How can you cut a mirror at home
15 home remedies for cleaning mirrors. how to clean your mirror easily and easily?
A team of professionals in various fields
Reading time: 4 minutes
A transparent, clean and sparkling mirror is the “face” of a neat hostess. The presence of mirrors in the bathroom, hallway, the appearance of numerous sliding wardrobes with built-in mirrors, of course, made life difficult for the hostesses in terms of cleaning.
Today we, together with the online magazine colady.ru, will put things in order in your mirrors.
Before starting cleaning, let’s try to figure out the reasons for stains on the mirrors:
- Dust and dirt.
- Insufficient quality detergent.
- Insufficiently clean water.
We decided on the reasons. we begin to act and proceed to washing the mirrors:
- Water and Newspaper for washing and shining mirrors at home
Cleaning mirrors in the simplest way starts with water and newspaper (toilet paper can be a substitute). The only negative is the presence of lead in newspaper paint (harmful to children). If you have already tried this method, go to other methods. - Sparkling mirrors at home. salt water tea
How to wash a mirror to a shine? To resort to the method by simple means. to insist strong tea for 15-20 minutes, dilute with salt water (1 teaspoon of salt) and blot with a nylon cloth. cleaning the mirror is not so difficult. - Glossing and cleaning mirrors at home. Chalk vinegar (method two)
Let’s prepare a mixture from:
- chalk or tooth powder. 1 tbsp;
- vinegar. 1 tbsp;
- water. 1 st.
Heat it up, let it brew for 15-20 minutes and salt the water. With the prepared “puree”, rub the mirror well with a piece of suede, a cloth or newspaper.
Giving Shine. Chalk Ammonia (method three)
Let’s prepare a mixture from:
- chalk or tooth powder. 1 tbsp;
- ammonia. 1st l.
Wipe the mirror with the resulting gruel with a soft cloth.
Grate the mirror with half of raw potatoes, rinse with cool water and then wipe with a dry cloth. There will be no trace of dirt, and the mirror will shine like new.
How to clean a mirror with an onion? Very simple.
It is enough to rub the mirror with onions, leave for 5-7 minutes and wipe with either a cloth or paper. Saves from gnats or flies.
Instead of dishwashing liquid, you can use, for example, dishwasher liquid. both products have proven to be effective in combating excess dirt on mirrors.
Colognes, Sprays will “save” from lovers of hairspray. It is necessary to apply a barely noticeable layer of alcohol or solution to the surface of the mirror, then wipe it with a cloth or paper.
You can save the mirror from dampness by applying a composition of 1/3 melted wax and 2/3 turpentine to the amalgam (from the back of the glass).
To make the care of mirrors complete, you need to clean them regularly with a dry soft cloth and in addition to this, use a linen cloth without excess fibers 1-2 times a month, moistening it in vinegar.
It is recommended to wash the mirror with a solution of water and blue or use green tea infusion instead of blue.
Direct sunlight is not recommended. It is necessary to place mirrors in an apartment in such a way that the light falls not on the mirror itself, but on the person who will look into it. then it will not show possible stains in the sun after washing, and also blind you when trying to pretend in front of it.
It is enough to dip a lint-free cloth in milk and wipe the mirror. After that, the mirror will shine again.
Capron will help to rub the mirror to a shine. It is enough to soak it in cold water and wipe the mirror.
Colady.ru magazine asks to refrain from using liquid for cars as a means for cleaning mirrors, as it contains many substances that can cause dizziness and headaches.
Mirror surface preparation
First, the entire surface of the mirror must be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed with a soda solution. If there are traces of stains, it is a good idea to clean such areas with alcohol, otherwise the cut line may “go” sideways, and the glass will be damaged. The place where the cutting will take place must be flat so that the mirror fits snugly over the entire surface. In addition, it should not be hard. it is better to spread a soft cloth. After that, the mowing line of the cut is marked.
