How to Make Portable Mirrors
People have admired themselves in mirrors since the dawn of time. The reflective qualities of a still, dark pool of water surely astounded early man. People later polished stones and metals to a reflective sheen. In the Middle Ages, Europeans perfected a method of coating glass with a tin-mercury compound to create modern mirrors. Eventually, craftsmen substituted silver and aluminum for tin and mercury. Making a portable mirror requires the same methods as producing any other mirror. Only the size will differ. You can make mirrors at home that often are of better quality than store-bought versions.
Things You'll Need
- Silver Nitrate
- 26-percent ammonia solution
- Rochelle salts
- Distilled water
- Filter paper
- Pane of glass
- 3 glass beakers
- Glass stirring stick
- 2 glass bottles with caps
- Porcelain-coated metal pan
- Plastic or metal container or pan
- Black paint
Instructions
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Silver nitrate solution
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1
Cut a float-processed sheet of glass to the size you want. Float glass is extremely smooth and is what's used in most contemporary applications. Thoroughly clean and polish the side that will receive the chemical treatment. It's essential that no debris or dust is present; it will mar the eventual finish.
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2
Dissolve 40 grains--or about 1/10th of an ounce--of pure silver nitrate in four ounces of distilled water. Stir with a glass stick--not metal, wood or plastic. Add, one drop at a time, a 26-percent solution of ammonia water, which is available at print supply stores and some hardware stores. The silver-nitrate solution initially will become dark, almost black. Continue adding drops of ammonia until the solution becomes clear. This usually takes about 30 drops, or about one ml. Stop adding ammonia when the solution clears, and then stir gently.
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3
Add another 32 grains of silver nitrate and stir, and then add another 12 ounces of distilled water and stir. Let the new solution set for an hour, allowing any sediment to settle to the bottom. Funnel the mixture through filter paper into a bottle and cap it.
Rochelle salts solution
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4
Add 24 grains Rochelle salts into one pint distilled water in a porcelain-lined pan.
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Bring to a boil for one minute, and then add 25 grains silver nitrate and boil for five minutes.
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Cool for one hour. Transfer to a clean pan. Let the solution settle, and then filter into a bottle and cap it.
Applying solution to glass
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7
Place four wooden blocks under the corners of the glass in a container. Pour warm, distilled water onto the surface, adjusting the height of the blocks until the water lies evenly over the entire surface of the glass. This procedure ensures the glass is perfectly even before applying the silver solution. Gently tip the glass to remove water.
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8
Combine the two solutions you created into a third glass vessel and stir. Combine the mixture thoroughly.
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9
Pour the solution gently onto the glass, starting in the middle and working your way toward the edges. Cover the glass completely. Let the glass and solution stand for 30 minutes.
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10
Tip the glass onto one corner, allowing the solution to drain off. Rinse with distilled water and stand on end to dry.
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11
Apply a black paint to the silver-coated side to protect the material from scratches. Add a cardboard or felt backing before framing.
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Tips & Warnings
Ideally, room temperature should be at least 85 degrees Fahrenheit to aid in the chemical-reaction processes.
Ventilate the room in which you're working. The silver solutions produce poisonous silver nitride after a couple hours, so work quickly. Also, the solution will give off ammonia when heated.
Don't store any excess silver-nitrate solution. It can be disposed of down a drain with large amounts of water.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit the mirror image by Jan Will from Fotolia.com
