i would like to frame my builders mirror in my ensuite...the problem i think i have is the 6 plastic clips that hold the mirror in place....i am scared to remove them and attach the mirror another way...the mirror is 6 feet long X 3 1/2 feet wide...my question is how can i frame the mirror without the clips getting in the way?
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I framed my mirror-it was a big one too and it was not held with anything but those lovely plastic clips. I replaced them with the flat metal ones, and notched out the spot on the frame to accomodate them. I glued the frame directly to the mirror with No More Nails. Looks pretty good! As far as water spots are concerned just topcoat your paint with some polyurethane and they will wipe away.
Hi jenjen, I also had a builders mirror in an ensuite, same situation as you, and I bought and cut moulding and just glued it directly onto the mirror. It covered the clips, they were no longer visible. I used "GOOP" as the glue, and it held really well. One thing I noticed was that the wood got water spotted from the sink, so if you're going to paint the moulding(I painted mine gold), make sure you use a waterproof paint. Hope this helps.
if you're going to change the clips to another style, just extra "insurance'...
btw the description I posted was for installing-removing "hidden fastener" clips, which don't apply to your situation -sorry I misread the original post...
i was thinking that too....thanks for the reminder....
i'm not sure, but i would think that a mirror that size wouldn't just be held up by palsctic clips...there's probably adhesive behind there as well. so if that's the case then you could unscrew those clips without the mirror crashing down and slide the flat metal style clips in place and then frame it out as you planned. i think.
my only concern is cuz it's so big....6'X3.5'...that i will break it...make that i know i will break it...i'm hoping there is a way i can cheat and work around them
we had clips on one. He was able to take the mirror because the clips had screws in the middle so he just removed those. He built the frame and then glues the mirror back on the wall.
bottom clips get screwed onto the wall, the screw holes in the clip are probably just a standard round hole, so the clip can't move, screwed tight against the wall.
top clips get screwed onto the wall as well, but not as tightly, and the holes in those clips are elongated so the clips can be pulled a bit higher than required
mirror gets positioned onto the bottom clips, pushed against wall, then top clips get pushed down to secure the top portion of the mirror...
removal procedure is the same but backwards... beware of sharp edges on the mirror glass, and the 7 years of bad luck if it breaks... ;)
you might be able to do without the clips at all if you build your frame and router a rabbet (or is it a dado?) so the mirror is recessed behind the frame, then screw the frame solidly to the wall holding the whole thing in place, no clips required... patch screw holes with wood filler/wood plugs/whatever to hide screws, or make them part of the design
good luck with your project
There are some nice flat metal clips for mirrors you could use to replace the plastic ones. I'm sure a glass shop or hardware store could show them to you and tell you how to get them on an already hung mirror. It might take some wiggling and a helper, but you could do it I bet.
Otherwise your only alternative may be notching out the new frame for those other clips.
thanks i hadn't thought about that...those clips are annoying...like i said there is 6 of them...3 on the top and 3 along the bottom....
I framed out my bathroom mirrors, but didn't have to deal with the little clips as there weren't any.
I'm wondering if you could make little notches in the back of the frame to accomodate the clips?