A mirror is an integral household item in human life. It is impossible to imagine the interior of an apartment or a handbag without it. But over time and improper care, the appearance loses its reflective ability. Chips, scratches, and amalgam peeling often appear on the inner surface of the mirror.
It is impossible to imagine the interior of an apartment or a handbag without it.
Often in antique mirrors the glass itself is already so cloudy that it simply does not make sense to repair, preserve, or polish it.
Although all the ingredients for restoring a mirror surface are freely sold in pharmacies and stores, you will not be able to create a smooth mirror surface on your own the first (or even the fifth) time.
If the mirror is badly broken, then, of course, it is better to dispose of it. Because it is simply impossible to restore a broken mirror at home - this is a labor-intensive and hazardous technological process using mercury. But you can repair minor damage with your own hands.
A mirror is an integral household item in human life.
The original table accessory is ready; it will last for many years and will be a worthy part of any interior.
If the frame of the mirror is wooden and has lost its shine, you can update it by applying varnish of the required color.
Benefits of DIY restoration
What are the advantages of restoring a mirror with your own hands?
- Not every city and town has a restorer who knows how to restore damaged amalgam.
- Repairing a mirror coating is labor-intensive and requires investment, so mirror restoration will probably not be cheap.
- Time is wasted in searching for a restorer, delivering the item to him and back home, and on the way the mirror may break due to improper transportation. Therefore, it is easier to repair minor damage at home using improvised means.
Chips, scratches, and amalgam peeling often appear on the inner surface of the mirror.
Restoring a mirror with your own hands is quite accessible to a home craftsman.
Or change the look of the mirror by decorating it with jewelry, shells, bamboo sticks or broken dishes.
Causes of wear
Sometimes, after several years of service, we notice that the mirror does not reflect well and some spots appear. Turning the canvas over, it turns out that the coating has been torn off from the back side. It's called amalgam.
This coating can come off for various reasons. And these are not necessarily the consequences of scratches and mechanical stress. Amalgam also begins to slip if normal air circulation on the inside is disrupted. If you see transparent spots on the reflective side, you should think about gluing the mirror correctly or choosing a different place for it.
The production of mirrors is technologically quite complex. To create a reflective surface, a thin layer of metal, supplemented with special additives, is applied to the reverse side. Metal microparticles are gradually applied to the surface, often in several layers.
It will not be possible to achieve the same effect at home without special industrial equipment. Therefore, if your antique mirror in a wooden frame has worn out and lost some of its reflective properties due to peeling amalgam, partial restoration will be required.
No one is stopping you from giving the product to a special company, where they will do professional restoration. But it is very expensive and not every city has such specialists. The cost of the service sometimes exceeds the price of the mirror itself. First, you should try to perform the procedure yourself, at home.
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Practice clearly shows that it is possible to restore a surface using available materials, and the result often exceeds expectations.
Methods for restoring a mirror surface
Depending on the damage to the amalgam, different methods and materials for restoration will be used. For minor damage, silicone sealant is used, and large areas are restored using foil and glue.
If the mirror is badly broken, then, of course, it is better to dispose of it.
A simple mirror restoration can be done at home; this will eliminate minor scratches, or at least make them less visible.
It all depends on the owner’s imagination.
Is it possible to repair old canvas?
The process of mirror restoration is very painstaking . Many experienced specialists in this field can not only collect the fragments, but also restore complete integrity. Dust from the inside, clouding, scratches, amalgam defects - all these damages can be eliminated independently using a minimum of tools that every home craftsman has.
But you should understand that in exceptional cases, inserting a new mirror into the frame is much more profitable than restoring the former beauty of the old canvas. Expensive and complex restoration is very rarely applied to museum exhibits that have historical value.
But if the mirror is slightly damaged, then it is stupid to throw it away, so in case of minor defects, it is advisable to restore the surface with your own hands .
If you use the right chemicals and abrasives, the mirror will shine like new. The main criterion is a correctly calculated dosage and a little effort.
