Compare Mirror Removers
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Mirror removers chemically dissolve mirroring chemicals and metallic leaf applied to glass. We have not tested them on other substrates. |
2-Part Removers:
Silver Remover and Gold Remover are 2-part chemical solutions.
The separate chemicals have an indefinite shelf life. When they
are mixed together, they lose their effectiveness after about an
hour. Mix only as much as you need at one time. Mix equal amounts
of "A" and "B". Rinse the glass well after using to remove all
residue.
Stripping Commercial Mirrors:
Multi Strip removes the paint from most
commercial mirrors without leaving a waxy residue. Some other
paint strippers leave a waxy film on the glass. Remove the film
by washing the exposed metal layer with our concentrated glass
cleaner or acetone. Acetone is available at most hardware
stores.
Many commercial mirrors have a protective layer of copper over the silver. This layer looks gold or copper colored when you strip off the paint. Copper Remover removes the copper and leaves the silver intact. Gold and Galena Remover dissolve both copper and silver. Silver Remover dissolves only the silver.
Multi-layer Mirrors:
For multi-layer mirrors, such as galena over silver, dissolving
the bottom layer usually causes the top layer to lift off. Use
the remover designed to dissolve the bottom layer or use a
multi-purpose remover, such as Gold Remover, to dissolve both
layers at once. To learn more about creating a multi-layered
mirror see Metal Layers.
Pumice:
You can physically remove any mirror coating by rubbing it with a
paste of pumice and water. Our pumice
will not scratch the glass. Apply it with a damp cotton ball or
knit cotton fabric. Pumice offers a very simple way to "antique"
mirrors.
Silver Strip:
Silver Strip also known as Mirror Silvering Remover, is
hexavalent chromium. It is a "reportable substance" in any
quantity under EPA rules. We do not carry it.
Empty squares indicate that the remover had little or no effect on the metal.
| Aluminum Remover | Copper Remover | Galena Remover | Gold Remover | Silver Remover | |
| Aluminum Mirror | Best | . | . | . | . |
| Angel Gliding | . | . | Silver Only | Best | Good |
| Copper Mirror | . | Best | Good | Good | . |
| Galena Mirror | . | . | Best | Good | . |
| Gold Mirror | . | . | . | Best | . |
| Silver Mirror | . | . | Good | Good | Best |
| Aluminum Leaf | Good | . | . | . | . |
| Copper Leaf | . | . | . | Good | . |
| Gold Leaf | . | . | . | Best | . |
| Silver Leaf | . | . | . | Good | Best |
| Copper Protected Silver Mirrors | . | Copper Only | Good | Good | Silver Only |
