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Trying to Grout
Trying to Grout
My first idea for assembling the mandalas was to use glue but after seeing Rocky Canyon Tiles I had thought about grouting. After getting some encouragement to try I began planning and learning on how to grout.
First I had to figure out how to add a rim to my wooden backs to I could fill in the grout. I found hoops I could glue together with the same size wooden circle.
My first attempt was made in a wooden frame with some of the first test pieces I made. This was a disaster because I didn't wait long enough for the first layer of grout to dry which was being the 'glue'. I didn't wait because the pieces wern't high enough to be level with the rim so when I would fill it in with grout it would be uneven, and uneven it was no matter what I did.
I persevered though and thought I would learn from my mistakes. So I laid out my designs with my other test pieces and began the grouting again.
I persevered though and thought I would learn from my mistakes. So I laid out my designs with my other test pieces and began the grouting again. But once again because I knew I needed them level this time I filled the whole thing with grout first and then pushed in my pieces.....this was not the right route. I tried to smooth it out after half an hour but because it wasn't dry the pieces started sinking and going uneven so I was once again left with an uneven piece.
Once they had actually dried I had to scrub them clean with a toothbrush (I had sgraffitio and impressed pieces so the grout was stuck in there too). It was a disaster and I also had to file off the dried grout from around the sides which took unnecessary time.
After leaving grouting for a couple weeks I had the ah ha moment of realising I don't need a rim to grout my pieces I could just smooth it out myself. This time I waited a full 24 hours before filling it in with grout after sticking them down and it went a lot better. But the grout still looked very messy and as it something I have barely any experience with I decided not to keep grouting my other pieces.
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