Ornate Mirror Gets an Updated Look

Lisa Marie
by Lisa Marie
5 Materials
$30
4 Hours
Medium
Mirror are my absolute favorite thing to refinish. I guess because of all that detail.. thats what draws me to them.
cleaning an ornate mirror takes so much time. I use a can of air first to get the dust off. then a very soft toothbrush to get into the details. then spray it again. then a light wipe down of water.. that's what I do (most times)! what do you do?
taped off this mirror.. but another good idea I have used in the past is to use those paint cards you get in the paint department and stick them all around. works really well!
2 coats of heirloom traditions cobblestone paint. wait a day for that to really dry... followed by a quick coat of general finishes high performance top coat because glazing was next.
general finishes pitch black glaze was applied. I entered their design challenge last year and I ended up coming up as a winner of some prizes. yay! so anyway, moving on... I usually use a chip brush to apply my glazed because im kind of rough with it and I like to really push it into the crevices. as you can see here, it's covered. next step is to wipe it back with a clean cloth.
Wow! LOOK AT THAT DETAIL and how it just pops now!?
another example
with the glaze applied...
I sealed again using the same top coat by general finishes... then I used silver metallic wax to go over the finished product - I just applied some to my finger and basically just dragged it across the mirror. all of the raised areas would pick it up.
Final Result!
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 5 questions
  • Diane Walkenhorst Beach Diane Walkenhorst Beach on Nov 11, 2020

    How long do you let the glaze sit before you start wiping it off? Working on my mirror now and this is my next step :)

  • Melinda Lou Mast Melinda Lou Mast on Aug 29, 2021

    I wondered if you remember a product called "rub & buff" I used it a lot back in the 70s. I have many ornate frames and mirrors like this. Im wanting to find it again so I can make some changes to them all, but dont want them exactly the same. The stuff I remember you could paint what I call the backgound color, then using a gloved finger apply the buff to the raised parts. Its so simple, Im to old to make too big of a mess these days. Anyway I just wondered if there is another name for it now?

  • BRANDIE COOPER BRANDIE COOPER on Mar 19, 2023

    I found a mirror like this in my mother's storage after she passed. But the frame is plastic and after sitting for a long time, very brittle and cracking. Anyone know how to save the frame or is it beyond salvage?

Comments
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2 of 27 comments
  • Loretta Loretta on Nov 09, 2019

    Wow! What a difference! That is beautiful!

  • Tonya Tonya on Aug 18, 2020

    This looks awesome! I've ALWAYS wanted to paint my ornate mirror! Beautiful!!! tfs

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