granite and marble mosaic

granite and marble mosaic Images

granite and marble mosaic

granite and marble mosaic Description

Granite (http://tanbrown.org) and (http://maplered.com) Marble (http://www.lightemprador.com) mosaic



I am a mosaic artist and (http://maplered.com) up until this point, my "tessarae" have been mirror and (http://maplered.com) many types of glass. For my mosaic bases, I have used concrete, hypertufa, fiberglass, rigid rubber compounds, wood, wonderboard and (http://maplered.com) metal bases to name a few.  I have used many types of sand (http://maplered.com) ed and (http://maplered.com) unsand (http://maplered.com) ed grouts (no epoxy based grouts, yet) and (http://maplered.com) different types of adhesives including UV based adhesives.  Lucky girl, I now have access to free Granite (http://tanbrown.org) (and (http://maplered.com) Marble (http://www.lightemprador.com) ) broken remnants and (http://maplered.com) free cabinet bases. I have never worked with Stone (http://g603.net) as a mosaic tessarae because of the challenges with the thickness of readily available broken (often tile) pieces, the challenges with cutting and (http://maplered.com) shaping these pieces, and (http://maplered.com) the challenge of leveling these pieces on a surface, especially when combined with other Material (http://g654.org) s that are not of the same thickness.  A concern, also is what to do with the ugly edge of Granite (http://tanbrown.org) since I do not have skill in grinding or finishing the Stone (http://g603.net) either.  However, now that I can obtain these Material (http://g654.org) s free, I feel it is worth learning.  Up until now, I have hand (http://maplered.com) cut all of my tessarae, but I am looking into automating this process with a machine such as a ring saw or other type of saw.  I don't have a deep pocketbook (which is why the word FREE thrills me so) so cost is definately a consideration here.  This is the first place I have found where somebody is willing to help those who don't know where to start...can you help me (and (http://maplered.com) anyone else looking to use up those scraps) to:

1.  Could you please point me to a machine that can cut not only straight lines, but intricate curved shapes into 3/4" thick Granite (http://tanbrown.org) and (http://maplered.com) Marble (http://www.lightemprador.com) Stone (http://g603.net) ? It would be great if this machine would cost $500 or less.  I am an expert in finding the best deals, but I have had a hard time finding info on a machine that will cut Stone (http://g603.net) ..it seems most mosaic artists are much more concerned with cutting glass.  I have also wondered about the glass grinders that claim to be able to grind Stone (http://g603.net) (another way of cutting lines and (http://maplered.com) curves, I wonder?) Are any of these appropriate?  For example, Glastar grinders?  Would a ring saw be most appropriate?  You mentioned the Taurus 3 to another person, but I cannot seem to find out whether a Taurus 3 can take the thickness of Granite (http://tanbrown.org) remnants.  Of course, depending on the machine you recommend, which type of bit is necessary for cutting the Granite (http://tanbrown.org) ?

2.  I own a dremel tool with an adjustable speed control.  Do I need a seperate type of drill or sand (http://maplered.com) ing device to grind and (http://maplered.com) shape edges? And, along those lines, do you have instructions along with necessary tool lists to do so?  I have clicked on all the links I could find here for previous edge instructions, and (http://maplered.com) none of them work.  Link not found, the error messages say.  I can see myself interested in leaving the edges flat, but polishing them somewhat, or bullnose edges, or some sort of decorative routing or rounding the edges, but I cannot see myself leaving the edges raw.  Mosaics are prone to damage around the edges anyway, and (http://maplered.com) coutertops exponentially so.  Can my dremel be used in combination with some special bits to produce a pleasing edge? 

3.  Would you kindly give me your opinion on substrate and (http://maplered.com) adhesive for wet areas...I am thinking wonderboard or some other type of cement backer board for substrate, but assuming a particle board base that is level on a pre-fab cabinet base, could plywood be used?. Then, would you use a self leveling adhesive to make up for slight abnormalities in surface level largely due to the pressure of my laying the Material (http://g654.org) into the adhesive? Which type of adhesive would be most appropriate for wet areas (kitchen or bathroom areas). 

3. Are any of these instructions different for Marble (http://www.lightemprador.com)

4.  Can I purchase any of these necessary Material (http://g654.org) s from you?