Materials and tools required for mirror restoration
For major damage:
- glue for metal and glass;
- brush;
- soft fabric;
- glass cleaner;
- gasoline or alcohol-containing product;
- foil;
- brush;
- scissors;
- sponge.
But you can repair minor damage with your own hands.
Polishing, as a separate method of mirror restoration, is also performed in case of clouding of the reflective surface.
In modern interiors, mirrors often play an important role.
For small scratches and chips:
- water;
- alcohol;
- sponge, soft napkins;
- silicone sealant.
But over time and improper care, the appearance loses its reflective ability.
If abrasion or a shallow scratch appears, the mirror can be ground, and the top layer is removed from the reflective plane using coarse abrasives.
Mirrors not only have a utilitarian meaning, but also serve to decorate the interior and visually enlarge the space.
Prevention measures
Caring for a mirror surface should include the following points:
Carrying out regular cleaning using special products or homemade compounds;- exclude exposure to abrasive or other surfaces, including the hard sides of sponges;
- It is advisable to have complex damage and chips repaired by a specialist;
- mirrors do not tolerate constant moisture well, so mirror surfaces that fog up in the bathroom must be wiped dry regularly;
- Rubbing the mirror with shaving foam will help prevent the mirror from fogging.
Any dirt that gets on the mirror must be removed immediately.
Step-by-step instruction
How to restore a mirror with large amalgam damage?
You need to carefully remove the mirror from the frame and place it on a table covered with a soft cloth. Thoroughly clean the damaged surface with a brush. Then wash with glass cleaner and dry. Now degrease the damaged area with gasoline or alcohol and dry again. Using scissors, cut a piece of foil slightly larger than the size of the damaged area. Apply glue to the treated area of the mirror, apply the foil with the shiny side down and press. Use a napkin to smooth the surface of the foil from the center to the edges. Carefully remove excess glue with a sponge and dry the mirror for several hours. Place the restored mirror back into the frame.
Repairing a mirror coating is labor-intensive and requires investment, so mirror restoration will probably not be cheap.
To restore the surface of a mirror that has minor damage, grinding and polishing are used.
Special means
To perform work to improve the condition of the mirror surface, special preparations can be used.
Paste GOI
GOI paste is a special composition for grinding work . The main component is chromium oxide. The paste is used very widely - not only for caring for mirror surfaces, but also for polishing:
- glass,
- ceramics,
- metal alloys, etc.
How to use:
- grind the substance into powder;
- using a cotton swab, apply the drug to the damaged areas in a thin layer;
- rub and polish each area for at least a quarter of an hour.
Polishing with GOI paste must last for 15 minutes for there to be a visible effect; the exposure time cannot be shortened. The price for 20 grams is on average 50 rubles.
Cerium oxide
Cerium oxide is a chemical compound that can be purchased in powder form . This substance is used in ceramics, for processing jewelry stones, removing scratches on mirrors, etc. The product is available in packaging of various weights.
To repair a mirror and eliminate defects, cerium oxide is diluted to form a paste. The surface requiring treatment is moistened and the prepared composition is applied.
Periodically moistening the surface, polish with a felt cloth. Adding water helps prevent premature hardening of the mass. If necessary, add “gruel” and continue rubbing. Price for 0.1 kg is about 500 rubles.
How to restore a mirror with scratches and chips
Using a solution of water and alcohol, thoroughly rinse the damaged surface of the mirror and dry with napkins. Now carefully fill the scratch with sealant and let it dry. Remove excess from the surface and place the mirror in the frame.
As you can see, restoring a mirror at home is not a labor-intensive task and does not require much expense or time.
Small damages are easier to repair at home using improvised means.
But it should be noted that there are cases so serious that restoring a mirror costs more than buying a new mirror.
Recovery procedure
Now let’s go through the process of self-restoration step by step.
It is important to follow consistency and do everything as indicated in the manual. Don't skip any of the steps.
