HOW TO USE SMALTI IN MOSAICS | Your complete guide to smalti

[@reneeo4435]

Thank you so much, this was so informative.

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Glad it was helpful!

[@orchardann]

I hope you will be doing more videos about smalti. Such an exciting material! And the colours are amazing.

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Yes, I will be doing more over the following months. There is just so much to cover!

[@crisreep2]

My question is as follows: In the last bit where you use smalti and vitreous, how do you handle grouting? Smalti being a no grout and vitreous is to be grouted? I am confused!

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Smalti is never grouted and so the vitreous glass is simply pressed into the tile adhesive in the same way in this particular example. The huge advantage of using tile adhesive/thin set is that you can use any materials you like: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6Oyf3ydlMecY9E

[@linr8260]

Thank you for the informative video. If the tile adhesive is rated for outside (like the ones meant for swimming pools), would it be possible to use smalti outside with that method?

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Yes, you can definitely use smalti outside with outdoor tile adhesive.

[@christinemartin4338]

Thanks for your great videos. I don’t have means to buy a hammer and hardie at this time. Can I break pizza with glass nippers. Glass cutter , Compound nippers or other tool suggestion? How else to could I break the score line without a hardie?

[@janeshelswell6868]

Thank you for taking the time to explain smalti so well. I work with stained glass but I really love the look of smalti and want to try it as well. Look forward to more of your videos.

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

You're very welcome, Jane. Smalti is a beautiful material to work with and I hope you give it a try!

[@QemamuMosaics]

This is a great video tutorial. Im glad I know how to cut pizza pieces properly now.

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

I still have bad dreams about the time you cut your finger - it's sooo easy to do! 😂

[@QemamuMosaics]

@@HelenMilesMosaics 😅ouch! I still have a little scar

[@amandahabermann2218]

Very informative and good video

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Glad you think so! 🙏😀

[@ArcticBanshee]

Love smalti!!!! I want to make a desert-scape project with it, I think the patterns I could make would be lovely, but I haven’t used smalti yet so I’m a bit nervous. More smalti videos would be wonderful. I learn so much from your channel!

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Thanks LA! I will plan more for the future 😀

[@anaschilling2668]

Thank you!!! I think I found what I was looking for!! Reflective of light and no grouting !! I’ll give it a try ⭐️⭐️

[@kathiekarancz964]

Thanks so much. I bought my hammer and hardie a couple of years ago along with some smalti. I’m still too scared to use it! 👍🐢🌮

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Give it a go! As long as the blade of the hammer is directly above the blade of the hardie you will be fine and dont forget to let the weight of the hammer do the work, not your wrist. It's sooooo satisfying once you get the hang of it. 😀

[@ingriddean5333]

If we use smalti with other tessarae, and plan to display it outside---we have the option of grouting, right? I live in very rainy climate with lots of moisture.

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Yes, you do have the option of grouting. It is just hard work when the tesserae are different heights and it takes some of the brightness out of the smalti because the grout will fill the air holes.

[@skrtskit1521]

💖💖🎶🎶

[@myriamchayaassouline691]

Thank you so much Where can i buy that hammer with the iron on the wooden table to break the class

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

You can buy this from Mosaic Workshop: www.mosaicworkshop.com/mosaic-tools-other-products/steel-hardie-mounted-on-a-steel-base.html

[@myriamchayaassouline691]

@@HelenMilesMosaics thank you so much

[@jagan2]

very nice video! I'm planning to do a mosaic for the headstone of my mom's grave. I'd like to ask for an advice. Being it a vertical installation outside, it has to be durable and withstand rain and frost. I thought about using smalti with coloured epoxy grout (the types that are used also as thinset/adhesive). I've noticed from other graves that often some tiles fall off. So I was wondering whether grouting would make the piece more robust. I suppose that the vitreous tiles do not bond so well with the grout / thinset, so they tend to fall off over time, especially if they are attached only on 1 face of the tile. If I leave a small gap (around 1/16'') and I grout the tiles, the mosaic should be more robust, as the grout will be attached on 5 faces of the tile. Of course this creates some discontinuity, due to the grout lines. For this I thought about using 2 colors: 1 for the areas that are more bright, and the other for the shades. And the other problem is, as you have shown, the fact that smalti are irregular; so it will need some work to clean them from the grout. I'd be happy to hear your suggestion :)

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

As it happens, I have just made a headstone mosaic. I used smalti and made the mosaic in four parts on a temporary plastic base (see this other video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/labdi4VujdGHgqs), using outdoor grade tile adhesive with added pigment. The reason I didnt want to set the mosaic onto mesh was that it would create an extra layer between the stone and the adhesive. The stone carver then recessed the stone to the same depth as the smalti and set it in with a two part epoxy. I hope this helps!

[@ginnydixon7447]

Love your videos! Clear, informative and to the point. Thank you!

[@HelenMilesMosaics]

Glad you like them!