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Trash To Treasure

Making an outdoor mirror reflective?

19 years ago

A couple of years ago I found a beautiful old mirror with thick glass, bevelled edges -- and flaking silver. It wasn't something I wanted to put inside the house, but it looked lovely on a back fence in the yard, reflecting the light and looking like a window into a secret garden.

Over the years, more and more of the silver flaked off, and there really isn't much left. Over the weekend, as an experiemtn, I painted some vines and flowers on the back of the glass. I planned to spray paint the back silver or chrome, then add a coat of varnish and put it back in the yard.

But when I tried the chrome spray paint on a test piece of glass, it was just a flat grey, no sparkle or reflection at all. I didn't buy a can of silvr spray paint, but I'm not expecting that will be any different.

I'm thinking I might get some silver or aluminum leaf. I don't expect a real mirror finish (altho' that would be nice!) but I do want something that will catch an reflect the light.

Has anyone used the leafing for an outdoor project? Anything special I should know? Or is there something else I should use that could give me a reflective surface behind the paint?

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Comments (11)

craftylady-2006
19 years ago
I don't know what it's called, but there is a spray or paint that makes mirror finishes. You might check in a craft store or hardware store.
lucy
19 years ago
Ask any mirror place in the yellow pgs about getting it 'resilvered'. It's a process like any other and is usually done professionally.
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alison
Original Author
19 years ago
Having it re-silvered over the painted flowers seems overkill, especially since I want to keep it outside in the elements.

I asked at Jo-Ann's and the hardware store. The former couldn't think of anything, and the later just suggested the chrome spray paint.

What I may do is cut a length of acylic mirror and set that behind the painted glass, up agasint the fence.
toomuchglass
19 years ago
Backing it with an acrylic mirror is a good idea. I never had a mirror resilvered - but I think it would be way too much to spend on yard art. I bet your project is really pretty ! Have fun with it !
User
19 years ago
Alison, Krylon has a spray paint that makes glass into mirror. Check the link below. I've not used it before, but I'm never been unhappy with any Krylon product I've used.

Here is a link that might be useful: Krylon Looking Glass-Mirror like paint
alison
Original Author
19 years ago
Cool! I'm off to the hardware store tonight!
quidam
19 years ago
That stuff looks like tons of fun. My glass objects and garden art will never be the same! Thanks for the info!
thrift_shop_romantic
19 years ago
Alison, please take some pics of it when it's done and in your yard. I would love to see how you use it. I love gazing globes, so I can see where the mirror idea would be great fun.

Best of luck with it,
--Jenn
http://web.mac.com/thriftshopromantic/iWeb/
Calamity_J
19 years ago
Ooohhh sounds fun!! Got pics??
User
19 years ago
Yes please post as I have those 4 windows that I could do that on. Thanks Caroline
mechanicalvalve
19 years ago
Well I hate to say it but....... Im sure that you can find another old mirror with or without bevel and just replace it. This is definately the easiest and fastest. I see old mirrors every weekend at garage sales practically for free. For that matter frames as well and old windows are perfect.

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