Everything Mosaic
  • Home
    • Meet Anne
    • Anne's Mosaic Garden
    • Gallery
    • Testimonials and Recommendations
    • Commissions >
      • Fantasy Porch
      • School Tile
      • 30th Wedding Anniversary Gift
    • Sundays at One
    • Pinterest Images
  • Getting Started
    • Tesserae
    • Design
    • Bases
    • Mosaic Tools
    • Adhesives
    • Grout
    • Glossary
    • FAQ
  • Classes
    • Awhitu Peninsula
    • Birkenhead
    • Waiuku
    • Student Work
  • Resources
    • Mosaic Organisations
    • Free Patterns >
      • Kids Projects >
        • Sun Catcher
        • Kids Mosaic Tiles and Stones
        • Pencil Holder
        • Magical Bean Mosaic
      • Trivet
      • Christmas Glass Tea Light
      • Mosaic Stepping Stone
    • Mosaic Videos >
      • Fat Cat
      • Leaf Castings
      • Making Mosaic Leaves
      • Fur, Feathers, Fire
      • How to Cut Complex Shapes
      • How Millefiori is made
    • Mosaics Around the World >
      • New Zealand Mosaics >
        • Kawakawa Mosaics
      • Australian Mosaics >
        • Melbourne Mosaics
        • Queensland Mosaics
      • Mosaic History
      • New Zealand Mosaic Gardens to Visit
      • La Maison Picassiette
      • Lod Mosaic
      • Mosaic Tile House
      • Mexican Mosaic Retreat
    • Places of Interest
    • Keep In Touch
    • Tile Calculator
    • Newsletter >
      • Past Newsletters >
        • September 2016
        • July 2016
        • June 2016
        • May 2016
        • March 2016 Newsletter
        • February 2016
        • November 2015 Newsletter
        • September 2015
        • August 2015
        • July 2015
        • May 2015
        • April 2015
        • March 2015
        • February 2015
        • January 2015 Newsletter
        • December 2014 Newsletter
        • November 2014 Newsletter
        • October 2014 Newsletter
        • September 2014 Newsletter
        • August 2014 Newsletter
        • July 2014 Newsletter
        • June 2014 Newsletter
        • May 2014 Newsletter
        • April 2014 Newsletter
        • March 2014 Newsletter
        • February 2014 Newsletter
        • January 2014 Newsletter
    • In The News
  • Members Area
    • Keystoning
    • Members Patterns
  • Artists
Home › Getting Started › Adhesives

Adhesives

The tesserae are glued onto your base before grouting.  There are many adhesives on the market and it is important to choose the appropriate one for the type of base you are using, the tesserae you are using and the final position of the piece.

PVA - For indoor horizontal pieces PVA is suitable.  It is easy to use, dries clear and is strong as long as it is not exposed to moisture.

Weldbond - An alternative to PVA is Weldbond. It is waterproof, dries clear and is very strong.  Weldbond has become the most popular glue (especially for indoor horizontal work) with modern mosaic artists.

A cheaper alternative is Fuller's Max-Bond in a cartridge - cheap, waterproof and reliable although a little messy to use.  You may want to use this for any pieces on a vertical.

An alternative to Max Bond for vertical pieces and for all outdoor pieces, is to use the bonding agent described below.

Cement Adhesive - For all outdoor pieces this is my preferred glue.  This is a powdered mixture of cement and sand.  Its chemical reaction is activated by the addition of liquid – either water or latex.  The powder and liquid are mixed to a peanut butter consistency and applied thinly.

For outdoor mosaics this is one of the best glues to use because it is strong and waterproof and can be used on vertical pieces.

It can be purchased pre-mixed but I find it is better to make up my own small batch because it does not have a long working life.

Silicone - I use clear silicone for all clear work - glass/translucent. Silicone has many advantages: it is waterproof, has immediate vertical hold, dries clear, protects the backing of mirrors and can be used outdoors.

Do Not Use

School craft glue – it is simply not strong enough

Hot glue guns – or any glue that dries instantaneously

Home › Getting Started › Adhesives
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.