Gilded Bathroom Mirror

DAVE SMITH · Post by **DAVE SMITH** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 2:51 pm

I've been promising my wife for ages that I would make her a mirror for our new en-suite bathroom .My middle child Lauren who is 10 years old is very artistic and always shows a big interest in what I'm upto with glass work. Here are some pictures of Lauren helping me clean the puntie cuts ready for gilding. The mirror is 7 ft high by 8ft wide and is cut at an angle due to the shape of the ceiling. very awkward for handling when brilliant cutting. sorry pics are not that sharp.
Still Need a Bernhardt photo lesson.
Dave

Kelly Thorson · Post by **Kelly Thorson** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 5:01 pm

Ha! There is no doubt who her Daddy is! Both in her interests and her reflection. She looks more like you all the time.
I have a ten year old protege that has been helping me out here lately. I paid him his hours and let him off as school starts next week. He asked if I would mind if he came back on weekends to volunteer, "You don't have to pay me, it's just that I kinda like what you are doing here. It's interesting." He has been helping me clean shop and paint my floor, but the little gaffer is full of curiousity. He really likes the glass work and wants to do his own initial. I'm going to have to make time for that. I know he has the patience and perseverence as he spent over three hours woodburning a sign for the local store owner when he was 8. He used a magnifying glass.

DAVE SMITH · Post by **DAVE SMITH** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:59 pm

Yes she is starting to help me alott Kelly . Sounds like you also have the right volunteer there. good for him and for you sharing your skills. Kids just absorb all this stuff.
Dave

Patrick Mackle · Post by **Patrick Mackle** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 5:52 pm

My goodness Dave, what big round punties you have, and very sharp too as well as nicely polished. Excellent work.
I'm curious though. How did you get those cute little "mouse faces" in those punties? I never see those in mine.

Pat

DAVE SMITH · Post by **DAVE SMITH** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 5:08 am

You have a way with words Pat. It's nice to see you noticed my polished punties! I finished the mirror today and put it up. Please Excuse the number of photo's ,they show the etching seperatly on the whole mirror as the room is a bit small, the mirror make's the room look a lot bigger now. At least my wife is pleased I finished it. Big Mice over here!
Dave

Polished punties in gold

Jerry Berg · Post by **Jerry Berg** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:36 am

The design is very fitting for a bathroom. Nice Job there Dave.

Kelly Thorson · Post by **Kelly Thorson** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:18 am

Jeepers...I want one of those!!!!
I love the flow and rhythm of the scrolls Dave.
I bet your wife is really pleased!

Doug Bernhardt · Post by **Doug Bernhardt** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 11:43 am

Good god...........this is "go big or go home?" and there it is......."Davey's Disco Bog" On another note I never realized how much the (poor)kids look like you till Kelly mentioned it. I was thinking that Lauren looks like Hannah a few years back.

joe cieslowski · Post by **joe cieslowski** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:29 pm

Of course I have no idea how you made that but it made my day better!!!!

Thank You for posting those shots.......btw.....great kids.....I can tell they have a great Mum en Dad.

Joe

DAVE SMITH · Post by **DAVE SMITH** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 3:58 pm

Glad to make your day better Joe.Thanks! Kids take after there mother Doug wait till I tell Mel. The Disco bog is still there,this mirror is upstairs...
And Kelly my wife is very pleased but she thought it would be more suited inside a hairdressers salon.
Thanks
Dave

erik winkler · Post by **erik winkler** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:35 pm

This is the modern stuff that I like.

Tony Segale · Post by **Tony Segale** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:41 pm

Nice work, Smitty....
thanks a big heap for showin off gifts for the wife... puttin us on the spot again, are ya?

Not going to show this to Danine, no way.
I think I have enough duties and projects.

nice mirror, very nice mirror.

Patrick Mackle · Post by **Patrick Mackle** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 4:19 pm

Dave,
Just a quick note. If you mask the front of the mirror and give it a weak acid wash, that specific area of the mirror will not fog up with the shower steam.
You could add a thoughtful hidden message like "I Love You!" or a witty bloke one like "WARNING, objects in this mirror may appear larger!" that would only appear in condensation.
Pat

erik winkler · Post by **erik winkler** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 4:26 pm

Patrick Mackle wrote:Dave,
Just a quick note. If you mask the front of the mirror and give it a weak acid wash, that specific area of the mirror will not fog up with the shower steam.
You could add a thoughtful hidden message like "I Love You!" or a witty bloke one like "WARNING, objects in this mirror may appear larger!" that would only appear in condensation.
Pat

Haha I like that. But Patrick, what is the definition of an acid wash? Is it a deluted mixture of an etching solution?

DAVE SMITH · Post by **DAVE SMITH** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 4:46 pm

Pat I tried that on a mirror a few years back and it worked very well.(clever technique) I used Bruno Sweigs formula at the time.
Never thought of using it on this piece. Could have had some fun with that..........
Dave

Patrick Mackle · Post by **Patrick Mackle** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:08 pm

Erik,
Yes, it is just enough weak acid to remove the factory surface on the glass.
This technique was used to create novelty mirrors or "breath mirrors" as they were called because a quick moist breath on them would produce a momentary design or phrase.
Pat

Post by **Danny Baronian** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:18 pm

Good grief Dave, didn't you check with the client first?

"my wife is very pleased but she thought it would be more suited inside a hairdressers salon". Ouch!

And in the master bath no less? Or is it the the Masters bath?

Nice work!

I'll have to try Pat's suggestion with the weak acid, that would be interesting.

DAVE SMITH · Post by **DAVE SMITH** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:31 pm

The wife is always right Danny! Mind you she does like it better today,it's starting to blend better with what she has put in the rest of the bathroom. No this is not the master bathroom,the bathroom in these pics is what we have just had built as part of an extension to our property. I am the master but with 4 women living here I sometimes wonder.
Thanks matey
Dave

Post by **Danny Baronian** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:38 pm

Right.

You think you're the master..... they know better.

Your're out numbered mate!

Danny

Tony Segale · Post by **Tony Segale** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:40 pm

let them keep thinking they're in charge..
and you'll always be the master, mate.

Wayne Osborne · Post by **Wayne Osborne** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:30 am

FANTASTIC!- Thats a real treat Dave.. My Missus is still waiting for her B&Q Mirror . Hahahahha

Has the disco Bog been added to the official Torquay Tourist route yet?

DAVE SMITH · Post by **DAVE SMITH** » Sat Aug 30, 2008 2:53 pm

Not yet Wayne. Maybe one day.
Thanks
Dave

Robare M. Novou · Post by **Robare M. Novou** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:53 pm

Ohhhhhhh Sooooooo Nice!!

Great Work Dave!

So what is your next project? A Mirrored Ceiling, Perhaps?!

RMN

DAVE SMITH · Post by **DAVE SMITH** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:50 am

Now that would be good Robare.
Thanks
Dave

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Gilded Bathroom Mirror

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