The Framers Forum

Hi all - I haven't posted on here for a while, hope you're all well.....!

A customer has a 6mm thick mirror that's 1520mm long by 440mm wide and as the top is discoloured, they'd like to trim approx 15mm off the length before I frame it for them.

I do my own glass cutting which is effectively my Toyo cutter and a L square and then breaking the glass cleanly with "Jokers" (small plastic credit card shape doobrees).

I've never cut 6mm mirror glass and am concerned my limited workshop is appropriate - what do you think?

Thanks,

Sean

I learned how to cut glass and mirror from a group of glazers who had over 300 years experience between them…believe me there are things you can do to cut glass and then there are things you cannot do….

15mm is not enough on 6mm glass/mirror to get a good clean break….

Suggest you go for a wide moulding rip the rebate wider or have it ripped …..paint the rebate black and frame over the damaged edging….

In fact what I would do is just order an new piece of 6mm mirror and frame that….

The sort of job you describe is just not worth the bother….

Hi bagel Framer,
Yes you can do it with your normal glass cutter and t-square, but if its older glass there is a risk

You would need to make sure the glass is very clean, and a good clean score is made, then gently tape under the cut to make it deeper along the length of the cut and use nipping pliers such as those provided by Framers equipment ( a Flecther Terry product) to break the edge of the mirror over the edge of your cutting bench in a downwood motion gentle working along your score.

Personally I would ask your customer to get it cut to the size he requires at his local Glazier and bring it back to you to frame.

That eliminates the risk

MITREMAN

...wise words, thanks guys - I'll give him the option of getting a glazier to cut it me thinks.

Only one chance at this and one would hate for it to go pete tong, so I won't take the risk...!

I once cut 1" off a piece of 10mm mirror. I scored it as usual, then ducked down behind the bench in abject terror and reached up and cracked it by hand. I had to apply a heck of a lot of force, but it broke OK. In fact it went off like a gunshot. Not what you would call a super-neat break, but it did it.

Wouldn't want to repeat the exercise on a regular basis mind.

If you have already resigned yourself to getting a new glass, I would give it a go. Wear safety-specs, or better still, a suit of armour.

I'd be inclided to go the wuss-puss route, and send him to a glazier, too!

If you have a glazier nearby who does a lot of mirrors it might be worth taking there yourself. They usually give a trade discount a you get a face to face with a potential customer as you can offer to make up frames for him/his customers.

Snag is a lot use cheap imported frames but you never know....

We have a fireplace company a few doors down from us and what generally goes over a fireplace?

John.

Alternatively you could increase the rebate by the 15mm (either router out 15mm into the moulding or put a slip into the whole rebate) to cover the discolouring and if you put black tape inside the frame where the mirror touches the frame you should be OK

Dermot wrote:
Suggest you go for a wide moulding rip the rebate wider or have it ripped …..paint the rebate black and frame over the damaged edging….
….

Sorry Dermot didnt read your post Great minds thunkt' alike

Over the years I have been asked to cut some hideously strange bits of glass - my advice - dont touch it - tell them that you will charge them more to cut it than to buy a new piece.

Difficult to cut glass can become a lot easier to run the cut if you warm it before trying to break it.

Really old mirrors can also vary in thickness or have minor faults in the glass. These can be unpredicable to try and cut. Older mirrors can shed sometimes their silvering when they are cut down.

Unfortunately some customers are really into old mirrors and can be a lot of trouble if things don't go to plan! Be careful, make sure that both copies of the order make it clear that you will only cut it down at the customers own risk and get them to sign your copy to cover you.

Important point with any risky work

Unfortunately some customers are really into old mirrors and can be a lot of trouble if things don't go to plan! Be careful, make sure that both copies of the order make it clear that you will only cut it down at the customers own risk and get them to sign your copy to cover you.

Get them to take it to a Glazier (no risk to you) if it breaks, he can replace and charge, You can still do the framing, phone your glazier and say i have a customer coming to see you and explain, you could both gain if it breaks, as long as you do the above.

MITREMAN

Old mirrors can be very dangerous to your health. Look very carefully at any old mirrors before taking them into your workshop as some of them could be mercury silvered. Mercury is a very harmful substance that even when absorbed in small quantities can have very serious health risks.

Fortunately its easy to identify if you can see the silvering - The coating is very soft and you will normally see some beading of the mercury on the surface. I see lots of it here in Tetbury as we have dozens of antique shops and they love old mirrors - mercury silvered the best.

I always advise customers of the dangers involved with just having one of these things in a room and to Google Mercury poisoning.

markw wrote:Old mirrors can be very dangerous to your health. Look very carefully at any old mirrors before taking them into your workshop as some of them could be mercury silvered. Mercury is a very harmful substance that even when absorbed in small quantities can have very serious health risks.

Fortunately its easy to identify if you can see the silvering - The coating is very soft and you will normally see some beading of the mercury on the surface. I see lots of it here in Tetbury as we have dozens of antique shops and they love old mirrors - mercury silvered the best.

I always advise customers of the dangers involved with just having one of these things in a room and to Google Mercury poisoning.

Quite true that mercury is very toxic. But let's keep things in proportion. The chances of getting mercury poisoning from an old mirror is almost non-existent. There is much more of a risk from it falling on your head.
Mercury is a cumulative poison. I takes very heavy exposure over many years to produce any ill effects. I'm just saying that there are things we all do on a daily basis that are far more dangerous.

prospero wrote: Quite true that mercury is very toxic. But let's keep things in proportion. The chances of getting mercury poisoning from an old mirror is almost non-existent. There is much more of a risk from it falling on your head.
Mercury is a cumulative poison. I takes very heavy exposure over many years to produce any ill effects. I'm just saying that there are things we all do on a daily basis that are far more dangerous.

It has no place in my workshop - and If I employed someone then I would be running all sorts of H&S risks by allowing a toxic substance to endanger their health - however small. In the home very low doses of Mercury can be very damaging to children. You either choose to asses risks or ignore them.

I have a mouthfull of the stuff having been brought up in the drill and fill period of dentistry I have very many fillings - dental amalgam.

Heres what the World Health Organisation think:

http://www.fdiworldental.org/federation ... malgam.pdf

Fair enough. I don't want to get into a food-fight, but think how many people have been walking about with a mouthful of amalgam fillings for years on end with no ill effects. Can't help thinking that if someone actually wanted to kill themselves from absorbing mercury from antique mirrors they would die of boredom first.

The mercury issue is something which many antique restorers take quite seriously, along with other nasty stuff used in stains, finishes and paints on antique furniture. Some of this stuff, like antimony is literally deadly. Also dust and whatever it may contain is also of concern with regard to lung diseases.

It's not uncommon these days to see busy antique restorers cleaning items in a fume cabinet with an extaction system and HEPA filtered vacuum cleaners before attempting restoration. I have considered making my own combined fume and spray cabinet and would like to do so at some point in time. It's not an expensive thing to do!

Think

COSSH

Control of subsustances hazardous to health

one link below of many

http://www.whodoiask.com/health/cossh.htm

Remember you have a duty of care to your workers

Keep your workshop safe

MITREMAN