You didnt clean the side and / or the edge of the mirror properly, leaving enough dirt, oil or residue on the glass to prevent the coating from adhering. Other items youll need (updated 1 May 2021). If you would like to preserve the historic and authentic engraved glass, carefully remove the paint and silver, taking special care to dissolve all traces of old silver in the engraved areas. Keep everything wet, and gradually thin the calcium carbonate slurry after you start hearing squeaks from cleaning, before rinsing very thoroughly. Bruce Armstrong, Optical Sciences Center, University of Arizona, Applied Optics, Vol. The silver layer is then protected from scratching by a coat of paint. The practice glass has the added benefit of providing a test bed for removing silver burn, and for cleaning a silver coating in general. Can be used on glass or plexiglass. On the other hand, stripping a silver coating takes just a few minutes. Notice the weights of the various thicknesses consider choosing a lighter-weight mirror for easier hanging. Now wait for about 30 seconds. Or use a fan to create a gentle flow of air blowing out the main garage door. Cleaning with calcium carbonate also makes it easier to keep track of where the mirror has been cleaned. https://g.ezoic.net/privacy/artistry-in-glass.com, Follow the link for a great offer on Tabletops, if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'artistry_in_glass_com-medrectangle-1','ezslot_20',127,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-artistry_in_glass_com-medrectangle-1-0')};report this ad. Watch out for special insider tips developed from my detailed knowledge of the glass business. Before going on to Step 4, drain the cleaning rinse water waste from the plastic tub. This is easily purchased online and is the only substance needed to clean your bare glass mirror - the liquid cleaner supplied in the Angel Gilding kit is not needed. If theres any adhesive left on the mirror, use a little acetone or finger nail polish remover to get it off. Plus, everything you need is included in the Angel Gilding spray silver kit. If you want to add a little bit of style to your tabletop, you may be wondering if it's possible to paint it. Put on the respirator and eye protection, swish the spray bottle a little to make sure the sensitizer is well mixed and spray the surface of the mirror as evenly and completely as you can. Please use it! Blotchy, streaky and white-ish surface after spray silvering (added 12 December 2021). The first step is removing the old aluminum coating first. Here's a short video showing how the pros strip the old aluminum coating from the Shane 3.5 meter mirror, and the cleaning process they use. Carefully remove defective pieces (they are screwed or glued to the substrate), clean off the old silvering and spray paint. Then gently drag the rouged cotton ball across the coating. 2nd Place for Quality: Rust-Oleum Mirror Effect. After five minutes, tilt the mirror to 60 degrees or so and rinse well with distilled water. When you get it right on your practice glass, youll have more confidence to produce a good coating on your precision optics. Youll have to strip the bad coating and start the entire process over, but first make sure you calibrate the nozzles to spray the at the same rate, or clear the clog. Wear old clothes you dont mind getting stained, and handle the bottle of ferric chloride with care so you dont spill it inadvertently. When the silvering chemicals have been mixed, follow, You will not need the liquid glass cleaner supplied by Angel Gilding - experience has shown using only, precipitated calcium carbonate is needed. You can either live with a blotchy edge the mirror will still produce excellent, bright images or strip the coating and start from Step 3 again, paying extra attention to cleaning the side and optical edge of the mirror. It will soak into the paper towels and spread throughout, while also incompletely pressing the paper towels to the surface of the old coating. But if you have a small mirror (like an antique hand-mirror) and you know how to paint with an airbrush, then this paint made by Spax Stix will give the best results. Lots of distilled water. Glass vases, jars, framed glasses, table tops, candle holders, and more can all benefit from this product. When everything goes well, it took about 8 gallons of distilled water for the 28-inch mirror, but double what you think youll need because thats how this process tends to go. The spray bottles werent pumped up to a high enough pressure to properly mix the silvering chemicals in their combined spray. Yes, it seems like this has nothing to do with the optical surface, but if the side isnt clean, contaminants will seep onto the optical surface and ruin the new silver coating. We test the major brands and report the best. For the 28-inch mirror, a one-gallon garden sprayer works much better for rinsing than the unit that comes with the Angel Gilding kit. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. But be sure youve thoroughly inspected the water runoff and are certain there are no spots needing additional cleaning. The grains diffuse the light but do not produce a reflective surface. You may need to spritz on a bit of distilled water to get the proper watery consistency. Once mixed, set the chemicals aside on a nearby work table that you dont mind getting a little stained. Open the main door, and any other door or windows for cross ventilation. Spaz Stix Ultimate Mirror Chrome Airbrush Paint 2oz. follow Angel Gildings mixing instructions. All this will take about 5 minutes or so. o you will need to obtain personal protective equipment such as a respirator (if working in a closed area) goggles and gloves. Starting on the side of the mirror, scrub the glass with a small circular motion. You should hear the glass squeak while scrubbing the mirror's optical surface when you're nearly finished. though you may not see signs of significant tarnish, you may still want to re-spray your mirror every year or so. We have found that the effort involved in removing the old silver and painting is only worthwhile for special antique mirrors that is mirrors with decorative engraving or special shapes (like Venetian mirrors) or small, precious hand mirrors. This is the result of not rinsing the precipitated calcium carbonate completely off the glass. