In this tutorial, I will show you how to make a backlit mirror with your own hands. For a while I was looking for a finished mirror big size, but the prices for them bite, so I decided to make it myself.
There are not photos for every stage (I did not plan to write an article), but I tried to describe everything in detail and make sketches. Also, I didn't go into specific sizing calculations as they can vary greatly depending on the size of the mirror you want to make.
My mirror measures 114 x 76 cm.
Main stages:
- Frame manufacturing
- Installation of fluorescent lamps (very easy to replace with led strip)
- Making a decorative frame from a baguette
- Putting it all together
Materials:
- 2 x 30W fluorescent lamps (length approx. 910mm)
- 2 x 18W fluorescent lamps (length approx. 605mm)
- Beam or board for the frame
- Baguette or decorative profile for framing (I used maple board)
- Mirror
- Plywood
- Glue ( read the label! You need glue suitable for mounting mirrors)
- self-tapping screws
Stage 1: Sketch (drawing)
The basic idea is that there are two frames, one larger than the other. The smaller frame acts as a base for mounting the fixtures. A large frame (decorative) hides the lighting and electrics.
Stage 2: Base frame and Electrics
This is a very simple frame.
The side walls are long enough to fit lamps and chokes. Wide enough to be able to replace the lamps in the future when the mirror is mounted on the wall.
After the frame is assembled, it will be necessary to drill a few holes through which the wires will pass.
You can find how to connect a fluorescent lamp on the Internet. I'll give a fairly clear picture here.
Photo: http://electro.narod.ru The electrical part includes: lamps, chokes, starters, swivel sockets and swivel sockets with a starter holder, lamp clips, wires, a switch and a plug - you will find all this in an electrical shop.
In a good way, you need to include a capacitor in the circuit, but I did not do this. It is needed to compensate for reactive power (this reduces power consumption, increases the service life), the capacitance of the capacitor will help you choose it in an electrical shop, it depends on the inductor you are using.
You can use electronic chokes, then you do not need starters and capacitors, but they are much more expensive.
All this can be replaced with LED strip with power supply. It is much easier to work with it, although the brightness of the backlight will be lower. I did it the old fashioned way and therefore used fluorescent lamps, I would recommend you an LED strip.
Stage 3: Decorative frame (framing)
For framing I used 80x25mm maple board. You can use a cheap baguette (if you can find it) or any other board.
Making a framing board is as easy as 1,2,3 - as long as you have access to a stationary circular saw.
It is necessary to make two parallel cuts to make room for the mirror and plywood and a third cut to remove all unnecessary.
Here's a tip, once you've got everything set up for the first cut, make it on all the boards at once so you don't have to re-adjust everything for each board and ensures that the board surfaces match up.
Once you're done with the cuts, it's time for finishing.
First, we sand the surface with sandpaper number 220-240 to get rid of minor defects and burrs, then remove the dust with a rag (use an old T-shirt).
- One coat of wood conditioner
- Three coats of stain (color of your choice)
- One coat of varnish
Stage 4: Installing the mirror
Now it's time to screw the plywood sheet to the main frame (with lights) and attach the mirror to the plywood.
I cut the plywood 65mm larger (on all sides) than the base frame to hide all the electrical without darkening it too much.
I laid the frame on a sheet of plywood in the center, circled the frame with a pencil inside and out, then drilled holes between the resulting lines.
After that, I flipped everything together, made sure the holes were on the frame, and bolted the plywood to the frame with countersunk screws. Make sure the screw head is fully embedded in the wood. The mirror will be glued to this surface.
I cut a mirror of the required size from an old wardrobe mirror and glued it to the plywood with Liquid Nails.
Stage 5: Mounting
Almost done!
While the glue dries, we have time to assemble the decorative frame. To do this, it is necessary to cut down all the pieces of the profile at 45 degrees in order to dock them.
The trick is to attach the decorative frame to the plywood with self-tapping screws, but the self-tapping screws themselves are not visible. The simplest way to achieve this is to tighten the screws with reverse side plywood.
Just drill pilot holes in the plywood every 10 cm with a drill, place a decorative frame on top and fasten with small screws from the back so that they do not go through the decorative profile.
How do you hang a mirror now?
As you probably already imagined, the mirror assembly turned out to be quite heavy. To attach to the wall, I took a board 80x25, cut off 1/3 of the upper part at 45 degrees. Then I screwed the smaller piece to the mirror support frame and the larger piece to the wall. Look at the picture, I think it is clear from it.
