Glass/Stone mosaic... Help!

[dianek117]

I am in the middle of creating a new mosaic of stone tile pieces and glass. I am using a new method (new to me) that I read about and thought I should test it to see if it works... It's not. I'm half way finished (should have tested this sooner, but got caught up in making it and couldn't stop).

This is how the process is supposed to work: Draw design on paper and tape to table top. Place removable (not very sticky) clear contact paper over the drawing so you can see the lines through the contact paper. This holds the mosaic pieces while you are placing them down. Create mosaic. When finished place sticky contact paper over the mosaic. You are supposed to be able to peal the bottom (not so sticky) contact paper off and the mosaic is supposed to stick to the 'sticky' contact paper. Now you can place the mosaic over thinset, let dry then peal off the sticky contact paper and you're ready to grout.

I just tried a test with a small mosaic and the 'sticky' contact paper would only stick to a few of the stone tiles and didn't stick to any glass tiles.

Unfortunately, I am half way finished with a 18 x 36 inch very detailed mosaic and can't figure out how I am going to transfer this.

Has anyone out there tried this? I think it may not be sticking to the stone tiles because they have stone dust on them, not sure why it's not sticking to the glass unless the glass may have oil from my fingers on them. These are very small pieces I'm working with. Not sure how I would clean them (?) I thought this would be a clean way of making a mosaic.
Any suggestions would be appreciated...

[cantdrawanything]

Is it truly not sticking, or is it just the back side sticky is a lot tougher than the other. Point is moot probably. Dust will probably be the big thing, but changes in height may make it hard for the contact paper to form a bond too.

So you have the temporary sticky part with the pieces stuck to it. Can you get a board or something the same 18 x 36 size (piece of plexiglass maybe)? put the sticky stuff that is not sticking, or find something stickier (packing tape, duct tape) cover your top side of the mosaic with that burnish it on to the mosiac (rub it really hard), cover this with the board. Pick up everything and turn it over so it's upside down supported by the board. remove the not so sticky stuff and your pattern. Apply your thin set to your piece, and then invert the piece with the thin set onto the board with your tiles. 'course this is contingent on the mosaic being on a panel rather than a wall.... and you may have a time with the thin set running into the cracks between pieces. After the thin set drys you can work on peeling off that upper sticky stuff.

All that being said... I saw at home depot a product for the glass tiles. instead of thin set, they had a double sided adhesive sheet they applied to the wall, then they placed the tiles, then grouted over it. I was leary, but i can see how that would come in very handy here. Perhaps that may be something to try. The sheet was clear, you could draw your pattern on the actual mounting surface.

[dianek117]

Thanks for your reply Tami. I intended to put this on hardi-board from the beginning then attach it to the wall, so I so have a board. The not so sticky contact paper I used was 'removable' contact paper from Home Depot and it really didn't seem very sticky. I found 'permanent' laminate contact paper at Staples (was told this was very sticky - 'not removable') to use over the top of the mosaic, but it's really hard to tell which is stickier!

The height of the stone tile pieces and the glass is about the same, so I don't think that is what is causing my problem. After posting this I tried another test using white glue and paper over the top. Let it dry overnight, and all but one tile stuck to the paper with glue when I pulled off the removable contact paper. (I also read you can use wall paper paste).

I have some mastic that is very thick and doesn't run which I could use instead of thinset, but my mosaic has tiny pieces that, if the mastic is troweled on, may land in the groves instead of the mastic. Unless I just skim on the mastic without groves... but will it dry that way? Not sure.

This has really taught me to test out new ways of doing things before putting weeks into creating a piece. I can just see myself moving my mosaic from the contact paper piece by piece with tweezers to the hardi-board

I haven't seen the double sided adhesive sheet you mentioned, but I'll look for it before I attempt another one.

Thanks for your input

[dianek117]

I ended up using Elmer's Glue and craft paper over the top of my mosaic. I did this to the bottom 1/2 of it to see if this would work and it really stuck to both the glass and the stone, so I think I will be able to transfer it okay. I should be finished with it in the next couple of days and will post a picture after I get it on the wall.

[admiller]

did you clean the mosaic tiles with alcohol to get rid of any residue?

[dianek117]

Originally Posted by admiller

did you clean the mosaic tiles with alcohol to get rid of any residue?

No.. they were too small. I used very some very small pieces of glass and stone tile pieces (live & learn). Probably would not use such small pieces in the future. I finally did get it transferred and am happy with the result. Will try to post a picture.

[dianek117]

Finished mosaic

[Dragonfly Queen]

Wow! Beautiful....well done.

[dianek117]

Thank you Inez.