Then you need to attach a ruler to the mowing line, preferably a metal one. For greater accuracy, you need to prepare a ruler. Two erasers (school eraser) are attached to its ends (for example, with adhesive tape). This will raise the ruler slightly above the surface of the mirror. This technique allows you to control the correct position of the cutting edge of the glass cutter and ensures that the glass cutter does not jump off this mowing line onto the line.
How to cut a mirror neatly and easily at home
Well, let’s start another lesson on the blog Best Houses with a small common truth. “work can only be done efficiently when a good tool is used.” Of course, this truth also applies to cutting mirrors, which we will talk about today. There are two types of glass cutters: diamond and roller, and a mirror at home can be cut by both. In the case of a diamond, the cutting part is a piece of technical diamond, and in the roller. a wheel made of a special alloy of increased strength.
Glass cutting
It is understood that the cutting element must be positioned strictly on the marked mowing line and perpendicular to the surface of the mirror. With a slight pressure to the glass, it is led towards you. There is no need to rush. The pressure and movement of the glass cutter must be smooth and progressive. If everything is done correctly, then the sound of glass being cut is heard, it is impossible to confuse it. A squeak indicates either the unsuitability of the instrument, or its incorrect position, too strong pressure. When properly cut, a thin white line will remain on the surface of the mirror.
When the cutting line is ready, the mirror lies on the edge of the surface (table, workbench, stool). You need to put it so that the line protrudes slightly over the edge. After that, holding the mirror with one hand, the other should be slightly pressed down. the cut off part should fall off. If this does not work, then with a small hammer you need to knock on the bottom of the entire mowing line, moving the hammer from its far end towards you. After that, if the piece does not separate, the cutting process should be repeated.
If possible, it is better to purchase a diamond glass cutter. it cuts better and has a longer service life. When using it, you need to focus on the marks, since it has two angles: sharp and obtuse.
It is best to wear protective glasses when cutting glass. If they are not there, then you should not tilt your head too low to avoid damage to your eyes by glass fragments.
See the details of the mirror cutting process on
Let’s start cutting
The glass cutter must be at right angles to the mirror surface, strictly on the marked mowing line. Slightly pressing against the glass, it must be carefully guided in the direction leading to you. Do not hurry. Move the glass cutter gently and precisely along the intended mowing line. If you hear the sound of glass being cut, then everything is going well. A creak indicates that the cutter is broken or you are doing something wrong.
The old mirror will help to wash special glass liquids.
When properly cut, you will see a thin line on the glass. If all goes well, place the mirror on a workbench with the line protruding slightly over the edge. Then press down slightly on the cut part, holding the other hand with the other. The glass should fall off. If this does not happen, tap the entire line from the bottom with a hammer, moving it towards you. Does not work? Repeat the cutting procedure again. Small fragments are removed with pliers.
If you have just purchased a mirror, you need to leave it in the room for a couple of hours, where the entire cutting process will be carried out.
Attention! If you do not have special glasses, do not lean too low when working in order to avoid getting debris in your eyes.
A squeak indicates that the glass cutter is broken or you are doing something wrong.
Required tools
Be sure to check that all materials are present before trimming the mirror. The table will fit the most standard, the main thing is that the dimensions of the table top correspond to the area of the mirror surface, ideally surpass it.
There are two types of glass cutters: diamond and roller, and a mirror at home can be cut by both.
If you are planning to insert a mirror into the frame, get one in advance.
Then you need to attach a ruler to the mowing line, preferably a metal one.
Work should be done carefully, without haste.
The most important tool is, of course, the glass cutter. There are three types of tools with which you can cut glass at home:
- roller. the cutting part is made of an extra strong alloy;
- diamond. technical diamond is used as a cutting part;
- oil. have the same characteristics as roller, there is an additional reservoir.
This technique allows you to control the correct position of the cutting edge of the glass cutter and ensures that the glass cutter does not jump off this mowing line onto the line.
If you are wondering which glass cutter to buy, choose a diamond one. It surpasses the roller in both quality and service life.
It is clear that the cutting element must be located strictly on the marked mowing line and perpendicular to the surface of the mirror.
During operation, the glass cutter is firmly pressed against the surface of the mirror and the ruler.
