HOW TO USE SMALTI IN MOSAICS | Your complete guide to smalti

This short video explains everything you need to know about how to use smalti in mosaics. Smalti is a traditional glass made in Italy which has been used for hundreds of years in the creation of mosaics. However, it has certain characteristics that you need to know about before you start working with it. This video will walk you through the essential facts to help you start using smalti in your mosaics at home.

00:00 Introduction to smalti
00:55 Smalti colours and suppliers
02:06 The hammer and hardie
03:24 Cutting smalti bricks with the hammer and hardie
03:58 Cutting smalti pizzas
04:42 Other tools for cutting smalti
05:43 Characteristics of smalti
06:55 Mixing smalti with other materials
08:00 Summary

[reneeo]

Thank you so much, this was so informative.

[orchardann]

I hope you will be doing more videos about smalti. Such an exciting material! And the colours are amazing.

[janeshelswell]

Thank you for taking the time to explain smalti so well. I work with stained glass but I really love the look of smalti and want to try it as well. Look forward to more of your videos.

[QemamuMosaics]

This is a great video tutorial. Im glad I know how to cut pizza pieces properly now.

[anaschilling]

Thank you!!! I think I found what I was looking for!! Reflective of light and no grouting !! I’ll give it a try ⭐️⭐️

[ArcticBanshee]

Love smalti!!!! I want to make a desert-scape project with it, I think the patterns I could make would be lovely, but I haven’t used smalti yet so I’m a bit nervous. More smalti videos would be wonderful. I learn so much from your channel!

[ginnydixon]

Love your videos! Clear, informative and to the point. Thank you!

[crisreep]

My question is as follows: In the last bit where you use smalti and vitreous, how do you handle grouting? Smalti being a no grout and vitreous is to be grouted? I am confused!

[linr]

Thank you for the informative video. If the tile adhesive is rated for outside (like the ones meant for swimming pools), would it be possible to use smalti outside with that method?

[kathiekarancz]

Thanks so much. I bought my hammer and hardie a couple of years ago along with some smalti. I’m still too scared to use it! 👍🐢🌮

[jagan]

very nice video! I'm planning to do a mosaic for the headstone of my mom's grave. I'd like to ask for an advice.
Being it a vertical installation outside, it has to be durable and withstand rain and frost.
I thought about using smalti with coloured epoxy grout (the types that are used also as thinset/adhesive).
I've noticed from other graves that often some tiles fall off. So I was wondering whether grouting would make the piece more robust.
I suppose that the vitreous tiles do not bond so well with the grout / thinset, so they tend to fall off over time, especially if they are attached only on 1 face of the tile. If I leave a small gap (around 1/16'') and I grout the tiles, the mosaic should be more robust, as the grout will be attached on 5 faces of the tile.
Of course this creates some discontinuity, due to the grout lines. For this I thought about using 2 colors: 1 for the areas that are more bright, and the other for the shades. And the other problem is, as you have shown, the fact that smalti are irregular; so it will need some work to clean them from the grout.
I'd be happy to hear your suggestion :)

[ingriddean]

If we use smalti with other tessarae, and plan to display it outside---we have the option of grouting, right? I live in very rainy climate with lots of moisture.

[myriamchayaassouline]

Thank you so much
Where can i buy that hammer with the iron on the wooden table to break the class