Glass Mirror Removal
#1
09-05-07, 11:16 PM
Glass Mirror Removal
Any ideas on how to take a glass mirror off of a wall when it has been glued on? It is right next to the wall on both sides but there is a light fixture about 6 inches above it and it rests on the backsplash of the counter. I would like to replace it with a tri view mirrored medicine cabinet. Thanks for any help you can give me.
#2
09-06-07, 10:33 AM
Member
Remove the light fixture and try to get a piece of wood to go a few inches behind the mirror and pry gently every 6" across the top. You should feel the mirror move away from the wall. Continue this until you can pull the entire mirror away from the wall. Wear gloves and be careful. You didn't mention the size of the mirror.
#3
09-07-07, 12:55 PM
Take out your frustrations...
Sewsassy,
This may sound like strange advice, but if you don't plan to re-use the mirror, or it is in bad shape, maybe you should break it on purpose. In cases where the mirror is very large, heavily glued, or old, this can be safer than trying to remove it. Do try the tip from 'johnam' first if you can. If that doesn't work, or if the mirror cracks, abort and consider this approach.
If you deem that 'break it on purpose' is a good option for your case, do it this way:
Run several strips of masking tape all over it. (big x-shape patterns)
Tape a heavy tarp to the wall extending a couple of inches past the mirror on all sides. (NOT the thin 2 mil clear crap -- a heavy tarp that you would use to cover something outdoors.)
Wear EYE and HAND protection, and LONG SLEEVE heavy shirt.
Tap on the mirror near a top corner using a small hammer until you hear it break.
Continue to tap along the top edge, working your way down, breaking the mirror into little pieces.
Untape the top of the painters tarp and gently lean it away from the wall.
If you do this, the mirror will be in little pieces and most of it will end up inside the tarp. Leave the tarp taped at the bottom while you carefully scrape any pieces off the wall that are stuck. Carefully pull the tarp into a bundle and throw the whole lot into the trash.
This may sound like strange advice, but if you don't plan to re-use the mirror, or it is in bad shape, maybe you should break it on purpose. In cases where the mirror is very large, heavily glued, or old, this can be safer than trying to remove it. Do try the tip from 'johnam' first if you can. If that doesn't work, or if the mirror cracks, abort and consider this approach.
If you deem that 'break it on purpose' is a good option for your case, do it this way:
Run several strips of masking tape all over it. (big x-shape patterns)
Tape a heavy tarp to the wall extending a couple of inches past the mirror on all sides. (NOT the thin 2 mil clear crap -- a heavy tarp that you would use to cover something outdoors.)
Wear EYE and HAND protection, and LONG SLEEVE heavy shirt.
Tap on the mirror near a top corner using a small hammer until you hear it break.
Continue to tap along the top edge, working your way down, breaking the mirror into little pieces.
Untape the top of the painters tarp and gently lean it away from the wall.
If you do this, the mirror will be in little pieces and most of it will end up inside the tarp. Leave the tarp taped at the bottom while you carefully scrape any pieces off the wall that are stuck. Carefully pull the tarp into a bundle and throw the whole lot into the trash.
#4
09-08-07, 09:49 AM
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take some fishing line and slide it behind mirror and start pulling down so the line slices through the glue.
take some fishing line and slide it behind mirror and start pulling down so the line slices through the glue.
