Flat stuff
Dec. 15th, 2015 10:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
offcntrI'm starting to work on one of my winter projects, a series of tiles for a kitchen remodel, eighteen in all, in a couple of sizes. Hand-painted, of course. It's times like this I'm really glad I bought that surplus slab roller from the UO Craft Center back in 1998.
Tonight I'm starting on the first set, six 4x6" tiles for a backsplash. First, I roll the slab to the proper thickness--about a quarter inch--with my slab roller. I lay a sheet of latch hook rug mesh between the slab and canvas and roll it again. (This gives a texture to the back side that will help grip the tile adhesive on installation.)
I then flip the slab over and smooth the top surface with a rubber squeegee (thank you, Goodwill) and silicone rib. I cut out the tile with my punch cutter, transfer it to a piece of drywall, then eject it with the built-in spring-loaded piston.
Keep cutting tile until I run out of slab, then wedge up the scraps and roll again. Finished tiles are stacked between sheets of drywall scrap; slow, even drying will keep the tiles flat. I can fit two tiles on each piece of drywall. Edges are sealed with duct tape to keep crumbs of plaster out of my clay.
Tonight I'm starting on the first set, six 4x6" tiles for a backsplash. First, I roll the slab to the proper thickness--about a quarter inch--with my slab roller. I lay a sheet of latch hook rug mesh between the slab and canvas and roll it again. (This gives a texture to the back side that will help grip the tile adhesive on installation.)
I then flip the slab over and smooth the top surface with a rubber squeegee (thank you, Goodwill) and silicone rib. I cut out the tile with my punch cutter, transfer it to a piece of drywall, then eject it with the built-in spring-loaded piston.
Keep cutting tile until I run out of slab, then wedge up the scraps and roll again. Finished tiles are stacked between sheets of drywall scrap; slow, even drying will keep the tiles flat. I can fit two tiles on each piece of drywall. Edges are sealed with duct tape to keep crumbs of plaster out of my clay.
