Orsoni is the Smalti manufacture in Italy since 1888, and that is how they make the adhesive.
Ingredients: 10.6 OZ of flour \ a spoonful of honey | Half a spoonful of glycerine | A spoonful of gum-arabic
Put all the ingredients slowly into a large saucepan together with 1.75 litre of water, stirring until the mixture is even. Simmer while you stir it slowly and continuously for about 45 minutes without ever allowing it to boil. After turning off the gas, continue to stir it until it is completely cold in order to avoid hardening of the surface. In the end the mixture should have the same consistency as a sauce or mayonnaise. The glue can be laid on the sheet of paper/fabric with a brush, or you add the glue to tesserae with a stick, you can always make smaller quantity with the same proportion mentioned above.
Q. Why red colours more expensive and how to make different colours?
Please check that article by David M Issitt
Q. What makes the grout to crack?
Too much water in mixing, the consistency has to be thick like peanut butter.
Q. Can I use these tiles around fireplace?
Yes, but make sure the binding materials are heat-resistant.
Q. How to use the basic nippers?
Place the blades perpendicularly on the tile; keep only 1/3 of the tile under the nipper, and gently with consistent pressure squeeze at the end of the handles to get a sharp cut.
Q. What would be the safety precautions to do mosaics?
Wear eye protection, gloves and grout in a well-ventilated area. Do not allow unsupervised children to play in work areas, where there is glass debris.
Clean your work area on regular basis and choose a surface that allows for easy clean up of broken tiles, and glass shards. Follow specific instructions from the manufacturer, when using different tools and materials. Contact a physician for more health information.
Q. Do I have to seal before grouting?
It is a must especially for stone, marble and pours tiles, otherwise grout will adhere permanently to tiles, and also to bring up the coloures.
Q. How to give a shiny look and enhance the colour of mosaic piece?
Use a soft cloth with few drops of oil and rub the surface.
Q. Does these tiles come in paper mount?
Only with special order and large quantity.
Q. How to remove dry grout from tiles?
Cover it with vinegar and water for 5 minutes, and then scrape it off.
Q. How to remove dry glue from tiles?
Rub it with acetone.
Q. What would be the step by step to do in-door mosaic?
1. Place tiles with the textured side down, smooth side up. While the adhesive is still wet, tiles can be easily moved into their desired position. Adhesive will begin to set in 5-7 minutes. Do not reposition tiles after it sets. Allow adhesive to cure for 5-6 hours before proceeding.
2. Once you have tiled the entire surface and the adhesive has dried, you may begin grouting. If working with ceramic tile, marble or stone, we recommend sealing the tiles before grouting, apply mosaic grout into the grooves between the tiles; be sure the grout is well worked into the spaces until the gout is levelled with the tile surface. When you have finished grouting, use a damp, wet sponge to wipe off excess grout. Allow it to dry.
3. Once the grout has fully dried, take a damp cloth and polish the surface until it is free of grout residue.To protect your mosaic project, seal the entire surface with sealer.
Congratulations! Your mosaic project is complete.
Q. Can I drain grouts in the sink?
Do not drain any grout into pipes or toilets it will stay and ruin your plumbing.
Q.What is the Double Direct Method on mesh
It is just like doing the direct method but your tiles are adhered to fiberglass mesh instead of your substrate. Once the tiling is finished, you can install it anywhere, whether it is on a tabletop, kitchen backsplash, or an outside mural. Lay your design on a large flat area, cover it with clear plastic wrap, then lay a fiberglass mesh. Make sure that all of this is secured to the flat surface. If this moves during your mosaic, then your design will be shifted. Using Weldbond glue, start adhering the tiles to your design. You don't want to use to much glue so lightly dab the glue on the back of each piece. Follow your design that is under the mesh until you have completly coverd it. Beware of cutting the tiles over the mesh you will end up with shards stuck in the grooves. Allow the piece to set over night. Carefully flip the entire piece over and remove the plastic wrap. The glue should be wet at this point but your tiles should stay in place. Let the glue finish drying. if your mosaic is very large then you need to cut it into workable pieces.Mix your grout and lay a thin layerto the back of your tiles (buttering). Mix your thin set, spread a thin layer onto your surface and trowel through until it is half the thickness of the tiles. Position your mosaic then press dowen using wood block. Leave it to set overnight then grout as usual.
Q. The difference between the ORSONI Smalti and MEXICAN Pedromo Smalti
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Q. What is Revenna technique?
This method is also called the Double Reverse method (the mosaic is set on lime putty, gauze is glued over the top with home made glue or weldbond and when it is dry the mosaic is lifted off the line bed and set onto a base with cement. When the cement sets the gauze is removed. This is used to make a reproduction copy of ancient mosaics or where you need a 'flat' surface but use irregular thickness tesserae.
Q. What is the Lime and how do use it in Revenna style?
Limestone past is Lime soaked with water to form a putty. With lime you work face up meaning you see your finished work, this is important for portrait work and you do not need to worry about cutting your tesserae to the same depth as in the Vincian technique.The tesserae will hold in the lime, you just press them in and they stay there. The great thing about the lime putty is you can remove tesserae if you want to change them. The replacement will still be held in place. When the mosaic is finished, glue the gauze on with rabbit skin glue, a water soluble type or diluted weldbond glue. You learn how much lime you need to remove by experience, just enough for the cement to attach to each tesserae.
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