Another necessary tool is a special thick ruler or square for cutting glass. However, you can use a regular metal ruler, you just need to slightly improve it. To do this, you will need some rubber or leather pieces. You need to put a ruler on them. This will prevent the metal from sliding on the glass and raise the ruler to a level high enough to stop the glass cutter.
The pressure and movement of the glass cutter must be smooth, progressive.
You will also need pliers and a hammer, which is designed to make it easier to break the glass by tapping the mirror from the back. It is desirable that the hammer is small.
When properly cut, a thin white line will remain on the surface of the mirror.
The specialist is able to determine by ear the correctness of the cutting. by the characteristic slight crackling.
It is highly advisable to cover the countertop with a blanket. The fabric should be natural and have the necessary density, because you will manipulate the mirror on it. If not used, the fragile glass can crack on the hard surface of the table with any careless movement.
When the line of the cut is ready, the mirror lies on the edge of the surface (table, workbench, stool).
The last element is a water-soluble marker or wax pencil for marking.
If this does not work, then with a small hammer you need to knock on the bottom of the entire mowing line, moving the hammer from its far end towards you.
Glass cutting safety
Before cutting a mirror with a glass cutter, read the safety requirements.
- Tidy up the workplace, remove everything unnecessary from the table. Place scrap boxes, tools and the product in place.
- Make sure all fixtures are in good working order.
- Put rubber tips on the lips of the pliers or wrap with something.
- Glass boxes are always stacked vertically.
- Be sure to use a special suit, gloves and goggles.
- Take your time and try not to make sudden movements.
- Do not touch the cutter line of the glass cut with fingers not protected by gloves.
- It is forbidden to cut the product on objects not intended for this.
- When working at a height, the glass must not be thrown down. Always take scraps and whole glass with you.
- Cutting is permissible only in the direction opposite to the direction of the cutting part.
- It is necessary to install the glass at strong supports with an inclination of up to 15 °.
- In the process, put unnecessary trimmings in a box and send them to the trash can as they accumulate.
- Remove glass from drawers carefully. If the glass is cracked, remove it in separate pieces.
- You can not cut the product on your knees.
- Use electric glass cutters with care.
- If the product is brought in from the cold, be sure to warm it up.
- Sweep the floor and clean the workbenches with a special brush. Do not try to blow off glass dust.
- Before finishing work, shake the suit thoroughly, cleaning it of crushed glass particles.
First, the entire surface of the mirror must be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed with a soda solution.
The place where the cutting will take place must be flat so that the mirror fits snugly over the entire surface.
How to prepare the glass for the procedure?
So that the line of the cut does not “go” sideways in the future, the first thing to do is to clean the surface of the product and rinse it with soda. If stains and dirt are difficult to wipe off, use rubbing alcohol. The old mirror can be washed with special glass fluids. You do not need to wipe it off with a cloth after cleaning, as it will definitely leave unnecessary lint.
After that, if the piece does not separate, the cutting process should be repeated.
If you have just purchased a mirror, you need to leave it indoors for a couple of hours, where the entire cutting process will be carried out. During this time, the product adapts to the temperature and humidity of the room. Then, if the mirror was previously in the box, wipe it with paper towels.
If possible, it is better to purchase a diamond glass cutter. it cuts better and has a longer service life.
Make sure that the place where you will be cutting is perfectly flat, otherwise the product will not fit snugly on the surface. Think of a soft bedspread to cover the tabletop. Place the product reflective side up in your work area.
It is better to use protective glasses when cutting glass.
The main thing is to do the work calmly and accurately, and then you will succeed.
The next step is to mark the cut mowing line. Remember the adage “measure seven times. cut once”? It fits perfectly to our situation. After measuring, carefully trace the line to be cut with a wax pencil. Then attach a metal ruler to it. Do not forget to put pieces of rubber or leather under it.
In some cases, rubber-padded pliers are used to remove cut-off shards of a thin mirror.
Now all you have to do is insert the mirror into a pre-prepared frame.
How to cut a mirror at home
How to cut a mirror at home: the tools you need
It is done!
