What are the steps for creating a distressed mirror??

Question

What are the steps for creating a distressed mirror??

Answer 1

To make a mirror look distressed: Take the mirror out of the frame use paint stripper and take off all the paint where you want it distressed. Be careful not to scratch the silver underneath, use a soft brush. If you have access to a small amount of nitric acid (app. a thimble full is enough to make it look pretty bad) (check chemical supply houses or labs to find this, you may be able to get a small amount from a school or lab) spatter the back or dab with a tooth pick where you want the spots to be. Be very careful to only get the tiniest speckles on the silver because this will destroy the silver immediately! Keep water handy to neutralize, wear gloves, respirator and have a ventilation fan in the area you're working in. If you cannot find nitric acid, muriatic acid may work but not as fast or as well. After you're done rinse well, let dry, repaint. Put back in frame carefully so you don't scratch it (scratches look bad) unless you want to scratch through the silver to intentionally distress it but the acid treatment appears more natural.