When starting a
tile
project, I always wipe each tile off with a clean soft cloth.
This removes all the dust and particles that accumulate while
packed in the case. If there
are stains that you aren’t sure what are, you can always fire the tile
before working on it. This
should remove the stain.
Pick a pattern that
isn’t too complicated. It
isn’t easy to get glaze into tiny areas.
I transfer the pattern with carbon paper or you can also freehand a
pattern with a pencil. I
usually lay a piece of paper over the area of tile I’m not working on so
I don’t smear the pattern with my hand.
There are a few ways
to outline your pattern. You can use a Sharpie marker or
wax resist.
Both of these methods will let the color of the tile show through
when fired. If you want it
outlined in black, use the
Waxline pen
or you mix cobalt oxide and Thompson’s water seal.
This is mixed to a brushing consistency and used to outline the
pattern. I always apply this
with a brush. This mixture
repels the glaze and holds it in place when firing.
The glaze is applied
with squeeze bottles. This
requires only one even coat instead of three when brushing glaze on.
If the glaze seems to be a little thick to apply out of a bottle,
add a few drops of water to thin. It
may be necessary to use a pin tool, nail, or whatever to push the glaze
into small areas that cannot be reached by the bottle tip.
Two or more glazes can
be blended in one area by applying the colors and before they dry, pushing
them together. This works
well when doing flowers or anything that wouldn’t be just one solid
color. It kind of gives a marbleizing effect. When the glazes are dried, fire the tiles to
cone 06.
After firing, the tile can either be framed, put on the wall with
grout, or however you choose to decorate with them.
From
our fall 99 newsletter....
Now that you have mastered making tiles,
let’s do a mural for the wall. Be sure to have a pattern that will fit
the area that you have in mind. It will be helpful to lay out the finished
tiles so you don’t put the design up in the wrong place.
The first thing you need to do is find
the center of the wall. Mark it with a chalk line from top to bottom and
from side to side. This will give you a plus sign in the middle of the
wall. When you put the tiles on the wall, it is best to work from center
out to avoid not having your pattern off center.
You will need to mix up thin set cement.
Just mix up enough for the immediate area that you are working on. If it
starts to dry out, it becomes hard to work with. It is best to use a tool
that has ridges to apply the thin set to the back of the tiles. This is
called buttering the tiles. Make sure to get good coverage on the back of
the tile before applying to the wall. Be sure to line up the tile with the
chalk line. Most tiles have tabs on the sides for correct spacing. If need
be , you can buy tile spacers or even use pennies.
Nails can be nailed at an angle under
the tiles to hold them in place. If working in a large area, you can nail
a one by two board across the entire length of the wall and rest the tiles
on the board. Let the thin set cure for twenty four hours before removing
the nails and or board.
You are now ready to apply the grout.
The easiest way to do this is with your fingers. Mix the grout to a dough
like consistency. Always wear latex gloves so the pigment in the grout
doesn't absorb into your skin. Take a good size glob of grout and press in
between the tiles being sure to get a good coverage. It is always a good
idea to work an area then go back and clean the grout off the tiles with a
damp sponge before it completely dries. After putting grout on the whole
project, let the grout set up for at least twenty four hours. At this
time, you can seal the grout. This isn’t necessary if the mural isn’t
on a wall that is subject to the weather.
Now you have a wall that will be the
envy of your friends and family. Be prepared to have requests to do one at
their homes.
Have fun and enjoy!
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