The work is almost finished. Now all you have to do is insert the mirror into the previously prepared frame. If not, cover the sharp edges with sandpaper to protect yourself from cutting.
When cut correctly, you will see a thin line on the glass.
As you can see, the glass cutting process is not that complicated. The main thing is to do the work calmly and accurately, and then you will succeed.!
If all goes well, place the mirror on a workbench with the line protruding slightly over the edge.
How to cut a mirror at home
Work technology
The table or other flat surface is covered with an old sheet or bedspread so that the product does not slip during cutting and is not accidentally scratched. The mirror is placed with the reflective side up.
Cut a circle out of glass, cutting by a pro
Cutting the mirror begins with marking, this procedure must be approached responsibly. First, you need to measure and check everything several times, in this case you cannot rush so as not to spoil everything. After that, a ruler is applied to the marked lines.
To properly cut the mirror, the glass cutter is located at an angle of 90˚ (or slightly less) to the mirror surface of the product, the movement of the hand must be clear and confident. Slightly pressing, the tool is guided from the far point towards you. In this case, the sound of the glass being cut should be heard. An unpleasant squeak will indicate that the cutter is broken or something has gone wrong.
If everything went well, a thin line will remain on the product. Then the mirror is placed on the table so that the cutting line protrudes slightly over the edge. With one hand they hold the main part of the product, and with the other they gently press on the cut off part, which should separate under pressure.
If after the glass cutter there is a white, intermittent line, then the procedure will have to be repeated. The new line is drawn 2 mm further from the line. Before cutting the glass, it is recommended to practice on unnecessary fragments in order to determine the pressure of the glass cutter and cut the strip exactly.
When working with a roller glass cutter, it is recommended to moisten the cutting site with turpentine, since this tool requires a lot of effort.
If there is no separation, then the mowing line of the cut from the lower side towards you will need to be gently tapped with a hammer. The remaining small fragments are removed with pliers. If necessary, the edges of the cut are cleaned with sandpaper. The edge of the product is treated with a sealant or transparent varnish. The finished mirror is fixed in the prepared frame.
Required tools
To cut the mirror straight, you need to purchase special tools. There is a roller glass cutter on sale, which even beginners can easily handle, but they can cut glass whose thickness is not more than 4 mm. The cutting element of the tool is easy to replace if necessary.
A diamond glass cutter can cut thicker glass, but it is more expensive, and it is more difficult for an inexperienced craftsman to cope with it.
In addition to a glass cutter, a long ruler is required, the thickness of which must be at least 8 mm. As additional tools and materials, you need to prepare:
- pliers with rubber gaskets;
- fine-grained sandpaper;
- hammer;
- alcohol;
- soda;
- roulette;
- rags;
- fabric (old sheet or bedspread);
- a special pencil (brand “steklograph”), a water-soluble felt-tip pen or wax pencil is also suitable;
- bucket with water;
- a mold made of a sheet of plywood or plastic, if curly cutting of glass is to be done.
It is necessary to cut the mirror at home on a flat, stable table so that its area is larger than the size of the mirror.
How to prepare the glass for the procedure
Before starting work, you should prepare the product. The mirror surface is thoroughly cleaned and washed with a soda solution. A heavily soiled surface is cleaned with alcohol or a special glass cleaner. After cleaning the stains, the mirror must not be wiped dry with a cloth so as not to leave lint on its surface. It is left for 10 minutes until all moisture evaporates.
The newly purchased product must be left in the cutting room for at least 3 hours. This time is required to adapt to the room temperature and humidity. Then the mirror is taken out of the package and gently wiped with paper towels. The prepared surface must be dry and streak-free.
Curly cutting of a mirror
To cut the mirror, giving it a round or oval shape, you must use a prepared template. So that the figured cut is not damaged when the glass is broken, it is carefully separated in small fragments. To facilitate the breaking process with a glass cutter, it is necessary to make additional cuts to the outer edge of the product.
Specialists use a special glass cutter with a suction cup and a scale for figured cutting of glasses and mirrors. All wavy mowing lines after cutting must be processed with sandpaper.
