At all times, the mirror was endowed with a special magical power, capable of remembering everything that was reflected in a smooth surface. That is why this attribute is most often passed on from generation to generation, staying for a long time in the same family. Special craftsmen preferred to make a mirror on their own so that it carried only one energy - their master.
Today it is not difficult to make a mirror yourself.
What materials and tools will be needed to make a glass mirror
A handmade mirror will not only become an interior item, but will also bring special charm and originality to the room. All materials for its manufacture are available to anyone. However, some chemical reagents are required, which are also easy to find.
In order to make a mirror of glass, you need to have some chemicals, tools to protect exposed skin, mucous membranes and eyes, glass.
How is the production
First of all, it is worth deciding on the glass from which the mirror will be made. For this, a window glass, neatly taken out of an outdated frame, is quite suitable. Both purchased and window glass should be perfectly flat.
Any damage, such as scratches or chips, is not allowed. They can adversely affect the reflection quality of future glass.
How to make a mirror of glass? This is followed by trimming the existing canvas to the desired shape. You can use a cardboard form for this.
IMPORTANT!Working with glass requires special skill and skill. To do this, it is better to use a special glass cutter. In addition, do not forget about your own safety - you should protect your eyes with special glasses, and hands with gloves.
After the glass base is prepared to begin work, the silvering step follows.
To give glass the ability to reflect objects in itself, it must be silver plated. To do this, you will need:
- Protection for the body, namely rubber gloves, goggles and a mask, against chemical reagents entering exposed skin areas;
- Detergents
- Water, without any impurities;
- Potassium hydroxide 15%;
- Ammonia 25%;
- Formalin;
- Nitrogen silver
- Libra.
Reference.All chemicals can be bought both through online stores for young chemists, and in pharmacies in the city.
Before starting work, the glass surface is thoroughly cleaned with water and detergents. After this, it is necessary to remove all water from the glass with a soft cloth that does not leave any streaks. A solution of potassium hydroxide is necessary in order to completely degrease the working surface of the glass.
To completely clean the glass from dust and other small particles, it must be placed in a container filled with distilled water.
After this, it is worth starting the preparation of the solution necessary to create a mirror layer. To do this, mix:
- 30 ml of purified water;
- 2 grams of nitrogen silver.
All this mixes well, after which ammonia is introduced dropwise into the solution until the existing precipitate is completely dissolved. After this, add 100 ml of water and leave the solution in a dark place for 15-20 minutes. After the solution has settled, 5 ml of formalin is added to it.
In order to apply a mirror solution to the product, you will need a bath or a deep basin. The chemical solution is poured onto a cleaned surface and left on it until completely dry. The remainder of the solution is washed off with warm water. To strengthen the mirror layer, you can use varnish. So the mirror will last much longer without any damage.
How to choose the right frame
Frames for the finished product can be very diverse. The easiest option is to apply black paint along the edge of the mirror, with a possible image of some pattern. For a more solid framework, metal, plastic or wood is suitable.
The shops have a wide variety of frames, from carved wood to forged. In addition, you can order the manufacture of a frame for the mirror according to your own sketch in a special workshop. In this case, the product will be truly unique and inimitable.
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