The ceramic tile coasters
that I crafted looked great initially, but very quickly got tea and coffee
stains on them that wouldn't wipe off. Not being waterproof is a pretty serious
problem for a coaster!
I'll share the secret with you on this page so you can learn how
to make coasters that are beautiful, durable, and fully waterproof. It's
actually pretty simple once you know how.
This is a long page, but don't let that frighten you. Learning how
to make tile coasters is actually really easy.
How to Make Coasters: Materials
The first step in learning how to make coasters is to gather up
your materials. Here's what you'll need...
Materials for tiles and decorating them
4 tiles each 4" (10 cm) square
Mod Podge or other white craft glue
Paint brush for spreading glue
Scrapbook paper
Pencil
Craft knife
Ruler
Instead of using scrapbooking paper, you could use photos to make
your own custom photo coasters.
Materials for varnishing and waterproofing the tiles
Achieving a waterproof and non-tacky finish is the the most
critical part of how to make coasters in my opinion. Here's what you'll need
Two disposable plastic cups
Wooden stirring stick (e.g. popsicle stick)
The Envirotex is the secret of how to make coasters with a
beautiful, glass-like, non-tacky, stain-proof finish. It's a two-part epoxy
that comes in two bottles which you mix together then pour on your coasters.
People use it to coat bar-tops in bars and restaurants so it's designed to be
durable. One coat of Envirotex is equivalent to 50 coats of regular varnish. If
you want to make a gift that will last for years, then it's worth using.
Before I discovered Envirotex I tried practically every other type
of varnish (including acrylic varnish, decoupage varnish, spray-on polyurethane
varnish, araldite, egg whites, and mod-podge), and nothing gave as good a
finish. The other types of varnish looked OK, but they were tacky, or brittle,
or got stained by coffee or tea.
I haven't seen Envirotex in craft stores, but you can
get it at Amazon (link above), or on eBay (links below). Click on one of the
links for more information about the product. A 8-oz kit (enough for 16 tiles)
normally costs around $15, so it comes out at less than $1 / coaster. And
obviously it's cheaper per tile if you buy it in bulk.
How to Make Coasters: Decorating
Step 1
Cut out squares of scrapbooking paper (or photos) to decorate your
coasters. My tiles are 4" across, so I cut out pieces of scrapbooking
paper 3.5" across, to leave a small border around the edge.
Step 2
Make sure your tiles are clean and dry. If they're greasy, then
give them a wipe with methylated spirits or rubbing alcohol to clean them.
Completely paint the blank side of a decorative paper square with
Mod Podge or white glue. Make sure you go right up to the edges. It's best to
work on a piece of scrap paper that you don't mind getting glue on.
Place the glued piece of decorative paper onto a tile. Press on it
firmly to remove any air bubbles. I recommend using a glass tumbler as a
rolling pin and using a rolling motion from the center to the edge of the paper
to work out any bubbles. The first time I did this I just used my fingers and
even though I thought I was thorough I still left some bubbles under the paper
which I only noticed once the glue was dry.
Repeat the process for the rest of the tiles. Have a cup of tea
and a biscuit and wait 15 minutes for the glue to dry before going going on to
the next step.
Step 3
Check for any bubbles under the paper. If you see any, pop them
with a pin and flatten them out.
Brush a layer of Mod Podge or white glue over the top of the
decorative paper. I like to brush all in the same direction.
Wait until the glue dries clear (about 15 minutes), then paint on
another layer, this time at right-angles to the first layer. It's really
important that you completely seal over the paper with glue, so that later the
varnish doesn't soak into the paper and discolor it.
Leave glue to dry overnight, so that it's completely dry before
you apply the varnish in the next step.
How to Make Coasters: Waterproofing
I strongly recommend varnishing your tiles to make them
waterproof. If you leave them unvarnished then they'll look OK, but they'll
always have a slightly tacky (sticky) feel to them, and will stick to a hot cup
placed on them. Also they'll stain if tea or coffee gets on them. Varnishing
your tiles with Envirotex will give them a glass-like waterproof finish which I
think is really worth it.