When cutting glass or mirrors, it is imperative to follow safety rules, wear fabric gloves and goggles. Showing accuracy and a little patience, even an inexperienced owner will be able, after a little practice, to cut off the mirror on his own.
Due to vision problems, many people are forced to wear glasses, which require regular and thorough care.
It often happens that the heart of a loved one is already taken. Or, for example, you have.
How seeds are cleaned in production depends on which seeds need to be removed from the inedible part.
How to cut a mirror at home without a glass cutter
If for some reason a glass cutter was not available to you, you can resort to other methods. Most of them are more traumatic, but nevertheless, it is not worth completely discarding these “old-fashioned” methods.
Thin mirrors and glasses are cut with scissors.
To do this, put a container filled with water in front of you. The mirror is placed in water and a small piece is chipped off the edge with scissors. Water prevents cracking. Chipping off small pieces over and over again from the general array, curvilinear mirrors are obtained. Disadvantages of the method: not suitable for straight cutting, mirror area is very limited, not suitable for mirrors thicker than 4 mm.
Another tool suitable for cutting glass is a file with a triangular or rectangular cross-section. The corner of this tool makes several cuts on the surface of the mirror, after which a piece of glass breaks off against the edge of the table. The method requires a developed skill, before using it, you cannot do without training.
For cutting, drills with victorious tips were also actively used before. The workflow is similar to that of a glass cutter. The mirror is placed on the table top, markings are made and a guide ruler is applied. The drill is turned so that the sharpest corner of the tip touches the mirror. The method, like the previous one, requires great skill and experience.
It happens that glass is cut with an angle grinder. During the cutting process, the disc does not go deep into the material, but only touches the surface. The goal is to form an even groove along the entire length of the cut. Further, the material breaks off in the same way on the edge of the table. For such work, diamond discs with a thickness of 0.1 mm are suitable. Disadvantage of the method: cutting an angle grinder requires strict adherence to safety rules.
The latter method is very exotic, in which glass processing will be carried out not by mechanical, but by temperature exposure. You need a soldering iron or a burner. To begin with, markings are made for the future cutting line of the cut. Then a file at the beginning of this mowing line is put at risk. Next, they take a soldering iron in their hands and begin to heat a point on the mowing line of the cut, located 2 mm from the notch. As a result, a microcrack is formed between this place and the risk, when this happens, the soldering iron is pushed further 2 mm, the cycle repeats. The main disadvantage is slowness, it can be partially leveled if, during operation, the mirror is cooled with a damp cloth.
The necessary conditions
Mirror cutting differs from glass in that it is carried out from the front. The rest of the conditions are the same, which means you must have:
- table, the surface area is larger than the size of the mirror;
- a long ruler or strip of hard material about 8 mm thick;
- glass cutter;
- small hammer and pliers.
It is desirable to have a soft and non-slip natural cloth and a few small thin pieces of rubber or leather. By the way, leather pieces are much easier to find. How to cut a mirror
All of this is true when it comes to simple mirror cutting.
Curly will require additional conditions:
How to Cut Mirrors at Home
- availability of sheet material for the manufacture of patterns (plywood, fiberboard, HDF);
- jigsaw or boot knife.
Curly cutting of a mirror
Cutting technology is similar. It differs only in that it is necessary to make a pattern.
The main difference is in the withdrawal procedure. Break off unnecessary sections in parts, dividing them into sections with more or less equal shares according to the degree of curvature or angles of inclination to a straight line. To facilitate breaking, manually cut additional mowing lines with a glass cutter from the highs and lows of the curve to the outer edge. Circles or ovals are simply broken up into a series of segments.
Cutting mirrors at home
Mirrors are often used in interior decoration, they are able to visually expand the space, make it brighter and more aesthetically interesting. From time to time, there is a need for mirrors of complex shapes and non-standard sizes to make home design more interesting. The best option, as in any business, is to turn to professionals. Unfortunately, their help can be quite expensive for the homeowner, the alternative in this case is to make a custom mirror yourself.
