How to make an antique mirror 

More often than not you come across some beautiful vintage frames but the mirror inside is not the original. If you want to create an antique mirror you can easily transform any mirror to an antique mirror with this simple technique.

 

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YOU WILL NEED:

Mirror
Plascon RemovALL
Muriatic acid in spray bottle
Clean water in bottle or jug
Rubber gloves
Dust mask
Safety goggles or glasses
Plastic paint scraper
Rags
Rust-Oleum 2X spray paint - satin canyon black

Note: This project is best done outdoors, as you will be using a strong acid for the antiquing effect.

 

 

HERE'S HOW:

Place the mirror face down on a soft surface. An old towel or bed sheet if you have, or a thick layer of newspaper or cardboard. Pop on your gloves and apply a thick layer of Plascon RemovALL according to the instructions and leave for the specified amount of time.

As you reach the end of the specified waiting time the layer of paint on the back of the mirror start to lift. This is exactly what you want, as this lifts the paint from the layer of silvering underneath and it is this layer of silvering that you need to work on.

 DON'T use a metal scraper as I did on my first attempt, as it scratches the silvering. Use a plastic scraper to remove as much paint as possible.

Be gentle - we only want to remove the paint and not damage the silvering underneath at this stage, as it might spoil the finished effect. As you wipe away the paint you will start to see the silvering layer underneath. If the silvering doesn't show, you may have to apply another layer of Plascon RemovALL and repeat the process.

Use a plastic paint scraper to remove any stubborn areas of paint left behind, being very careful not to scratch the silvering underneath. Wipe clean with a lightly damp cloth before you move on to the next step.

Now you need to pop on a dust mask and your safety glasses or goggles. Using the spray bottle of muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid), lightly spray onto the layer of silvering. Be careful to only lightly spray where you want the acid to etch away the silvering. Rather too little than too much, as you can always repeat the process until you are happy with the final result.

Note: Keep this product out of reach of children and follow the safety recommendations on the pack when using any acid product.

When you see that enough silvering has been etched away by the acid (about a minute), immediately neutralise the acid with water. Pour water over the entire surface of the mirror back until clean and then gently wipe with a wet rag or old towel and let dry.

GOOD TO KNOW: I also tried this process using Rust-Oleum Rust Stripper and it worked out just as well. However, you need to put the Rust-Stripper into a spray bottle to apply. I tried using steel wool but the effect was not quite as nice.

 

Now you are ready to spray the back of the mirror with Rust-Oleum 2X spray paint in satin canyon black. Only a light covering is required, making sure to cover all the etched areas. You can apply a second coat of spray here and there to increase the effect.

Note: Be sure to dispose of any remaining acid. Do NOT pour down the drain. To neutralize: In a large plastic container add sodium bicarbonate with a large quantity of water, mix, but leave some of the sodium bicarbonate visible at the bottom of the container. Slowly and carefully add the acid to the mixture stirring cautiously to avoid splashing. When the acid ceases to react (fizzing) and/or the sodium carbonate can be seen as a paste on the bottom of the container, the acid has been neutralized and can then be disposed down the drain.

via houzz