18676. Antique mirror solution [Indonesia]

Letter 18676

Antique mirror solution [Indonesia]

++

We produce mirror furniture. We mix our own silvering solution, and silver the glass. We have been antiquing the mirror using various materials, but haven't had good results. Can anyone suggest a chemical or formula that will allow us to get an antique effect on the silvered glass?

Evin O [name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
Talaindo - Yogyakarta, Indonesia

+++

WHAT IS THE METHOD AND MATERIALS YOU NEED TO MAKE A MODERN MIRROR LOOK LIKE AN ANTIQUE VENETIAN MIRROR-I.E. WITH STREAKS, SPATTERS, FOGGING, ETC.-SO THAT IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS AGED NATURALLY OVER TIME.

Lisa G [name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
Artist - Houston, Texas, USA

+++

I too would like to know how to make a new mirror have the look (spattering, streaking, black-like smudges) of an older, antique mirror. what is the material used to do this. thanks

cathy v [name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
- mandeville, la

+++

Brian greenspan of New York promises to antique any mirror you take in - unfortunately, I live in England so this is impossible for me to do!

If anyone has the address of a London antique mirroring outfit I'd like to have it.

I would also be prepared to try antiquing a mirror myself but as all your other letters ask, How do you do it??? What chemicals do you us? I'd love to know!

stella W [name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
interior design - London, England

+++

The questions that were already posted about redoing old mirrors or finishing regular mirrors while antiquing them are among the same that I have; however, I did not see any answers to the questions that were posted. If anyone can help please do. Thank you.

Ace B [name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
Personal use but could become a business - Wichita Falls, TX, USA

Ed. note: See the banner ad at the upper right of this page.

++++

I have a mirror and what to give it that aged quality and cloudy affect. Can you offering any guidance?

Cindy M [name deleted for privacy due to age of posting]
hobbyist - Kinnelon, NJ, USA

++++

To antique a mirror - FIRST be sure you have adequate ventilation AND protective respirator that is rated for more than dust and mist. You need the type that will protect you from chemicals, but not as sophisticated as to protect from light solvents. Use protective gloves and eye protection too.

First, remove the "paint" backing that protects the silvering by using an ordinary paint remover such as the stripper commonly used on wood furniture. Then, use NITRIC ACID which will remove the silvering by spattering it on the exposed silvering. This can be accomplished using an old toothbrush, dipping it in the acid solution and then brushing across another object (preferably plastic or glass) to flip small, random droplets onto the surface of the silvering. You can also put the acid exactly where you want it with a toothpick or for larger "damaged" areas, just pour a very small amount onto the place you want to remove the silver. The longer the nitric stays on the surface, the more damage it will do. This stuff is STRONG and works quickly. Dilute it with distilled water until you achieve a strength that works for your purpose. Start weak and work to stronger. Mirrors can't successfully be re-silvered in patches.

Nitric acid is available at laboratory supplies, chemical supply houses. Don't put it in contact with ANY metal.

my full name is GAIL (legally!)
Artist - Sedona, AZ, USA

++++

Gail, thank you for finally give us an answer. I knew there was somebody out there that had to know. I am going to follow your instructions on a project, I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Once again, many thanks,

Belinda Amedee
- Gonzales, LA, USA

++++

Hello all,

I am a designer and am interested in working with mirrors that have transparent panels in them. Nothing complicated, but I am looking for a way to remove the silver backing from a rectangle in the middle of a mirror to be able to show an image through the middle, from behind. I have seen several suggestions of chemicals, such as nitric acid, however I assume that these chemicals are hard to mask off. Can anyone advise me of a suitable way to do this, or of a premixed solution made for the purpose that I may be able to get my hands on?

Many thanks.

Tobias
designer - Edinburgh, UK

++++

To expose a window in the middle of mirror , you can set a border using masking tape , strip the paint backing with paint remover that only contains waxy suspension of Halogenated Alkyl ( in some case Methyl Chloride or else ), after paint totally removed , clean the waxy leftover , and with the tape border still attached , just remove the silvering using a metal polishing PASTE product like Autosol Metal Polish [link is to product info at Eastwood] and brass cleaner like Brasso [link is to product info at Amazon] or silver polishing paste. To achieve antique effect , the main principles is to expose the silvering layer from behind, and use vary chemical to achieve different effect. To get "sepia" color , use diluted Black and white Photochemical for B/W pictures, that is compatible with silver system. Because Black and white sepia photos pigmentation mostly based on Organic Silver Complex. To make brown , use Sulphur salt (Sodium Thiosulphate , Dithiosulphate and combined with perchlorates ).

