Use mirror in place of glass?

[cgallery]

I would like to use a hinge such as this:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2274

But, I would like to use a mirror instead of glass. Do I need to laminate something to the back of the mirror to protect the silver backing? Is there some type of paint I can apply that will work?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Phil

[TheRic]

If your talking at the hing I would think that once you set it, you would not move it again, therefore not create scratches. Whenever I have worked with glass and metal, there normally was some felt that went between the glass and metal. Note this was just I bought as a kit, not from Rockler.

If your talking things inside hitting the back of the door, hmmmm.. Thinking out load here: Unless you put some kind of board on the back, you could get scratches. Paint can be scratched / rubbed off.

Would a mirror take the beating of opening and closing all the time? I think the glass on those doors are tempered, or something. No clue if mirrors are, but not betting on it.

[cabinetman]

But, I would like to use a mirror instead of glass. Do I need to laminate something to the back of the mirror to protect the silver backing? Is there some type of paint I can apply that will work?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Phil

Some paints will react with the silvering on the back of the mirror. If you want to paint, use only an acrylic paint (spray) in light coats. You will probably have to get a stick-on knob, or a magnetic touch latch for opening or closing.

To protect the area of the hinge, a simple peal and stick felt. You dont have much room in there for anything of some thickness.

What I use for mirrored doors is to use 1/8" mirror on 5/8" melamine or plywood. The ply would have to be laminated with formica both sides. Why you ask? Well the mirror is held on to the door by verticle double sided tape.

Double sided tape likes non porus surfaces. For the edges I use a chrome laminate.

Doing the door this way enables the use of standard euro hinges with 3 way adjustment, and the back of the mirror is always protected.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[cgallery]

Would a mirror take the beating of opening and closing all the time? I think the glass on those doors are tempered, or something. No clue if mirrors are, but not betting on it.

Does the tempering provide any strength benefit, or only a safety benefit?

[cgallery]

What I use for mirrored doors is to use 1/8" mirror on 5/8" melamine or plywood. The ply would have to be laminated with formica both sides. Why you ask? Well the mirror is held on to the door by verticle double sided tape.

I hadn't thought about doing it that way. I wanted to do an inset door and there is going to be a vertical divider on the inside of the cabinet that would limit the door thickness to approx. 1/2". So I gotta think about this (scratches head)...

[cabinetman]

I hadn't thought about doing it that way. I wanted to do an inset door and there is going to be a vertical divider on the inside of the cabinet that would limit the door thickness to approx. 1/2". So I gotta think about this (scratches head)...

If it's a center divider, just rabbet the door for your clearance. Or, if you want just the mirror, use plain 1/4 " mirror, and cut 1/16" formica and use the thin double sided carpet tape to line the silver side.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[eezlock]

mirror instead of glass?

Phil. I think you ought to check with a local glass supplier and go with their
recommendations on that. If, you go with the mirror, see if they have it in
a tempered glass type, it will take more of the stress of opening and closing
better than a regular plate glass mirror would.

As for the paint on the reverse side of the mirror, it is a special type of paint
that glass/ mirror companies use called a mirror backing paint, a special
compound ( reflective type) that makes the glass into a mirror.

They may also have the proper type of felt or cushion material to install it
into the hinge so it will protect the mirror. My .02 worth here...eezlock