoxy is waterproof, Stain proof and bullet proof, Its only enemy is exterme heat, which will soften it. You must work in small sections and make sure you get the residue off it as you go, If you decide to go this way, I am open for questions...Steve
Hi everybody, massive extra work dumped on me is taking all my waking hours.
My web site was hacked (and outdated anyway) and I've got a couple of thousand
images to take, find, edit, the whole tedious catastrophy.
The bags are almost there, but we've had some supply delays. Nights we're ripping
silk flowers for Faerie bodices while watching "Dexter", hehe.
I'll post some pictures when I get the bags done Planolinda, I don't have any finished ones left.
Appliqued pieces, raw edges covered with various trims can work really well.
I got a little further on my lady before the deluge. The face scared me for a while.
I found the easiest way was to use full tiles til they had to be cut, then filling in with
specially cut ones, the exact opposite of what i had planned, which was doing the
pokey areas first.
I gave up on the epoxy grout, never had time to ask on the gardenart forum, and the only
instructions I could find for Spectra lok online were in Spanish. Lowes had the stuff, but no
instructions: -it was "a box of this and a box of that", no ratios for smaller amounts. And as
for advice on the handling/technique, zilch.
I bought some standard indoor/outdoor grout that I'm very familiar with, from a place that
"works with me" for years. (And then the work hit)
On that note, Steve, I can still return the stuff if I get convinced I can do the epoxy grout
successfully. So I appreciate your offer. I hear it's very sticky and hard to work with.
I'm down to the hands (ugh! not much space between those fingers!) and finishing the
"crown/petals whatever". I will be filling in the insides of the petals with patching concrete.
I don't foresee any career in mosaics coming up, the only way I got through this was with
D.D.s spare ipod full of books on tape (very funny one, new to me, by Douglas Adams, on
traveling the world in pursuit of endangered animal species!)
Here she is as far as I got.
Howdy scarediecat, The only grout you should use is epoxy, its is totally waterproof and when cured is not toxic at all. It will provide you with a watertight unit that is sealed like a jacuzzi tub or swimming pool. It is what we use in the industry for showers, tubs, jacuzzis and hot tubs. It is really not as scary as people think to install, it is however much more expensive than standard grout. But you gain in a incredible product, There will be no access to the mortar for your water, I have ceramic tile countertops and food obviously comes in contact all the time, wipes off clean and its not dangerous to the food, and they are epoxy grout. If you have anymore questions just ask away!...Steve
Ok, thanks so much. I have seen the A+B mixes at Lowes but stayed away from them because I didn't know what I was doing and at that price I didn't want to make a mistake. Now I know and in the Spring I will put those mixes to work on my pond (and shower stall)!! Thanks again.
Oh my Goodness, I just came across this wonderful mirror lady. Did you finish? I have plans to do a mannequin and put it outside. Does it have to be an epoxy grout for outside or can I just seal it well? This lady is fantastic!
No it doesn't have to be, but any movement in the joints will fracture the grout and over the long haul regular grout will break down, with water and the elements...Steve
By Holmes, You can not put a paper manequin outside. When doing mosaics you have to choose a durable base or you are just waisting a ton of money and time on something that will fall apart if left outside. Now if kept inside a paper mache manequin would be fine. They do make high end manequins out of fiberglass which would last outside but they are $1,000 and up. A nude in concrete would be excelant.
Noknok, you have brought life to a simple manican. How clever you are!!!! She is beautiful!!!!! WOW!!!!!The dear won't be frightened by her, they will think she is an angel!!!! They will probably eat the entire CROP.
Hi all,
I am brand new to Dave's Garden. I love doing mosaic, and gardening, so this group is amazing to me!! Here is a flowerpot I just created. I love the mirror-woman!! I love the bowling balls! I will get involved here! I live in southern Maine.
Brigit
Welcome to DG, and venu is right, you will love it here, there are several forums that have tons of information, from gardening to decluttering the house... anyway. Welcome, and I agree, very nice pot you made there.
A.
Thanks for your welcomes! Sometimes it is lonely on social networks as folks do not reply.
This is my first year to be a seed starter. Maybe I should start a thread on this. Now that I've said that I think I will!
Very exciting to me, I just learned that my mosaic pot won an art glass award!
Thanks for your welcome,
brigit