Good luck guys.....

Wen An,Lee
Furniture & Interior metal crafter - Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia

++++

Not having any success with making sepia or brown tones on mirror. New at this so forgive the dumb questions but: 1) is final "mirror" side the silver-treated side or the plain glass side? 2) Which black and white photo chemical gives sepia tone ?--developer or another one? 3) You have to re-paint the "back" side again, yes? With what? Black acrylic paint? Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Jan Holland
- Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

++++

I have developed a simple process for producing an "antique" effect using new mirror material. The tarnish/distress effects can be controlled and the look is very realistic. The concentrate will make 2 gallons of solution that can treat up to 300 sq. ft. of mirror surface.

Patent applied for: US # 10711183.

Timothy Poe
Timothy Poe Studio - Birmingham, AL, USA

++++

Does the nitric acid technique which is mentioned above also cloud the mirror?

Louise
- Sarasota, FL, USA

+++++ appended here by editor in lieu of spawning a duplicative thread

DEAR SIR,

I WANT TO MAKE MIRRORS ANTIQUED FROM THE BACK , MIRRORS THAT LOOK OLD WITH SOME ANTIQUE STAINS , WHAT ARE THE MATERIAL OR PRODUCT USED TO DO THESE MIRRORS AND HOW TO DO THEM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

MAY KAZMA
INTERIOR ARCHITECT - TOURISM AREA, ABU DHABI, U.A.E.

November 20, 2006

Dear sir

Thanks for information and I know to silver colour antique mirror making but I want to different color making. like that brown . yes u tell to brown is making to used to sulphur salt (sodium thiosulphate,dithiosulphate and combined with perchlorates)but how can i can make?
what is the mixing another acid please tell me the details
ok thanks for information

Abul Rasheed Noushad
- Kuwait

July 19, 2007

All you need is Goof Off [link is to product info at Amazon] and Steel Wool [link is to product info at Rockler] (a fine grade)

Emily Banks
- Sandy, Utah, USA

August 16, 2007

What effect does the goof off and steel wool achieve??
Is it comparable to the above options??

Lisa Naro
- Marlton, NJ usa

September 30, 2007

I understand that antiquing mirror is quite easy. Just strip the back with a metal stripper, wipe on liquid draino or splatter. Dry and Paint to seal. Has anyone used this technique?

Hillary Hamilton
- Tx

September 30, 2007

I hesitate to claim that something is easy until I've done it, Hillary :-)

Please get back to us after you've done it! :-)

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, NJ

January 7, 2008

I have stripped the back off a mirror and I want to create a fog or slight gray effect when viewed from the front side.

Charlie Taylor
shop - Dallas, Texas

January 29, 2008

I need information on how to oxidize a new standard mirror to look old. The final result would be a un uniform surface that would not reflect much light.

Joyce Shuman
homeowner - La Canada Flintridge, CA, USA

February 20, 2008

I am trying to tarnish the silver on a mirror without removing the silver from the glass. Any way to do this?

Christopher Carnino
Vintage Store Owner/Designer - Los Angeles, California, USA

July 22, 2008

This is a simple one for antiquing any silver surface. For a mirror you would want to either selectively strip off the protective layer or remove it completely. You could use paint thinner or anything else you like that removes paint.

Once you get the silver exposed the way you like simply apply straight bleach. It "blackens" silver almost imediately. It won't give you a solid black but will give a dark smokey gray or charcoal color. It can eat through the silver all the way to the glass so experiment on a scrap mirror first.

To stop the tarnishng reaction just rinse it off with plain water.

No dangerous chemicals beyond normal laundry bleach and safe easy cleanup.

Be careful of your clothing/jewelry and work in a well ventilated area!

Jason Barnhart
- San Francisco, California, USA

July 25, 2008

Thank you to Jason Barnhart and GAIL for the techniques to antique mirrors.

I still have two questions:

1) Can you use the nitric acid technique to "cloud" the mirror? I want to create a fog or slight gray effect.

2) Do we have to reseal the back after the antiquing process?

Thanks for the help and information.

Janet

Janet Knapp
- Tampa, FL USA

Dear Reader: please choose what you want to do.

I want to post a new question or inquiry not related to antiquing of mirrors.

I want to answer or follow-up on this question (in non-commercial fashion).