All About Sandblasting Mirrors

Today it is impossible to imagine a house or apartment without a single mirror. This element of the interior is always present in every room. The design decisions of the past have contributed to the creation of reflective canvases in different shapes and sizes. However, fashion trends have changed slightly today. Existing styles still require mirrors, but not in the usual design, but with a unique image that matches the interior of the room.

Sandblasting reflective surfaces makes the interior of any room a significant makeover. The most beautiful drawings on the mirror completely change the appearance of the room.

Sandblasting technology involves spraying abrasive particles or small grains of sand using a water or air stream, thereby forming notches on mirrors and other similar surfaces. This technology has found wide application in the field of furniture production, since many buyers, when ordering sliding wardrobes, want to have mirrored sliding doors with a decorative pattern. And they are often asked to give the picture a bronze tint.

A prerequisite for sandblasting mirrors is the presence of a stencil with the corresponding images. At the end of the work, the stencil is removed and the drawing is shown.

Thanks to modern technologies, the finished images are divided into several types:

• matte;
• glossy;
• multi-colored.

Further, it is proposed to familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of images obtained by exposure to sandblasting.

• Thanks to modern possibilities on the mirror surface, you can create not only small patterns, but also make up whole compositions.
• Due to the wide variety of templates and stencils, even the most fastidious customer will be able to choose the most suitable pattern that matches the interior of the room.
• Sandblasting images require little maintenance. It is enough to use a regular glass cleaner.
• A drawing applied in this way retains its beauty and primordiality for a long time.
• The finished images are insensitive to temperature fluctuations, they can easily tolerate high humidity.

Thanks to the development of the art of painting on reflective surfaces, it was possible to create several execution techniques, each of which has its own individual characteristics.

The masters colloquially call this technique "volumetric" or "curly". Regardless of the applied pattern, the finished image will resemble the shade of a snow-white sculpture. Volumetric sandblasting technology can be applied on both sides of the reflective canvas. Images on the amalgam side can be applied in different shades of enamel.

The simplest technology that does not require large costs. Its main principle is the harmonious combination of the classic sandblasting method and color spraying.

This technology allows you to create real works of art on reflective surfaces. Due to the glossy and matte base, the finished images seem airy, lightweight.

Craftsmen call this technology "cutting". Thanks to her, bright, clear drawings are created, in which special attention is paid to the drawing of small elements. The perfect way to decorate your interior with a three-dimensional and at the same time realistic image. The only but - it is very difficult to find a specialist who is fluent in the engraving technique. Indeed, in addition to the knowledge of using the apparatus, the master must have artistic talent.

This technique involves the use of deep, color and print technology.

Everyone knows that with the help of mirrors it is possible to visually enlarge the space of a room, and thanks to the presence of an unusual image, the room is complemented by exclusivity.

Furniture manufacturers report that the technique of photo printing has gained immense popularity lately. Especially often, such orders are made out as a gift for newlyweds or as a present for an anniversary.

In general, sandblasting technology for applying various images involves the use of fine sand. Its exit from the apparatus occurs due to the pressure of water or air, depending on the technical characteristics of the device. For the first time they started talking about sandblasting mirrors in the 19th century, and today this technology is an integral part of life. Moreover, sandblasting can handle not only mirrors.

When applying a pattern, we sandblast the abrasive particles to remove the upper thinnest layer of the mirror, forming a dullness in that place. On the one hand, it may seem that everyone can do this job. However, this is not quite true. Having no experience with sandblasting and not possessing certain skills, the probability that the mirror will be damaged is 100%. So, in order to save money, it is better to immediately find a good master.

Matting mirrors is done in several ways:

• on a specific site;
• full coverage of the perimeter of the reflective canvas.

When applying the image, sand of different sizes is used. Large grains make it possible to add volume and relief to the picture. Fine grains allow you to work out the elements of the image in detail.

It is very important to choose the right pattern that will reflect on the mirror surface. These can be the simplest pictures, for which it is enough to cut off 1 mm of the upper layer of the mirror. These include geometric shapes such as diamonds, triangles, squares, and stencils.

To create volumetric images, 3 mm of the upper layer of the mirror should be removed. Accordingly, the thickness of the mirror sheet itself must be at least 6 mm. In this case, it is appropriate to consider landscapes with a pronounced texture.

The most creative is the method of applying color images. Many color shades are allowed here, thanks to which it is possible to create landscapes or images of the animal world.

Composite images require several techniques. Only a real professional can cope with this work. But most importantly, the end result will exceed all expectations.

Any work requires the preparation of special tools and materials. This also applies to sandblasting the pattern on the mirror.

The role of the main material is given to the reflective surface. Sand is next in importance. This is not the only abrasive that can be used in the work, but it is considered the best. The main requirement for sand is uniformity.The sandy mass should not contain grains of different sizes; large grains of sand may cause cracks and even chips.

You also need to prepare a stencil. It is best to use vinyl wrap. This material adheres better than others to the mirror surface, thereby eliminating the possibility of image displacement. Unfortunately, vinyl stencils have one drawback - disposability.

Reusable templates are made of multilayer film or the finest metal. But even here not everything is so smooth. It takes a lot of time to create one reusable template. Yes, and the masters say that such stencils sin with defects at the edges of the images, which is unacceptable when working on small details of the picture.

Having dealt with the materials, you can go to the section of the required tools. First of all, you need a sandblasting gun. Inside it, sand and pressurized air are mixed.

A compressor is responsible for creating an air flow, which must also be at the master. For small work, a piston unit is quite suitable, and in large-scale projects it is best to use screw units.

In principle, sandblasting and a compressor are sufficient for work. However, do not forget that the protection of the master himself is important. For operators, a special ammunition with an autonomous oxygen supply has been developed. Without equipment, grains of sand will enter the operator's respiratory tract, and they are known to be harmful to humans.

For added safety, sandblasting chambers should be used. They are divided into 2 types:

• pressure - suppose the rapid ejection of the abrasive and the maintenance of the grains of sand in suspension;
• injection - equipped with a special pump that sucks in the abrasive released under pressure.

Next, let's get acquainted with the technology of creating an image on a mirror surface.

• A picture is selected, according to which the stencil will be drawn up.
• The finished template is fixed on the work surface.
• Depending on the conceived pattern, one-sided or two-sided processing of the mirror sheet begins. The traditional version involves applying the image only from the front side. If the image is applied from amalgam, it is necessary to first remove the coating from the reflective canvas.
• The stencil is removed.

The drawing turned out to be matte, but the main background remained mirrored.

Basically, the fair sex has questions regarding the care of the sandblasting image. In fact, everything is simple:

• use a soft sponge to wash the drawing;
• old stains can be removed with an alcohol-based cleaner;
• it is impossible that alkali or acids are present in the detergent;
• After removing the dirt, the residual moisture should be removed with a dry soft sponge.

From the tips presented, it becomes clear that the applied pattern should be looked after in the same way as the mirror itself.