How to make a mirror with your own hands?

A mirror is the most necessary attribute in a person’s daily life. In proper performance, it can become an exclusive attribute of any interior. A thing created with your own hands gives the interior a special irresistible. To those people who do not have the opportunity to buy a mirror with the desired design decision or size, we will tell you how to make a mirror with your own hands.

Mirror - a subject with a smooth surface, designed to reflect light

Varieties of reflective surfaces

Before you start making a mirror at home, you need to determine the function it will perform. The following reflective surfaces are distinguished:

• reflective surfaces of optical devices;
• reflective surfaces of household mirrors.

Optical instruments can have a wide variety of functions (magnification, light gathering). The manufacture of these mirrors requires the most precise calculations and specialized equipment. Regular mirrors have a function only to reflect objects. In most cases, they are flat and do not require the creation of professional skills or equipment.

Materials used

To create a mirror at home can use the following materials:

• metals;
  

  Steel can be used to make a mirror, but special tools and certain skills will be required.

• foil;
  

  Bright enough and reflective aluminum foil

• cardboard;
  

  Cardboard for mirror frame

• plastic;
  

  Silver Acrylic Plastic Mirrors

• glass.

Frame with glass for the manufacture of mirrors with a special coating

The most modern option for reflective surfaces is plastic. Mirrors from this material are created using a spraying process. Work with this material requires special equipment and professional skills.

Mirror of glass or metal, anyone can make by hand. Working equipment requires the most primitive, but for silvering glass you will need chemical reagents that are freely available.

In addition to the above materials can be used foil.

Making a mirror of glass

Glass is the most suitable material for self-made mirror making.

• Selection

Initially, you must select a suitable sheet of glass. The best option would be to use ordinary window glass. When buying, pay attention to the condition of the glass. It should not be scratched and no damage. Glass sheet should be as flat as possible.

Flat window glass is perfect for a mirror

• Pruning

The next step is to trim the glass. It must be cut along the contour of the future mirror. You can make a sketch for trimming from regular cardboard.

For proper glass trimming you need a flat table, a good tool, special skills and abilities.

• Silvering
  

  Silvering - the process of applying to the glass surface a solid material, a thin layer of silver

Making a mirror at home will require you to:

• rubber gloves;
  

  Rubber gloves - to protect hands from chemical influences

• protective glasses;
  

  Safety glasses against ingress of solutions and chemicals

• detergents;
  

  Liquid detergents

• purified water;
  

  Water, purified from impurities

• potassium hydroxide (15%);
  

  Potassium hydroxide - inorganic compound

• ammonia (25%);
  

  Aqueous solution of ammonia - liquid, transparent color with a strong odor

• formalin;
  

  Formalin - a colorless gas with a pungent odor

• nitrogen silver;
  

  Silver nitrate is widely used in the manufacture of mirrors and photographic materials.

• laboratory scales;
  

  Laboratory scales - easy to use and accurate measuring device with a set of basic functions

It is better to buy all the necessary chemicals and reagents through any available online store or in any pharmacy in your city.

The process of making a mirror with glass

1. It is necessary to thoroughly clean the surface and edges of the glass using clean distilled water, any detergent and a cloth. After a sheet of glass must be thoroughly dried and remove residual water.
   

   Prepare high-quality glass, designed for the manufacture of mirrors without cracks and any damage

2. Before the silvering stage, the surface and edges of the glass must be degreased. Use a fifteen percent solution of potassium hydroxide.
   

   For cleansing, immerse it in a solution of caustic potassium 15%

3. Then you must put the glass in a container filled to the brim with distilled water to prevent particles of dirt and dust from sticking to it.
   

   Glass after thorough washing

4. Next, you should mix all the ingredients of the solution, by which the mirror layer will be applied. It is necessary to take thirty milliliters of water and pour 2 grams of nitric silver into it, mix thoroughly. After it is necessary to inject twenty-five percent ammonia in small drops until the precipitate completely disappears. Add about one hundred milliliters of water and leave the solution for ten to fifteen minutes.
5. We proceed to the addition of formalin in the amount of five milliliters in the main solution. Solution for the mirror coating is ready.
6. In the bathroom or another container put a sheet of glass, cover its surface and edges with the prepared solution. The process of silvering takes from two to five minutes. Then we get it and wash it from the remnants of the solution with purified water.
   

   Paint application from a can in view of the absence of some materials and reagents

7. Already the mirror glass must be dried. You can use an industrial dryer.
   

   Drying the finished mirror

8. It is necessary to cover the mirror part of the glass with a layer of dark paint (black or gray). We dry, proceed with a soft cloth, and safely use it for its intended purpose.
9. Beautifully decorate the mirror in two main ways: to make a beautiful and original frame or create a glass cloth.
   

   Make a beautiful frame and hang the mirror

Video: How to make a mirror out of ordinary glass