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Our conclusion at Artistry in Glass is that mirrors are seldom worth professional re-silvering. You may need to add a bit more as the cotton balls absorb the liquid. In 2019, members of the informal Oregon Scope Werks group tested a chemically deposited protective overcoat that looks like it will greatly slow tarnishing of a silver coating. The plastic tub needs to be large enough to catch rinse water that will flow off the mirror. Once the mirror is squeaking nicely it's time to rinse, and check how, the distilled water runs off the surface of the mirror. There are no shortcuts to get a great coating, so carefully follow these instructions. Wow! You can get by without making a jig for mirrors smaller than 12-inches, but youll still need a stand that fits inside a fairly large plastic tub for the mirror to rest on. Be super critical at this point - if you see any dry areas during the rinse, keep cleaning until the distilled water rinse really is a nearly invisible and completely continuous sheet. An unenhanced aluminum coating may dissolve in an hour or two, but an enhanced coating will take longer. When the water is running off so smoothly over its entire surface that you can barely tell the glass is wet, you have a mirror thats clean enough to silver. You can purchase just the chemicals from Angel Gilding and make your own sprayers or use hand pump spray bottles. Just you, but dont be like that guy who gets rid of his used motor oil in the sewer. Youll use it to spray distilled water for rinsing. How to design a southwest-style etched glass window, We Recommend these Tucson companies & great websites, Etched glass at Govinda's Restaurant, Tucson. Spray Silvering a Telescope Mirror_1 May 2021 update.pdf, Oregon Scope Werks Spray Silvering pages *, https://angelgilding.com/pump-spray-silver-kit.html, https://angelgilding.com/other-supplies/safety-supplies.html, https://angelgilding.com/angel-guard.html, https://www.riogrande.com/product/midas-tarnish-shield/335037. No joke, if you dont do a perfect job cleaning the mirror you wont get a good a good silver coating. We are also members of the Skimlinks affiliate program and may receive commissions from associated merchants like Home Depot and Lowes Also, do not touch the optical surface of the glass with your bare hands this will make cleaning the mirror more difficult. The only exceptions are engraved, or specially shaped mirrors like the Venetian-style mirror pictured below. For a darker appearance, apply a thin coat ofRust-Oleum Ultra Cover 2X Flat Blackover the painted side of the Silver Mirror Effect. Art Radar conducts original research and scans global news sources to bring you the taste-changing, news-making and up-and-coming in Asian contemporary art. It's a good idea to use a more watery mix of calcium carbonate toward the end. On my goodness, this is actually working! The result can be quite excellent though. The authors have successfully spray silvered a 28-inch mirror using the Angel Gilding kit and 24-inch and 20-inch mirrors using hand spray bottles. Rinse with distilled water again. Now the action speeds up if all goes well, youll have a beautiful silver coating on your mirror in about fifteen minutes. Although less expensive, hand pump spray bottles require tireless hands because youll be squeezing the spray bottles a lot during the process. The two jigs shown here have been used to successfully spray silver several mirrors. Because you want to move smoothly and quickly from cleaning to silvering so the mirror stays wet - its a good idea to mix all the silvering chemicals before starting the cleaning process. A do-it-yourself alternative is to use silver spray paint. Scrunch up two or three cotton balls to gently with almost no pressure on the silver coating - move the Angel Guard around the entire surface of the mirror, and do this for about five minutes. For a large mirror use the entire amount. Its tempting to think of this part as optional after all, because you drained your rinse water plastic tub after finishing the cleaning process there isnt all that much spray silvering waste to get rid of. Paint can be used to paint a large portion of a mirror, such as diagonal stripes or a large silhouette in the middle, for an artistic wall hanging. Gilding and make your own sprayers or use hand pump spray bottles. Thi. You can dive right in and silver your mirror, but if you can find an old piece of flat window glass, about the same size as your mirror, practice on it first. The larger the mirror, the longer it will take though. Edited from the Rust-Oleum website, these are the instructions for using their spray paint. If you brush on acrylic paint, you will leave brush marks on the surface, regardless of how carefully you apply it. Youll notice that the water will practically jump off the mirror now Angel Guard makes the surface hydrophobic. You mixed up the sensitizer at the beginning of the process so its ready to go. The first two videos below show Mel using a hand held hair dryer, while the third shows Peter Pekurar using an electric air mattress pump to nearly instantly dry a 20-inch mirror! xamine the flow from about a 5 to 10-degree angle from the side, and look for any areas where the water is creating small wakes or small spots that look dry, especially along the edge of the mirror. Spray one or two