How can I take this medicine cabinet door apart?

Louise
by Louise
I originally painted it brown and later black. Both colors show up under the edge of the frame on the mirror side and it's unsightly. Someone told me that I could remove the back panel, then remove the mirror and paint that edge black. But for the life of me, I can't figure out how to get the back off.
I thought there were staples on the corners, but they seem to have been removed or are deeply embedded.
The trees are reflections in the mirror. On the left side, you can see the edge that has white and brown on it (in some places there's also black). It looks ugly and needs to be black like the rest of the frame.
  18 answers
  • Katrina Warren Katrina Warren on Jan 16, 2016
    it does look like it has the wavy staples that sink in flush or below the wood surface. I would try digging in around the center area of the staple with the smallest straight edge screw driver you have, or with an awl, or icepick to try & expose the staple, once you have an edge exposed use needle nose pliers to grip the edge & pull them out.
  • Dfm Dfm on Jan 16, 2016
    it's not a traditional staple.....it's a solid piece of metal that has replaced the peg/pin biscuit type joinery . you really can't dig under it and lift it out. you might try removing all the paint, or scoring the backing to remove it. if it was me....i'd add add another piece of decorative trim to the front and just cover up the leaked in paint.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Jan 17, 2016
    Go to the big box store and pick up some tiny molding...some of it is decorative and very pretty (they come in widths about the size of a drinking straw)...paint it the desired color and then glue or silicone it onto the mirror. (Just be careful and not get a lot of whatever you use too near the outside areas so as to cause a mess!) Our bathrooms upstairs had large mirrors and we painted and glued on molding to frame them. Be sure you cut and do the fitting before you start gluing.
  • Cheryl Jackson McEntire Cheryl Jackson McEntire on Jan 17, 2016
    This is put together with corrugated nails. You can get them at a hardware store. They are a bit difficult to get out but what you want to do is tamp one side of the corner downward until you can get a hold on the top edge of the nail with pliers and then work the nail up and down until it loosens then pull it out.
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Jan 17, 2016
    I guess I am just a bit confused. If you cannot remove the frame, that means the mirror was repainted in the frame. In which case, you should be able to scrape the paint off from the front? Or is that just a reflection on the mirror of the underside of the painted frame?
    • See 1 previous
    • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Jan 19, 2016
      @Louise Hi Louise- so the mirror is essentially "free-floating" between the front and back pieces, allowing the paint to show when it shifts side to side or back from the frame edge. From the front, move the mirror so it is back in its original spot, then flip it over and secure it tightly with shims or whatever you need to have it pressing firmly against the frame edge, then tape it into place. Once the mirror is pressed against the frame, you will not be able to see the underside reflection.
  • LD LD on Jan 17, 2016
    As Sue said, I too think that the paint is on top of the glass mirror, so you should be able to remove it with a razor blade scrapper, just be careful not to apply to much pressure to the glass. If by some chance the paint bled behind the glass, I would paint a decorative design around the mirror edges. Taking the door apart could not only damage the mirror, but the frame as well.
  • Johnchip Johnchip on Jan 17, 2016
    Cheryl is right. But this is a delicate process. I have a feeling you want a quick, no skill fix, but either you use a fine brush, patience and paint properly or risk ruining the piece,
  • Jan B Jan B on Jan 17, 2016
    I've had this happen nearly every time I've repainted a mirror! It's frustrating. But I'd try Jeanette's suggestion of adding a little molding. If the inside dimensions of the mirror are small you could even try very thin dowels which would be easy to paint and cut. Good luck!
  • Angelyn Angelyn on Jan 17, 2016
    If paint is on surface, then use new single edge blade to scrape the glass surface. if its on the mirror or silver side, it would have to be re-silvered. So taking it a part would not solve your problem. Take it to an a glass shop that sells mirrors and they could tell you how to get it re-silvered or replaced. At least a $100 plus option.
  • Delores Snellen Delores Snellen on Jan 17, 2016
    those are zigzag staples in the corner very hard to get out you could try an icepick to try and pry them out I understand the paint is NOT on the mirror it is a reflection of the back of the wood
  • Rus1058682 Rus1058682 on Jan 17, 2016
    Take a tube of tub & tile caulk, (the small one that looks like a toothpaste tube) and seal the area between the glass of the mirror and the frame, This should solve the problem, if it is reflecting the underside of the frame.
    • See 2 previous
    • Rus1058682 Rus1058682 on Jan 17, 2016
      @Louise Well, it could, but what you could do is try a small area, say in a corner, and see if it works. The caulk comes in different colors, so you would have to decide the lesser of two evils, or reframe the mirror with a tighter fitting groove. Any good framing shop could do this for you.. But I believe the outcome would be the same since the mirror is silvered from the back..
  • Kathy Bitzan Kathy Bitzan on Jan 17, 2016
    I bet you could run a ribbon around the edge and it would cover that up, and be a little decorative touch.
  • MaryAnn B MaryAnn B on Jan 17, 2016
    I've used grosgrain ribbon to cover up spaces like this. You could use leather strips, ribbon or wood pieces glued to the outside of the mirror.
  • Roger S Roger S on Jan 17, 2016
    The easiest way to get the type of staples out is to take an 1/8" drill bit and then drill a small hole on each side of the staple. About
  • Roger S Roger S on Jan 17, 2016
    About 1/3 of the way through the joint. Then use a pair of needle nose pliers to pull them out.
  • Louise Louise on Jan 17, 2016
    I'm going to put in very small strips of wood along the edges of the frame to obscure the paint drips that are reflecting onto the mirror.
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    • Louise Louise on Jan 18, 2016
      @Carol Yes, I'm going to paint them all around for SURE!!! :-)
  • Sobe Sobe on Jan 17, 2016
    Those are not staples. They are like v-nails. Actual flat side nails 1/4 to 5/8 deep so you would not be able to get them out without really damaging the frame.
  • Sue Sanders Sue Sanders on Jan 18, 2016
    I'm not sure of the problem. Is there a reason you cant use painter tape to put up to edge of inner frame and then paint pushing brush up under the the frame to cover the color you dont want to show.? Then pull tape off and if any got on mirror just use a razor blade to scrape off.
    • Louise Louise on Jan 18, 2016
      @Sue Sanders I'd thought about that, but the space between the mirror and frame is pretty small and it seemed like getting the tape under there might be too difficult. But I might try that before adding the strips of molding.