Update on mirror and restored panel

I've now finished work on the mirror, and it's now installed on an external wall, reducing the amount of visible brickwork in the garden and reflecting light onto a lemon tree. It's mounted on a wooden frame, with the mirror itself being held away from the wall; previously, a plastic mirror was in this spot and failed quickly due to the silvering not coping with moisture that sometimes runs down the face of the wall in heavy rain.

There's another plastic one to the left (visible in the first photo, giving rise to the 'bent' reflection). The glass mirror I've made reflects light 'straight', whereas the plastic mirrors didn't sit 'flat', giving a reflection not wholly unlike the hall of mirrors in a funfair! (If using them again I would mount them on very solid board, to try to stop them bending.)

In low light the colour plating picks up the light from the sky; who says you can't have colour in your garden all year round?

The plan is to make another similar mirror to fit the wall to the left, turning a corner of the garden into a mini-light box.

I've also completed the soldering and recementing work on the panel I picked up at a reclamation yard: this would ideal to add a bit of decoration to a uPVC window or conservatory. I'm putting it on sale, initially in newspapers and on the internet.

Transporting and moving leaded panels

There's a programme on TV this week (Channel 4, 5.30pm) which is a sort of competition for the transportation industry. One of the things that had to be transported was a set of seven Victorian leaded stained glass panels.

The commentator kept describing them as 'irreplaceable' - actually, the glass was mostly pastel English Muffle, available from Decorative Glass (http://www.decorativeglasssupplies.co.uk/). Maybe this was to wind up the contestants a bit, who seemed very, very nervous about trying to move them.

Actually, it's easy. Each panel must be on a firm board (12mm MDF is best), ideally with two sides edged with 2 x 1 timber. It should be kept on it right until it is fitted into the frame: here's a photo of my garden mirror panel, on its board, prior to fitting:

 

The board can be leant at an angle, and the timber edges keep the panel on it. For transportation, I cover the panel with either hardboard or stiff cardboard, and tie the whole thing up with strong tape, before putting the board into the car or van, ideally on its long edge with the timber support at the bottom, and secured in place, padded out with old curtains or something soft. They'll survive anything encountered in normal driving if protected like this.

 

#Stainedglass #Transportation