How to Antique a Mirror
It is still astonishing how old antiquated items with a long history behind them manage to out-charm most new and shiny products. So much so, that many of these items are held in high prestige and often sold in auctions to the highest bidder among wealthy pursuers with a taste for collecting such antiquities.
To put it simply, the older the antique, the more valuable it becomes. This is also the case with antique mirrors. Antique Mirrors are enjoying a newfound popularity today and are considered extremely fashionable. Suffice to say, these mirrors are witnessing a huge demand as antique mirror effects are now being used in many different interior applications.
Helping glass manufacturers to create these uniquely classy and elegant looking mirrors are Creative Resins with an extensive menu of antique solutions that work seamlessly with our paint products to create stunning results. With the help of our products, glass manufacturers can create an extensive and unique range of Antique Mirror and Decorative Mirror effects in order to produce a product that offers great versatility in numerous market areas. These antique mirror solutions can be used on curtains wailings, Kitchen splashbacks and many other glass surfaces to give them a visually arresting appeal.
Creating an antique effect mirror may seem daunting. However, it is way easier than one can imagine.
In this article we would like to show you how easy it is to create an antique mirror. So without wasting any more time, let’s look at all the steps required to create an antique appearance on any type of glass including toughened..
Steps to Antique a Mirror
1 – Prepare your project
Make sure the area you are going to work in is clear and large enough for the project you are undertaking. If you have a dry back spray booth you can grab top-quality spray booth filters from our online store along with other consumables mentioned in the following process. Quality filters, lint free tissue and non-smear glass cleaner will all help keep your surface dust free which is important when spraying mirror reflective paint.
2 – Prepare your glass
Make sure the surface is clean from dust and grease. We recommend using a good quality glass cleaner and lint free tissue to deep clean the surface and leave it smear free.
3 – Spray Antique Solution from Trigger Bottle
Once you have cleaned the glass choose the antique colour you prefer to create the distressed look you a seeking. There are several colours available the most common being black, white, copper and gold. Pour the antique solution into the trigger bottle supplied and from a distance of approximately 500ml apply the solution in selected areas, or if you require a heavier distressed / antique look, apply the solution across the panel. The antique solution will form droplets on the glass surface. If you wish you can apply more than one colour.
4 – Apply Spray Reactor
Using a clean trigger bottle immediately apply the antique ‘reaction’ solution. Apply onto the areas where the antique solution has been applied. Watch the reaction create unique shapes. The more applied the larger the reaction.
5 – Leave to Dry
Leave the solutions to naturally dry on the surface. When completely dry use a high-pressure air gun to blow down the treated surface removing the dried excess material. This leaves the unique distressed antique marks on the glass surface.
6 – Apply the Mirror Paint
Using a conventional spray gun apply the Mirror Paint 1K over the distressed surface. Apply two or three coats until the glass is evenly coated. Leave to dry.
7 – Apply the backing paint
Once the Mirror Paint has fully dried apply two coats of the protective backing paint usually in grey or black colour.
It’s really as simple as that. It’s so easy to create unique individual antique mirrors and the process is easily repeatable.
Buy Antique Solution at Creative Resins
Creating an antique mirror is ultimately very easy. As mentioned before, Creative Resins has a wide range of mirror products that you can use in combination with our antique solution to create stunning results.
Create A range of antique mirror and decorative effects each with their own unique identity, easily achieved using the specially prepared antique solutions from our store. Available in a range of colours and are simply applied using a trigger spray bottle or aerosol can. They react naturally with each other resulting in a stunning range of effects. All our antique solutions are non-hazardous and safe to use.
