Features of a mirror in the house
A mirror is an interior item used to reflect objects, animals, people, decorating rooms. From time immemorial, the accessory has attracted the fairer sex. The morning of many girls and women begins with an approach to him. The item was also used for magical rituals, and therefore it can be considered multifunctional.
The process of mirror restoration is very painstaking.
Interesting! There are many reasons why mirrors are not used in modern homes: decoration, division of zones, interior decoration, etc.
Depending on the lighting used, general style, personal preferences, you can buy either a simple accessory or one with effects on the surface.
To restore the surface of a mirror that has minor damage, grinding and polishing are used.
Tinted mirrors are especially popular. They find their application not only in minimalist styles, but also in luxurious art deco.
How to restore a mirror yourself
Any piece of furniture will sooner or later lose its original appearance. Of course, if a mirror breaks, there is only one way out - to recycle it. But minor defects can be restored. Mirror restoration is a complex, painstaking process.
Restoring a mirror at home is not a labor-intensive task and does not require much expense or time.
Experienced specialists in this field are able to put many fragments together and restore the original integrity. Scratches, dust, minor chips - all this is eliminated independently. Moreover, there is no need to purchase expensive tools.
Small damages are easier to repair at home using improvised means.
Important! Using high-quality and correct substances will return your accessories to their former attractiveness and shine. The main condition is to correctly calculate the dosage.
Preparation for the procedure
Finding a specialist who can restore amalgam is difficult. This process is not only lengthy, but also expensive. So why shell out such a sum of money and waste time if you can solve the problem yourself.
Sometimes restoring a mirror costs more than buying a new mirror.
Before you begin restoring a damaged mirror with your own hands, you need to perform several steps. To restore a large accessory inserted into the frame, it must be released from it. If this is not possible, the structure is placed on a flat, hard surface.
Before restoration, the mirror must be prepared.
Before minor repairs, it is enough to wipe off the dust and wash off the dirt. If possible, the attribute is left on the wall, thus simplifying repairs.
Materials and tools
After watching videos or photographs showing how to restore a mirror, it becomes clear how simple it is. Everyone has a set to carry out their plans at hand:
- scissors and napkins;
- degreaser;
- foam sponge;
- tassels;
- transparent glue;
- hard brush;
- glass cleaner.
To replace amalgam, many people use foil, which is thin but durable. Glue with a composition intended for working with glass. Its structure should be transparent, both before application and after hardening.
How to remove a side rear view mirror with your own hands
This accessory is not as simple as it seems. Most often, various devices are built into it. For example: turn signals, LEDs, heating parts. For this reason, before removing the mirror, it is necessary to remove the negative charge from the battery. This is necessary in order to minimize the likelihood of a short circuit occurring during work.
replacing the side rear view mirror
The tools needed for this repair can be found in every garage. These include: a set of screwdrivers of different sizes, a household hair dryer, a plastic spatula, electrical tape, a small piece of soft cloth, and a wrench. In addition, attention to detail, caution and a desire to do everything right will come in handy.
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Removal process. After the negative charge has been removed from the car battery. You can start dismantling. To do this, you need to open the car door and remove the handle for changing the mirror angle.
The process for removing the angle knob varies on individual vehicle models. For example, on some it is enough to pull the handle towards you for it to come out of the grooves. On other models, you will have to unscrew it counterclockwise or, before removing it, you will need to unscrew the bolts that hold it in place.
In order to remove the mirror, you need to find the bolts that hold it in place. As a rule, they are located under a decorative lining and are located so that they are not visible. The decorative hiding element must be removed. Often the rubber gasket is removed together with it. It is important not to lose it due to the fact that these items are not sold separately in stores, with some exceptions. When the cover plate is removed, the bolts are clearly visible. They need to be unscrewed; in addition, to avoid confusion during assembly, it is best to photograph the location of the multi-colored wires.
Step-by-step instruction
Before you think about how to restore a defective mirror at home, you need to look at the procedure. If you skip one of the stages, you will not be able to achieve the result.
Removing chips and scratches
Methods can be different; at home, those that do without specialized tools are preferable.
