MOSAIC question

Bubs99

Heya,

Im just starting on mosaics and have everything ready, the bases, hundreds of tiles, glass and mirror and ceramic and the main tools.

My BIG question is...what is the best adhesive to use on MDF for indoor mosaics.

I was told to get a "flexible" adhesive, but the hardware store only has a big sack of powdered flexible adhesive.
Im looking for ready made, one that I can cover and put away when not in use.

I plan to do the "direct method" which is glueing each tile/tesserae on to the base piece by piece.

Pleeeease help, Im going insane. Im getting different advice everywhere but I just want to do simple mosaics and all the websites are just advertising!

Id really appreciate it. Thank you.

breadandjam

Polybond is what you want. It's a thicker tackier form of PVA. Comes in tins like paint. I have some small mosaics that I did with polybond years ago and they're fine.

Bubs99

Thanks for that information, ill go get that tomorrow.

does that also work on ceramic tiles tesserae/broken ceramic?
Is it "flexible" or what does that even mean? Whats the difference?

sorry, im just curious and confused, theres so many adhesives.

breadandjam

I'm not sure what they mean by flexible but it's what I used. It's only about 5 or 6 euro for a small tin so try it out. Polybond works on every thing but it has a long setting time so you'll have to work flat.

I also know of people who have used silicone adhesive to glue tiles and mirrors to large glass panels

Bubs99

Heya,

Thanks a mil for the help. I just have ONE more question if thats ok...
How long do you wait and leave the glued tiles...before...you grout?

Some say an hour, some say 24 hours!

So, with the polybond, how long should I wait before I grout?

Thank you

breadandjam

When I was doing them I was putting the tiles on one day and grouting the next. It might work sooner but I don't know.

artieanna

okay heres a rough guide...

Flexible grout is for wood or hot/cold surfaces (where shrinking expanding can occur) for example if you were tiling an outdoor table you would have to use flexible adhesive to allow for the dry shrinking weather and the wet expanding weather (ordainary adhesive would crack and crumble in these conditions). It is quite rubbery when dry so it can move a bit.. If you use flexible adhesive you should use flexible grout...

For mosaic I have used ready mixed (very handy in a bucket) adhesive used for wall tiles use enough to sit the tiles into it, allow it to dry overnight then grout it. Don't put out a large amount of adhesive at a time as it may dry before you get all the tiles on, also, if you grout it too soon you risk lifting off some tiles in the process.

Mdf has a very smooth surface to apply adhesive to (there is nothing for the adhesive to grip onto) if you must use mdf or any wood surface make sure it is rough scrape it, dig lines into it make it nice an rough.

Enjoy

Bubs99

Yeah, i must use MDF and I plan to roughly sand paper it.
You see, Im mainly using 1cm or 2cm square mosaic tiles and mirror.

So, im not sure if the "basing tile into the adhesive method" is ok for them tiles as they're so small.

I also have proper big ceramics so ill use that method for them definately.

I bought a tub of adhesive and grout all in one for indoor and outdoor use.

Anymore tips would be appreciated. You've both been a great help, thank you.