How to Repair Gilded Mirror Frames
Gilded mirrors add an entire new elegance and beauty to your room, giving it a royal appearance and catching the eyes of everyone who comes to your house. These sorts of mirrors have a frame inlaid with gold leaf and appear as if the entire frame has been made out of solid gold. Gilded mirror frames are very ornate and cracks, chips or missing chunks are easily visible on them. Any damage done to these mirror frames is very difficult to hide and ultimately you have to get it repaired. Repairing a gilded mirror can be performed at home but you will have to take certain care and precautionary measures to do the job. The easiest way to performing this task is to get a gilding kit and it will contain all the things required to restore the gilded mirror to its original look.
Instructions
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1
Open up the gilding kit and take out the primer. You will need a sable brush for this step. Soak the sable brush into the primer and gently apply it on the damaged area of the mirror frame.
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2
You will also need gold paint to cover up the discolouration areas of the frame but make sure you bring the paint colour matching the existing one on the frame, like an earth red or ochre yellow. Use a round sable brush to apply a fresh coat of paint onto the affected areas of the frame.
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3
You won’t need golden paint if the primer present in the gilding kit is already tinted a colour. This will serve the same purpose as the paint would.
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4
Take a piece of gold leaf from the kit and very gently press it onto the damaged surface of the mirror frame. Use the sable brush to push the gold leaf into the cracks present and smooth out the surface.
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5
Let sufficient time to the paint to dry completely before applying the adhesive to the frame. Again use the sable brush to apply a coat of sizing or adhesive present in the gilding kit, to the frame. You only need to focus the portions which need restoration and leave the rest of the area.
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6
Once the adhesive gets a bit dry, take another gold leave from the kit and press it onto the frame’s surface. Use a fan brush to push the leaf into the crevasses.
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7
Take a cotton ball and run the entire gilded frame surface with it. This will remove any wrinkles appearing on the frame. You will also need to apply a coat of sealant onto the new gold leaf afterwards.
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8
Apply a coat of antique finish onto the restored areas. This finishing polish can be found at art and crafts shops or framing supply stores.
