For your convenience, this post has links to Amazon.
Mirrors are an essential part of every home that can be found everywhere from bedrooms and bathrooms to kitchens. Sometimes a misplaced or dropped item can lead to a broken mirror. Unless you want to buy a new one, you need to know how to fix a broken mirror.
Working with glass can be tricky, but fixing a broken mirror isn’t that hard.
Tip: Use a Glass Repair Kit for Small Cracks
If you’ve got just small dips or cracks, you will be able to get away with using a windshield repair kit.
For large projects, you’ll need glass glue as well as an artful endeavor. Which is a fancy way of saying it’s just a matter of practicing, paying attention to detail, and being careful. Read on for a step-by-step guide on how to repair a cracked mirror.
How to Fix a Broken Mirror
Things and Tools You Will Need
You’ll want to make sure you have the right tools at hand to make this job as easy as possible. Listed below are things you will need:
Glass glue or a Glass repair kit consisting of the syringe, curing film, stabilizer film, and resin adhesive
Stabilizer Film
Glass cleaner
Utility knife or razor blade
Paper plates
Cotton towels
Cut resistant gloves for handling sharp objects
How to Fix a Broken Mirror With the Stabilizer Film and Resin
Basically, you need to clean off the mirror, apply the stabilizer, add resin, and get it covered with a curing film. Once it cures, the curing film should be peeled off while the excess resin needs to be scraped off. Finally, use a glass cleaner to polish your mirror and it will look brand new.
This task can be divided into 4 parts:
1. Applying the stabilizer film
2. Filling the crack(s) with resin
3. Curing the resin
4. Polishing the mirror
Each of these parts consists of a few steps. Let’s break this down as simple as possible for you.
1st Part: Apply the Stabilizer
Step 1: (optional) Use Warm Water and Soap to Clean the Mirror
You’ll have to be careful with this step because you’re dealing with broken glass. If the mirror is generally clean, you won’t need to do this step.
However, if it has somehow gotten dirty, you’ll want to remove the debris so that the glue sticks better. Wear sharp glass-proof gloves and be careful when handling broken glass.
First, remove broken mirror pieces as well as any dust and dirt from the mirror with a cotton rag.
While there are many professional mirror cleaners on the market, you may also use a homemade cleaner, such as a blend of vinegar and water, to clean the mirror. Warm water and soap can also fit the bill very well.
- Soak a clean cloth in warm water with vinegar.
- If there is grease, apply a few drops of dish soap
- Remove dirt by wiping the broken area clean. There should be no dirt because the epoxy will stick better when applied.
- Collect any glass fragment that has come loose should be removed from the crack.
Step 2: Detach the Stabilizer’s Adhesive Backing
- Expose the adhesive of the stabilizer film by peeling off its backing with your fingertips.
- Make sure the stabilizer film doesn’t stick to itself since it will be useless.
Step 3: Apply the Stabilizer Film by Pressing It Over the Crack(s)
- At the crack edge, put a corner of the film on your mirror. Make sure the cracked area is covered completely. Maybe you will have to use two or more stabilizer films if one is not enough to cover the crack.
- Then apply the stabilizer film over the fracture by spreading it over the cracked area and ensuring that no air gets inside. That will prevent bubbles from developing beneath the film.
Tip: Do not remove and reapply the film. In addition to leaving behind sticky residues, it can make the stabilizer less sticky.
Step 4: Smooth It Out Using a Small Squeegee
Go back over the film from one end to the other to smooth it out and push out bubbles. The best ‘tools’ for this task are a smoothing tool kit or small squeegee.
Without these tools, you can also use your fingertips for a small project. Remove the air bubbles and creases could make the seal less tight.
2nd Part: Fill the Crack with Resin
Step 1: Get the Epoxy Resin and Fill Your Syringe with It
Most glass repair kits come with a container that contains resin. If it’s not included, you will have to use a plastic syringe.
After pushing the syringe plunger down, you need to place it into the resin. Then slowly fill your syringe and insert its tip through the film making sure it is positioned at the center.
Step 2: Apply It to the Crack
- Reach the area between the stabilizer film and the mirror surface with the syringe and inject the epoxy. Fill the crack(s) with epoxy resin by pushing down the plunger.
- This step should be performed for every cracked area if there are multiple cracks.
- After applying the resin, gently press the upper surface of the stabilizer film with your fingers. This will ensure that the epoxy sticks tightly to the cracks.
Step 3: Wait 15-30 Minutes to Let the Epoxy Harden
- Gently pull the syringe tip out of the film.
- Wait at least 15 minutes (it takes half an hour to get optimal results) to let the epoxy harden.
- Lay your mirror on an ideally flat surface and don’t touch it to give the resin time to dry.
3rd Part: Curing the Resin
Step 1: Remove the Stabilizer Film by Peeling It Away
Once the resin has dried and hardened, you’ll need to peel away the film.
- Lift the area where the edges meet with the fingernails making a smooth motion. Be careful. A segment of the stabilizer film can tear off if you use jerky or quick movements.
- If you cannot pry up and peel off the film with fingertips, use a putty knife or a razor blade for this purpose.
Step 2: Cover the Crack(s) With the Curing Film After Applying the Resin Over
If you must use several curing films, each of them should be treated with a drop of epoxy adhesive so that the whole crack is covered. This could be necessary in case of larger cracks.
- Apply a drop of epoxy over the mirror crack using the syringe.
- Press the curing film over this area. To cover the crack properly, the resin must be distributed evenly underneath the film.
- Smooth out the film with either a razor blade or your fingers.
Step 3: Leave the Resin to Cure
Bear in mind that it takes from 50 to 60 minutes for the resin to cure. Do not disturb the curing film during this time to let the resin completely cure. The specific curing time is typically mentioned in the resin packaging. If you want it to cure faster, take a fan and aim it at your mirror.
Step 4: Scrape off Excess Resin and Remove the Curing Film
Tip: Wear gloves while scraping off the epoxy. This will ensure that you don’t cut your fingers while performing this task.
- Once the resin has been fully exposed, you will have to remove it from the fixed section with a razor blade or a utility knife.
- Hold the knife/razor at an angle for the best results. Be very careful during this step to prevent another crack from developing on the mirror.
- Continue to scrape off the epoxy as long as the mirror surface gets entirely flat.
The Final Step: Polish Your Mirror with a Glass Cleaner
Lastly, you need to clean your repaired mirror with a vinegar solution or a glass cleaner.
Whatever you choose, spray it over the whole surface to polish the mirror thoroughly. Still, it shouldn’t be saturated with the cleaner.
Rub your mirror with a clean cloth until it’s devoid of any streaks and cracks. Did you make it? Well done!
FAQs About How to Fix a Broken Mirror
Can a Broken Mirror Be Fixed with Toothpaste?
As mildly abrasive stuff, toothpaste can do a good job of making the cracks less visible when in the right condition. However, it isn’t highly abrasive, so don’t expect a visible difference when it comes to broken mirrors.
How to Fix a Cracked Mirror or Screen with Baking Soda?
Make a paste by combining one part water with two parts baking soda. That should be put on a clean microfiber cloth. Then rub it slowly into the mirror/screen to fix it.
Can I Cover Cracks in My Mirror?
You can cover the cracks by painting the area around the mirror edges. To hide the cracks, try cutting and gluing glass borders. It can do the trick for cracks along the bottom and top of the mirror.
Takeaway
That was how to fix a broken mirror. Maybe you broke it accidentally or it was damaged when you moved into your current place. No matter what the reason, it won’t be a hassle to fix it if you follow the directions explained above.
How to Fix a Scratched Mirror Back
