|
Posted by Kris Krieger on September 5, 2008, 12:12 pm
Please log in for more thread options
> HI Kris
>
> Kris Krieger wrote:
>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> I'm still learning a lot, so I don't know this - cabn a regular type
>>>> of mirror be cut with a plain glass gutter, like on can do with
>>>> stained glass?
>>>> If not, does one need a special cutter? if it can be cut like
>>>> "regular" glass, shoud one cut it fromt eh glass side, or the coated
>>>> side, and hoan one
>>>> keep tehcoating from chiping/flaking?
>>>>
>>>> Also, can a a mirror be run trough a glass grinder, or does the
>>>> coating chip/flake off too badly?
>>>>
>>>> Thank you in advance!
>>>>
>>>> - Kris
>>> it should be cut on the glass side with a regular cutter. you can
>>> grind it with an extrafine grit grinder head. i like to use spray
>>> clear krylon varnish to protect the backside edge before foiling it,
>>> but don't do this for leading. the acids of soldering flux will eat
>>> the mirror off, causing black spots if you're not very careful.
>>>
>>
>> Thanks for the info :)
>>
>> I'm currently working on copper foil, since I have a prefrence for
>> small detailed projects - maybe I ought to put some blue painter's tape
>> on the mirror back just inside the foil line, so that flux and solder
>> don't get onto the coating...?
>>
>>
> I do quite a lot of work with mirror - particularly some little
> 'tealights' - which have three pieces of mirrored glass joined together
> at 90 degrees to form the 'body' of the tealight.
>
> In my experience, you need to prevent the flux from getting at the
> _edge_ of the mirrored surface - as it will eat its way between the
> silvering and the glass - turning the mirror black or brown.
> The worst part of this is that the damage occurs over a period of time -
> weeks rather than days - so the first you know of it is when a customer
> brings back a ruined piece !
>
> Prevention (for me) consists of using a special mirror grinding bit on
> the cut edges, grinding as little as possible, then washing the glass
> very thoroughly with soap and water,
> After drying, paint the cut edges with a sealant (either nail varnish or
> a clear laquer) and, once dry, foil over the edges and burnish the foil
> down well before soldering. Silver-backed foil gives a tidy effect.
> Clean off the flux residue as soon as possible after soldering - using
> hot water and soap.
>
> It's also worth taking care with storing your mirrored glass, the
> backing is easily scratched, and, if damaged, may allow the flux to get
> under the backing. Small scratches can be repaired with silver-backed
> tape, but you then need to smarten up the rear of the mirror with some
> self-adhesive paper etc.
>
> Hope this helps
> Adrian
> www.inspired-glass.com
>
Thanks, Alex!
I assume that the varnish is similar to Charlies's use of Krylon...both are
good ideas :)
Just out of idle curiosity, have you even used any of the pre-cut mirrors,
such as the small circles?
- Kris
| 
XML site map