Review: C3 Recycled Glass Tile


A few weeks ago, I was searching online for some materials for a mosaic project when I stumbled across C3 recycled glass tile (by Kaleidoscope). I was immediately drawn in by the extensive color palette, the vividness of the colors and the fact that it is made from recycled glass. After my first batch of C3 arrived a few days ago, I decided to post this review to help others decide if this is a suitable tessera for their use.

General

The tiles are 0.47 inches square and approximately 0.25 inches thick (this roughly equates to 529 tiles per square foot). One side of the tile is flat and a little rough – I’ll call this the back of the tile - and the front of the tile is smooth and slightly convex. The corners are gently rounded, so there are no sharp edges. A comparable tile to C3 is Bisazza Opus Romano. Two suppliers that carry C3 are MosaicTile.com and Mosaic Art Supply.

Prepping for Use

The tile comes mounted face down on paper that is easily removed by soaking in hot water with a little vinegar added. A number of the tiles had a gluey substance on the back that was a little difficult to remove. Even after scraping and drying the tiles, a few of them still feel a bit sticky on the back.

Cutting

The ease and reliability of cutting is, to me, one of the most important considerations in choosing mosaic tesserae. Few things are more frustrating than finding a really beautiful tile, only to discover that it easily shatters or repeatedly produces jagged cuts. I will report that I am pleasantly surprised with the ease and reliability of cuts that I have experienced with C3. Using wheeled mosaic glass cutters, each cut was smooth and clean.

Application

The supplier sites indicate that C3 can be used indoors and outdoors. It is heat, frost and chemical resistant and can be used on floors, walls and wet areas. I am planning to use mine for a small wall hanging and will post pictures when it is finished.

Comments

  1. Interior IDentitiesJanuary 11, 2011 at 11:35 AM

    Keith, I would love to see what you've done with the C3 recycled glass. Is your piece in progress?

    ReplyDelete

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