Mind you, the Envirotex epoxy varnish is going to drip everywhere
when you pour it on your coasters, so before you start it's a good idea to:work on a disposable surface like a big piece of
cardboard or several layers of newspaper
place each of your coasters on top of a
disposable cup, to prevent them getting stuck to your work surface
put on some rubber gloves, because it's unhealthy
to get epoxy on your skin
The Envirotex smells a bit so you might want to work in a room
with an open window. It not anywhere near as stinky as spray-on varnish though.
Step 1
Mark lines at 1oz and 2oz (30 mL and 60 mL) on one of your
disposable plastic cups. That's assuming you're making 4 coasters, each 4"
square. If you're making more or less, you'll need to follow the instructions
on the Envirotex package for how much you'll need.
The way I marked the lines was to put exact amounts of
water into the cup (usingdigital scales) and mark the level with a Sharpie marker. You could also
use measuring spoons to measure out the water. Make sure you completely dry the
cup afterwards.
Another option is to buy disposable measuring cups that already
have measuring lines marked on them, but I figured I could just as easily make
my own for cheaper.
Step 2
Put the Envirotex bottles in a bath of warm (not hot) water to
heat up.
While the bottles are warming up, cover the edges of the base of
your tiles with adhesive tape, and trim any excess. This will make it easy to
remove any drips of Envirotex later.
Step 3
Pour 1oz (30 mL) from each Envirotex bottle into your
measuring cup. Stir vigorously for 1 minute using a wooden paddle. After 1 minute,
pour the mix into your 2nd cup, and stir vigorously for another minute. It's
important to use two cups like this, because it leaves behind the unmixed epoxy
on the sides of the first cup.
Step 4
As soon as you've finished mixing the Envirotex, pour it onto the
center of your coasters. Try to divide it evenly between all four. Notice how
each coaster is balanced on top of a disposable cup to prevent it getting glued
to the work surface.
The Envirotex will form spreading puddles on each tile and start
dripping over the sides. Don't worry about the drips, they're a normal part of
the process.
You want the Envirotex to completely cover each tile, so if it
doesn't quite reach into the corners then use a scrap of cardboard to help
spread it.
Also use a scrap of cardboard to make sure that the Envirotex
completely covers the sides of each tile.
Step 5
About 15 minutes after you poured the Envirotex, you will notice
tiny bubbles rising to the surface. Breathe gently over the surface of each
tile to pop the bubbles. It's the carbon dioxide in your breath that makes them
pop. If you're nervous about putting your face too close to the tiles then you
can breathe on them through a straw.
Step 6
About 30 minutes after you poured the Envirotex, use a scrap of
cardboard to wipe any drips from the bottom of the tiles. Wait another 30
minutes, and wipe away the drips again. By this stage you will have drips of
Envirotex epoxy all over your work surface. I hope you protected it with
newspaper or cardboard!
Cover your project with something (e.g. big cardboard box) to
prevent dust landing on the coasters, and let the Envirotex cure for 24 hours.
Step 7
Once the Envirotex has set, peel the adhesive tape (which will be
covered in drips of Envirotex) off the bottom of the coasters.
If it's hard to remove the tape, you might need to first file the
bottom edges of the tile with a nail file or sandpaper.
Step 8
As a final touch, attach felt squares to the bottom of your
coasters with glue or double sided tape. You could also use cork-board instead
of felt.
Finished!
Here are the finished coasters, ready to be given as a gift! The
Envirotex coating cures to full strength and toughness about 72 hours (3 days)
after pouring, at 70 degrees F (21 °C). After this time the coasters are ready
to use. The cure time is slower at lower temperatures.
I hope you enjoyed learning how to make coasters and that you
found my instructions clear. If you have any questions or comments, or just
want to say hi, then please kindly leave a comment!! :)
1 comment:
HEY A NICE IDEA TO MAKE HOMEMADE COASTERS .. COOL DUDE 1! :)
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