Where theworld gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989
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Set painter needs to remove silvering from mirrors
Q. Dear friends,
I am looking for the solution to removing the silver finish on the back of mirror, I spend to many hours grinding and scraping it off , is there any chemical that will remove or at least disfigure the silvering? I know how to remove the brown paint that is on the back over the silver, my job requires that I do this on a regular basis, and I have not yet been able to get this right.
Sincerely,
FAUX FINISHER / SET PAINTER - LA CRESCENTA, California, USA
2003
A. Got a problem removing the silver from the back side of a mirror after you've removed the paint. This is what you do and you better be well vented with a fan. Pour some Muriatic Acid on a rag placed on the silver, give it a few minutes, then with rubber
rubber gloves [on
eBay or
Amazon] take the rag and put it a steel can. Gently wipe the remaining silver off, you may have to use some more Muriatic Acid.
Good Luck.
signwriter - Lancaster, California
2004
Q. How dangerous is it to strip silver from the back of a mirror, for example, using muriatic acid
[affil links] or other chemicals?
Thanks
retired - Oakville, Ontario, Canada
2005
A. Hi, David. Sorry, but questions like that aren't easily answerable. How dangerous is it to do an injection? A nurse at a flu clinic can do a hundred patients an hour all day, every day, and sleep as carefree as a baby, while an untrained person may kill you on their first attempt :-)
Muriatic acid is sold in hardware stores; it's not plutonium. Still it can blind you or burn you. A high priority is proper ANSI-approved goggles [on
eBay or
Amazon], as most people would be more devastated by blindness than a burn. Another thing to remember about muriatic acid is that it is a gas dissolved in water, so it fumes; the fumes can ruin the plating on your bathroom fixtures and the finish on your stainless appliances. Best of luck!
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005
Q. I have the same question about removing the silver from mirrors, but I know that there must be a better answer out there somewhere. I remember doing this project in art class as a kid and you could remove some the silver and than replace it with a picture.... I doubt we used a harmful chemical...but I don't remember what the teacher used.
Sammy [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Torrance, California
2005
A. To remove the silver coating from the back of a mirror after the grey or black paint has been removed, pour Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner that contains BLEACH (green bottle), let set for a few minutes until the liquid cleaner turns darker or bluish then rinse with water.
Paul Selway- Montreal Quebec canada
March 30, 2011
A. I have just removed the silver backing from a mirror by laying newspaper in a plastic bag big enough to hold the mirror, soaking the newspapers in vinegar [in bulk on eBay or Amazon]. Just make sure you lie plastic bag of garbage bag down then the newspaper then the sliver or copper lying on top of the newspaper for at least 24 hrs. My mirror is approximately 55 yrs old.
Ann Renfroe- Hearne, Texas USA
April 30, 2016
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