How would I make the cement used to make a Mosaic??
Question:I would like to make a mosaic but without going to a craft store to buy the already premade stuff. I would like to try to handmake it. Any Suggestions?
Answers:
I've made mosaic table tops, shelves, stepping stones and coasters, but you almost have to buy the adhesive and the grout mixtures. When I made the stepping stones, I used cement from the home improvement store that you mix with water. When I did the mosaic on a table top, I used aquarium or plumber's glue to attach the tile fragments to the table and then used grout that you mix with water and get at the home improvement store to grout between the tiles. I don't know that there is a way to make cement or grout for that matter, yourself. You have to buy the mixes.
don't be cheap just go out and buy a bag of mortar mix
yeah just get a bag of thinset mortar if it is for tile or stone. you get it at home depot. its like 8 dollars a bag for the cheap stuff. you will never be able to get the mixtures of portland cement with sand and latex and other additives right. or you can buy a bucket of premixed "mastick" for about 30 to 35 dollars. its a glue like thinset that requires no mixing. you just open the bag and go.
Quickcrete, thinset mortar mix, grout mix for colored affect. Mix it to about the consistency of peanut butter.
Cement Mosaic Stones? not surface mosaic with grout as other have referenced?
and you dont want to buy Diamondcrete or Flashcrete from a hobby shop?
Well... you can make it on your own: go to home depot and ask how to make cement (dont do quikcrete or sacrete- it gets left around and absorbs moisture and throws off the amount of water you will need).
ingredients;
sand, lye, and mortar or something- my mom makes it herself- it took her years to work out all the kinks- talking to a lot of cement makers.
problem is it takes a lot ot finesse- and you cant keep the extra stuff lyin around due to moisture- you cant pop the stone out for 3 days and it needs constant moisture every hour or so, AND you need to put some sort of rebar or reinforcement if its a big stone or bench.
and if you dont make it right- you dont find out until you pop it out and you did all that glass work for NADA- ugh! so frustrating, i speak from experience.
Diamondcrete/Flashcrete set in ONE HOUR, no rebar needed because it is such a dense and strong mixture. AND SUPER SMOOTH!!
so if you still wanna make you own- go to home depot/lowes and ask the peeps there how to make cement from scratch and tell them you dont want to "just add water" bag.
good luck, seriously! you'll need it!
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