Given the desire and time, any home craftsman can carry out the restoration himself.
The simplest options:
- Toothpaste. Squeeze out a few peas and rub in with a flannel cloth using rotational movements. Once the paste has dried, the surface is carefully polished. Previously existing defects will no longer be noticeable.
- Nail polish. It is recommended to fill deep chips or scratches with a substance and polish them. Due to the fact that transparent varnish has a special consistency, it is used to repair mirrors. The substance is applied to the damaged area with a brush, the excess is removed, and all you have to do is wait for it to dry. Gently wipe the surface with a soft cloth; a slight shine should appear.
As you can see, it is not difficult to restore minor defects at home.
Cleaning Tarnished Surfaces
High humidity, bright rays of the sun - sooner or later this causes mirrors to fade or stains to form on them. To make the accessory shine again as before, you can use water, chalk and vinegar essence.
The method for preparing the solution is simple: add a spoonful of essence and the same amount of chalk to a glass of water. Immediately before use, the mass is heated and infused for several minutes. Place a few drops into a fluffy cloth and wipe the surface of the mirror with them.
Gently wipe the surface of the mirror.
Important! The method is relevant for attributes with an aluminum reflective layer.
Very dark stains can be removed with a mixture of water, magnesia (ammonia) and gasoline.
Amalgam restoration
A defect that appears on the back of the product is visually eliminated using foil. The mirror is removed from the frame or other structure and placed on a soft and flat surface so that the front side faces down.
Foil will help restore the mirror.
The required piece of foil is cut, smoothed, and glued to the defect site. A few minutes until it dries completely and there is no damage.
Frame replacement
No matter how beautiful the restored mirror becomes, little will change against the background of the old frame. Therefore, when repairing an accessory, do not forget about its “shell”. Some paint wooden frames, making them visually more attractive, while others prefer to replace them completely.
Be creative when choosing a frame for your mirror.
After watching a video on the Internet, it becomes clear that you can make a frame yourself, or you can purchase a ready-made one. There is nothing difficult about replacing it. The mirror is removed from the wall, the existing bolts are carefully unscrewed, and the accessory is removed.
You can find many designs of mirror frames on the internet.
In exactly the same way, it is inserted into a new frame, fixed with bolts or other devices.
Interesting! It is not recommended to insert a mirror that is too large into a new frame yourself; it is better to call a family member for help.
Decorating a mirror
A wooden frame that has lost its former appearance and become dull can be updated with stain or varnish of the desired color. Subsequently, beads, shells, mosaics, sticks and much more are used for decoration. It is enough to show a little imagination and you will be able to create something amazing from scrap materials.
Making a frame out of wood is not difficult.
Another solution is to partially decorate the mirror. For this purpose, pebbles, remains of disks, and polymer clay figures can be used. Accessories are attached with glue and double-sided tape. The mirror itself can also be partially decorated with beads, flowers, and painted with artistic paints. Many people like tinting.
Is a carved frame an original decoration?
There are many ways to restore mirrors, suitable for minor damage or larger defects. Do not be afraid, through experiments, trial and error, a difficult task will turn into something exciting and interesting.
Repairing the surface of a mirror will require patience and investment.
Useful tips
You need to place a small piece of soft cloth under the spatula or screwdriver, this will help avoid damaging the outer part of the mirror.
When removing the mirror surface from the fastenings with a screwdriver, it must be wrapped with electrical tape. This reduces the risk of damage to other elements.
side rear view mirror
If the mirror was attached using glue as well, it is necessary to return this layer. It is important to use the correct, suitable adhesive. For these purposes, there are three types: chemically cured, light-cured, and epoxy compounds. The latter will work as it should only if it dries well. In other words, the part must be pressed in the desired state for ten hours. Light-curing adhesive mixtures must be exposed to ultraviolet light. It will require a lamp; sunlight is not enough. An adhesive mixture that has the ability to harden using chemical processes is ideal.
Under no circumstances should you use regular super glue and adhesive tape. These products do not have the necessary properties, and the mirror will definitely fall over time.