more five second bursts to make sure the entire mirror gets an even coat, then carefully put down the sprayers and thoroughly rinse your beautiful new silver coating with distilled water. One more thing to look for when your mirror is clean enough to silver: the glass looks wonderfully clearer than when you started. Due to the fact that the outline of a stencil is already removed, fine handwork at the edges of the image is eliminated. Angel Gilding provides instructions in their proper use at: calibrate your sprayers so you know theyre spraying the same amount of silvering chemicals each time you press the trigger or squeeze the hand pumps. Also, bug poop, spit, dust, and pollen that settles on the mirror can create spots on the silver coating even when protected with Angel Guard. Heres a short video explaining the whole waste treatment process: https://angelgilding.com/treating-mirror-waste-video. Get two or three cotton balls that are soaked with ferric chloride and with light pressure gently scrub these areas and the coating spots will come off. And whos to know if you just pour it down the sink? The coating is now complete. Telescope mirrors are delicate, precision optics and shouldnt be touched! Mostly yes, but sometimes its not only ok, its the only way to proceed. You will need to hang your customized mirror in step 4. , and comparing the results to the numbers of your newly coated silver mirror. Theres no reason to hurry take your time, follow these instructions and be meticulous. The mirror is still wet from rinsing the ferric chloride off the mirror, so sprinkle on a tablespoon or so of the precipitated calcium carbonate. The hazy silver crystal layer will come right off. Important tip the angle you inspect the water runoff is critical to seeing it accurately. How to size and position your wall mirror, How to frame a builders grade bathroom mirror. Remember to follow health and safety precautions when using volatile and flammable aerosol paints. If you mess up, its easy and inexpensive to start over. This site is owned and operated by Old Pueblo Crystal Corporation DBA Artistry in Glass which earns advertising commissions from Ezoic Corp in exchange for hosting internet ads. Flaking on antique beveled mirror is even regarded as a benefit by some sophisticated customers. When a spray silver coating starts to get spots it still has excellent overall reflectivity. Dries in 10 minutes apply 4 or 5 thin coats and cover with protective paint or varnish. Our experience shows that Angel Gildings kit is easier to use and gives more consistent results. This will prevent paint from getting onto the mirror. Use the same instructions as previous product 5 coats, leaving to dry for 5 minutes between coats. You want to make sure the bottles empty at the same time. Thin enough to not be detectable in a professional interferometer, but thick enough to slow down the tarnishing process. Now explore the links in step 5 to see how the entire process is done. until the distilled water rinse really is a nearly invisible and completely continuous sheet. Remove the old mirror very carefully before re-silvering. Insufficient cleaning is the culprit here. Spray another five seconds as the silver develops and within about ten more seconds, youll see an incredibly bright and shiny silver coating start to appear. And whos to know if you just pour it down the sink? Oils from your skin will adhere to the glass and will prolong how much cleaning you need to do. Fortunately, theyre easy to remove. Before getting started be aware that ferric chloride will stain just about anything it comes in contact with except polished glass. The first step is to apply tape to the mirror and apply cardboard (or paper). You will not need the liquid glass cleaner supplied by Angel Gilding - experience has shown using only precipitated calcium carbonate is needed. How to fix a scratched glass tabletop - professional advice! With the spray nozzles about 18 inches from the surface of the mirror, spray for about five seconds, stop and watch the mirror turn splotchy grey. Because you want to move smoothly and quickly from cleaning to silvering so the mirror stays wet - its a good idea to mix all the silvering chemicals before starting the cleaning process. Rust-Oleum Mirror Effect, available here on Amazon is the close 2nd best for quality but is our #1 recommendation for value because the winner (below) is so much more expensive. The AG sprayer is fine for smaller mirrors. These areas need more cleaning. A fine layer of metallic silver is deposited on glass by the reduction of silver nitrate. Use nothing harder than your finger nails dont scratch the glass! Artistry in Glass is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Theres a lot of rinsing during the spray silvering process and youll be glad to have a sprayer you dont need to refill every few minutes. With a new set of cotton balls start scrubbing the outer edge of the optical surface with the same circular motion and pressure. Mirrors need to be painted to the back of them, since the paint will otherwise have a hazy gray hue. Before doing anything else, put the same amount of distilled water into your spray bottles and spray them for the same amount of time. If not, adjust the nozzles until they do. Then read the detailed instructions from Angle Gilding about mixing the silvering chemicals. Any clear glass can be sprayed with a thin coat of spray paint on the reverse side or back. Five thin coats produce a very good mirror finish. When the silvering chemicals have been mixed, follow Angel Gildings instructions to pump up both spray bottles to equal pressure. Aluminum doesnt tarnish like silver and Strongs process quickly became the best choice for a durable telescope mirror coating. In modern mirrors, the silver (or sometimes chromium) is deposited by electroplating directly onto glass.