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Trash To Treasure

old mirrors

18 years ago

I took apart two mirrors,that gave me four mirrors to play with. I used a paint scraper,like a Widget,to scrape the silvering off the back and some nail polish remover. If anyone had a better idea to get the silver off to imitate an old mirror I'd be so appreciative! :) Printed out some old victorian type images that I liked and glued them to the back. Very hard to photograph a mirror! I had to hold a white sheet in front of me to do it :)

Here is a link that might be useful: old mirrors

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Comments (10)

jeannespines
18 years ago
I did this years ago with photographs and there was a special solution you bought at the paint/wallpaper store...so don't remember...

Doesn't matter because your method turned out BEAUTIFULLY! Love the lace tablecloth background... and old vintage photos would look wonderful, too! Jeanne S.
shysue
18 years ago
I remember doing this years ago also. We used some chemical to remove the silvering, but I can't remember what it was. I have been wanting to put an old black and white photo of my grandmother onto the back of a wall mirror that someone was going to throw away, but gave to me. Kudzukween, you did a great job by just scraping the silvering off. Was that very difficult? Do you think I could do it on a large mirror? Your mirrors turned out just gorgeous!!!
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kudzukween
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks ya'll :) No it wasn't hard, but think maybe a paint thinner or remover might be better,I'll try it later. I have a few of those plate hangers I found at Dollar World, and yard sales, I believe I will make some more out of photos and hang them on the plate rack.
lydia1959
18 years ago
Very neat idea! I like it.
barefootin
18 years ago
Those turned out very nice! Try a product I use for a lot of things, you can get it at walmast, called 'goof off' or 'goop off'...but its in the same section as the paint removers and where we get our silicone.
luna_llena_feliz
18 years ago
Very pretty pictures! I think what you are thinking of muriatic acid. You can use it to "antique" mirrors by creating dark spots or you can remove the silvering.
tehuti
18 years ago
Well you certainly are right about taking a picture of a mirror. Here is an old bedroom mirror (36" X 16".
I used a sears sand blaster to remove the backing. There was a lot of masking befor hand and the cartoon had to be drawn on backwards. Strangely enough the mirror didn't seem to lose it's reflective properties - probably the black.
{{!gwi}}
justlinda
18 years ago
Is that ever cute. One of my favourite characters, too!
kudzukween
Original Author
18 years ago
Oh,that's so cute! And what a great artist,too:)
markmizzou
18 years ago
Muriatic acid will take the silvering off of old mirrors. I have done this many times to bring back "to far gone" old beveled edge dresser mirrors. WhaT I usually do after the desilvering is to get a regular thin mirror cut to the exact size of the old then clean the "sandwiched" surfaces on both the old and new parts then place them back together. You have to look real close to tell the difference. The new combo is thicker of course so a thick enough frame is mandatory.
IMPORTANT!!!! WHEN YOU USE THE MURIATIC ACID YOU MUST WEAR RUBBER OR CHEMICAL RESISTANT GLOVES, WEAR BREATHING PROTECTION, AND DO THIS OUTSIDE!!!!

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