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- First, the mirror is removed and removed from the frame. Carry out simple cleaning to remove existing contaminants;
- Using a stiff brush, work the back side of the product on which the amalgam is applied;
- Using glass cleaner, wash the canvas thoroughly and wipe it dry with napkins;
- Next comes the degreasing stage. Cotton pads or a sponge will help you here. Soak it in alcohol and thoroughly treat the damaged areas;
- Using scissors, cut a piece of foil that will be slightly larger than the size of the damaged area;
- Apply a thin layer of glue to the mirror, then attach a piece of foil with the glossy side down;
- Begin to level the foil very carefully, trying to squeeze out excess glue from under it;
- When leveling, move from the center to the edges;
- After finishing pasting, leave the mirror for several hours so that it dries thoroughly;
- To make the gluing area more reliable, you can take a clear varnish from your wife and apply it in 1-2 layers.
And only then, using a suitable method of attaching the mirror, return it to its rightful or new place.
If this method does not help, then the damage and defects on the canvas are too serious. Home restoration is unlikely to help here.
In fact, you are left with only two options. Namely, turn to professionals for help, or simply buy yourself a new mirror. This directly depends on the value of the old product.
In practice, independent restoration is not a difficult matter, but it does not always help and not everyone. Objectively evaluate the current state of the product and think about whether a similar set can cope with the task.
What methods of mirror restoration do you know? Have you ever used them in practice and what results did you get?
We are waiting for your answers in the comments! Subscribe, ask questions and invite your friends to join us!
Decorating a mirror
If the frame of the mirror is wooden and has lost its shine, you can update it by applying varnish of the required color. Or change the look of the mirror by decorating it with jewelry, shells, bamboo sticks or broken dishes. It all depends on the owner’s imagination.
Restoring mirrors is a rather painstaking task, the result of which should be the preservation of the original surface, especially if the mirror is antique.
Depending on the damage to the amalgam, different methods and materials for restoration will be used.
For minor damage, silicone sealant is used, and large areas are restored using foil and glue.
Repair
It is possible to restore a mirror surface even if cracks appear , and the repair can be carried out in such a way that no defects will be visible even with the naked eye.
But it is better to carry out this process only with those mirrors that have historical value. Thus, it is not advisable to restore a simple household mirror on the wall - such repairs can be quite expensive. Do-it-yourself restoration work is carried out only if it is justified, for example:
- minor scratches;
- small chips;
- abrasions;
- cracks in amalgam.
Let's look at some methods that can be used for recovery at home.
Tarnished surface
If a mirror hangs for a long time in a damp room or during prolonged use, its surface may become dull. If a similar situation occurs, then there is no need to throw away the piece of furniture; it can be returned to its original state, or rather polished.
This is a universal restoration tool that is used very often. The process will remove dark stains, minor scratches and abrasions from the surface. Polishing can be done completely or partially ; in some cases, preliminary polishing is allowed.
When polishing, it is important to choose the right special products and their dosage, otherwise the mirror surface may darken even more.
Scratched canvas
If there are scratches on the mirror, you can get rid of them by sanding the surface using abrasive materials. The process works as follows:
- remove the mirror from the frame;
- wash well with soapy water;
- clean surfaces with a degreasing chemical;
- take an abrasive material with optimal particle size, it all depends on the depth of the scratches;
- After this, polishing is used to add shine.
But when carrying out this operation, you need to be very careful, as you can wipe the canvas to holes and the mirror will be damaged.
Attention! If you are not confident in your skills, it is better to look for an experienced craftsman who will bring the piece of furniture into proper shape.
How to restore amalgam?
Amalgam is a metal layer that creates a reflective surface that can peel off or crack over time. This damage looks very unsightly - bald spots all over the surface.
It is worth immediately noting that the restoration of amalgam is a long and multi-stage process, which is carried out using foil, special tools and chemicals.
We invite you to watch a video of how amalgam restoration is carried out using foil:
Required materials and tools
There are two sets of tools and materials for restoration , for minor damage and significant defects. In the first case you will need:
- alcohol;
- water;
- napkins and soft rags;
- sponge;
- silicone sealant.
In the second you should prepare:
- brush;
- rags;
- glue for glass and metal;
- wiper;
- alcohol;
- tassels;
- foil;
- sponge and scissors.
Once everything is prepared, you can start working.
