Can I fix a scratched mirror?

Ben84

Any advice on this would be much appreciated, as I have just discovered that I've managed to scratch a mirror (on the glass side) while moving house. A few fine scratches and a slightly deeper one. None are really deep, but they are quite noticeable. Has anyone managed to polish them out somehow? I've googled it and heard that toothpaste may improve it, as well as finding polishing kits (I have an electric drill to use them) but I wonder if it will just make things worse and would like some advice from people who have tried this before?

bloss0m

Try this

http://answers.bloglines.com/Home/how_do_i_fix_a_scratched_mirror

or this

http://angelgilding.com/Re-Silvering_Old_Mirrors.html

auntymabel

Touy could try jewellers rouge. I was recommended this by the garage to use on my car widscreen. (Didn't try it in the end as I thought it was too deep) You can get it on ebay but you need to make sure t's the real stuff.

fwor

I've used jewellers rouge on a car window. If you use a fabric pad in a drill it works, but incredibly slowly.

I doubt you'll like the result, either. Because you've removed a very shallow dish of glass, you get a lens effect, and it also didn't seem possible to get the area perfectly clear, so I also had a slightly opaque finish in the polished area.

auntymabel

Plan B: Could you stick something decorative over the scratch? Maybe put mirror into Google images. There might be something to give you an idea.

bluesnake

you can remove scratches in glass (and watches - done this myself on watches )

if the scratch is deep then get some 800 grit carborundum and rub it out use water too. then some 1000 grade carborundum and rub those scratches out also with a bit of water.

This leaves you with a grey mat finish piece of glass, which when you look at it brings out the words "now it's really hopelessly screwed".

About 10 mins polishing with brasso and it does not look as bad any more. Another 10-ish mins with silver polish (silvo in my case) made the watch face sparkle.

If you do this on a watch, make sure there is a good distance between the watch face and the bezel.

The other point is you can get a good bit of pressure on a watch face and you put the paper/cloth on the table an rub the watch on that flat surface, not the other way round.

Try it out on a wine bottle or old window first

cyclonebri1

Is it an expensive mirror or say part of a suite or something?

If not just junk it and get another, it's simply not worth the effort unless you want to save it for sentimental reasons etc.

If it does matter, take it to your nearest glass suppliers, they have the kit and if it can be saved they will know.

Last option live with it.
It's like when you scratch the car, you are annoyed and your attention is drawn to it every time you get in the car, a few weeks later and it doesn't seem to matter.;);)