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Make a designer fractal mirror

I keep coming across these unique fractal mirrors in my searches throughout the Internet, longingly wondering if they would ever reach our shores. But then I realised,   "Why Wait?"   So I decided to tackle this as a project for everyone to do... enjoy!

 

Demanding prices ranging from R2000 upwards, who can afford to buy one anyway! Once I looked at how a mirror like this would be made, I discovered just how easy it actually is. So here's my finished project and how you can make your own Fractal Mirror.

YOU WILL NEED:
1 x 22mm Pine - cut to 600 x 1000mm
20 x Mirrors 150 x 200mm
Polystyrene cubes, 20 each of 35mm and 25mm
Pattex PL700 Total Fix
Caulking gun
Sista F130 Acrylic Sealant
Rust-Oleum 2X satin canyon black
Dala craft paint – matt black
2 x Picture hangers
180-grit sandpaper
Heat gun and attachment

HERE'S HOW:

  • Give the board a light sanding before you start and then spray the entire board with 2 coats of Rust-Oleum Painters Touch in matt black, allowing drying time between coats. Attach 2 picture hangers to the back of the board for wall mounting.

  • Paint the polystyrene cubes with black craft paint, leaving the top and bottom un-painted. Use a heat gun to melt the top of every cube so that it has a slight angle – approximately 30- degrees.

  • Apply a liberal spot of PL700 to the angled side of two 35mm cubes and stick glue side down onto the back of a mirror.

  • Apply a spot of PL700 to the bottom of the 2 cubes, and a bead of glue along the opposite edge of the mirror.

  • Turn over and press the mirror down onto the board. Repeat this process for the next mirror, still using two 35mm cubes, and lay with the lowest edges together. Complete the rest of the row in this way. For the next row use two 25mm cubes and start the row with a low side at the edge of the board and then a high edge. See diagram below.

  • Repeat steps 5 to 7 for the remaining two rows. Allow the glue to set overnight and finish off with a thin bead of F130 sealant in any gaps between the mirrors, wiping off excess with a paper towel.

After mounting the mirror onto the wall you can finish off with a thin bead of F130 sealant around the outside of the frame to cover any gaps.

You can make your Fractal Mirror any shape or size that you want. Here are some examples that I have come across.