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I get a lot of questions about thinset – what it is, how do you use it, why and when do you use it, etc. Some artists are intimidated by it and some just don’t like having to mix up powders and having that mess, and I agree, it is messy but it provides great results for our mosaics.

The first thing you need to know about thinset is it is an adhesive – it is not a type of grout. Many confuse the two and they are totally different. Thinset is one of the best adhesives for outdoor mosaics in that it is waterproof and very stable in many environmental conditions and you can use it indoors too. It is my favorite outdoor adhesive for Skeewbackers.

Thinset, (according to Wikipedia) is also referred to as mortar, and is made of cement, fine sand and a water retaining agent such as an alkyl derivative of cellulose.

Its name, thinset, came about because it is designed to adhere well in a thin layer, which is perfect for mosaics. For larger projects, it is common to use a 3/8” notch trowel to produce a 3/16th inch thick coating of thinset – still a thin layer, just spread consistently over a larger surface.

Mixing and applying thinset is easy to do, you just need to know how to obtain the right consistencies and then have the right tools for the mosaic project you are working on. Mixing small batches of thinset is very different from mixing large batches that you would use for big installations.

Generally, I like to mix my thinset like I do grout - add a little water first, then the powder, and mix until you get that peanut butter consistency.

In addition, applying thinset can be done many ways and there are different tools you can use for different situations as well such as kraft sticks, your gloved hands, a trowel...

Thinset is very versatile. I have used it as both my adhesive and my grout when I wanted to make a groutless mosaic. You can also color your thinset with pigments to get all manner of different effects with it. I enjoy working with it and highly recommend you give it a try too; but always be safe and wear goggles and dust masks and gloves.

We have assembled a collection of Mosaic Technique Videos that will give you the knowledge to ultimately do almost anything you can think of with thinset - regardless of your current skill level.

(for all other videos, click here and choose your skill level)

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