Curly cutting
How to cut a mirror if you want it to be round or oval? It is quite difficult to carry out figured cutting with an ordinary glass cutter.
To solve such problems, use special glass cutters or designs from several tools. As a rule, such a system consists of a glass cutter, a suction cup, and a scale for setting the desired degree.
If it was not possible to get such a tool, you can use a conventional roller or diamond glass cutter.
In this case, the process is carried out in the same way as when cutting straight lines, but using a piece.
The main difficulty lies in the fact that the figured cut is very difficult not to damage when fragmenting, therefore it is crushed into fragments, which are separated in turn.
Thus, you can create a unique, beautiful and useful decorative element in the form of an original mirror.
Other necessary tools and materials
You can cut off pieces of the mirror only at a prepared workplace. To do this, take a table, its surface must be large enough and even. The mirror will lie completely on the table top, so its size is appropriate. Before starting the workplace, cover with a soft cloth. At home, they often use an old sheet or tablecloth. The ruler and the square are taken thick and long, it is desirable that they be specially designed for cutting glass. In addition, rubber-padded pliers, a tape measure, and a small hammer are useful. A wooden box or a box made of thick cardboard is placed under the debris and scraps.
In the process of cutting and preparing for it, the following consumables will be used: rags, alcohol and soda, crayon or a marker. Instead of the latter, glass-writing pencils are sometimes bought for marking. For curly cutting, templates are made in advance.
Preparing the mirror for cutting
Before you start cutting the mirror with a glass cutter, you need to prepare its surface. Small debris and dust are removed with a rag. Mirrors contaminated with grease are wiped with a soda solution. Additionally, it is treated with alcohol and then wiped dry. Preparation of the mirror surface is very important, as grease and dust contamination can cause knocking down of the mowing line. If the mirror has just been in a cold temperature, then it is given time to warm up. Only after all these procedures should you start cutting.
angle grinder and band saw
The locksmith, the person who cuts metal, uses the angle grinder only for small and medium-sized parts. It is much easier with the machine to perform small tasks. to make a shallow cut, remove excess, etc. It is much more convenient to cut a metal sheet using a band saw. In this case, the workpiece is placed on the bed, and then moves exactly along the runners to prevent an incorrect cut or deformation. This results in a perfect edge that does not require further sanding.
We cut
We use an ordinary hacksaw, while it is required to fix the product well in a vice, otherwise it will slide following the movements. Sometimes this method is not used for full sawing, but as a preliminary step before bending. In this case, a file may be suitable.
Gas-electric technology
In the machine, an electric arc is ignited, as during welding, which is directed to a specific area. Nearby is a tube (nozzle) that supplies a stream of oxygen to this place. The air accelerates to a very high speed and simply blows out the molten metallic substance.
Gas cutting
The procedure is as follows. An abrasive is what you can use to cut metal. Abrasive discs are coated with them. But modern methods help to supply air or other gas with such a pressure that the particles of sand contained in it produce an even cut. In this case, oxygen passes through the burner and is heated to such temperatures as to overcome the plastic deformation threshold of steel.
Disadvantages of plasma cutter
Disadvantages of the presented technology:
- a lot of noise in the workshop;
- complicated equipment. not everyone will be able to handle it correctly, the need for preparation;
- maximum workpiece thickness. 10 cm;
- high cost of the machine.
Now let’s talk briefly about the methods used in everyday life.
Mechanical metalworking
A blade with a high degree of sharpening made of the hardest steel is used. Usually, it undergoes preliminary heat treatment. hardening. After that, its chemical structure and graininess change, and intermolecular bonds become stronger. It also requires a press or other indirect impact with the use of force. Examples include:
- band saw machine (it can be made at home);
- guillotine. works on the principle of lowering the cutting part with acceleration;
- Circular Saw.
Below we will take a closer look at some of the tools.
How to cut metal: how best to cut thick iron at home, methods and types of equipment
Locksmiths in large industries usually use special presses with tool steel blades for the most accurate cutting of metal sheets. But at home, this technology is not used, they are too bulky and energy-intensive. In the article we will tell you how and how best to cut thick metal.