That's all!
It took me about 20-25 hours to make over a couple of weeks. I think you can do it much faster. You can ask questions in the comments, I will try to answer them.
And it is not necessary to include a dimmer in the electrical circuit, you can simply set it to turn on and off. It all depends on your preferences. Assembly time takes approximately 5-6 hours.
What will you need
Materials:- - a mirror or a set of mirrors;
- - 2.5 m square dowel (10 x 10 mm);
- - assembly glue;
- - the material on which the mirror will be attached.
- - LEDs - preferably two times smaller in size than the thickness of the dowel. I used 20 pieces with a blue glow. Depending on the design of your mirror or your preferences, you can take more or less of them;
- - wires - not thick, which can withstand a voltage of 20 V. Usually, wires for connecting an acoustic system are suitable for this purpose;
- - power unit. I used a 4.5V adapter with 400mAh;
- - solder.
- - fee;
- - transistor;
- - photoresistor.
If you want the mirror backlight to glow a little when the main lighting is turned off, then you need a resistor. Before I found an option that would work, I had to try a lot of resistors. I'm not too well versed in the components of electrical networks, so in a simple way I tried everything in a row until I got the desired result.
We start manufacturing
First, cut the dowel into 10 separate segments. My mirrors are about 30 cm in size, so I made cuts of 15 cm each.
I worked with 4 mirrors. The top had two dowel side pieces and one top piece. The two mirrors below had only two side mirrors, because the light would not be visible if it was directed upwards at the adjacent mirror. And the bottom mirror will have two side elements and one bottom.
Ideally, you need to mark the place of cutting, and at what angle you will do the sawing.
If there is time, then the dowel should be cut at an angle of 45 degrees so that they adjoin perfectly to each other.
Drill holes and insert LEDs
Now, if your light bulbs have some kind of frame, then you can use it. If not, then the normal option would be to insert LED lamps into the tree.
Clue: Do not glue them until you are sure that the light is distributed correctly, otherwise you will get an ugly picture.
Now we drill holes in the tree, they should be symmetrical. Don't forget to put something under it, otherwise you will plunge the drill into your favorite table. I used an electric drill box.
So that the dowel was securely fixed and did not scroll during operation, I tightened it with a clamp.
After making the holes, insert the LEDs into them.
But it's too early to glue!
Important: I forgot to take a picture of this, but you'll need another hole in the middle for the wire from the power supply, and another one next to it for the photoresistor. Based on aesthetic preferences, I put the power supply wire in the center, and the photoresistor - to the side.
Clue: How to solder LED lamps without cutting wires
Cut the plastic insulation of each wire, but without violating the integrity of the strands.
Using your nails (if you have them), force the plastic apart at the incision site, thus exposing a short gap of veins.
Capture inner part wire cutters.
Without biting off the core, pull it out a little.
This job can make you sweat. For me, this method of parallel connection seemed the fastest and best.
Solder the LEDs.
Remember: LED lamps only work with a certain connection, so before you solder, make sure everything works.
Soldering lamps and gluing wood
Make a mark on how deep you will seat the bulbs. They should not stick out from under the mirror. I fastened them 7 cm deeper than the edge.
This work may seem tedious, but by turning on your favorite song you will not notice when everything is already done. Do not forget to test the lighting performance by paying attention to the angle of incidence of the rays from the lamps.
If you have one-color wires, then you can make some marks on one for the difference. For LEDs, one lead is longer than the other, so you can distinguish the cathode from the anode.
You can come up with something like a rule: "a wire with a strip goes to the long terminal of the diode."
Although this is not visible in the photo, I had an inscription on one wire.
When applying glue, do not pour it too much, because when pressed, wooden structure can swim. For pressing wooden frame I put other mirrors on it. In the meantime, he continued to solder LEDs for them.
The wire must go from one mirror to another.
Adding Connection Elements
You may need to remove the mirror from the wall sometime, then let it not take long. In order to be able to fix the mirrors one at a time, they must be connected to each other using connectors.
For convenience, I glued one of the connector elements to the mirror.
Examination
We have done most of the work on the project, so it's time to check how everything works. Check the power supply on one lighting element. If suddenly the power supply is too powerful, then not all the lamps will burn out.
How to know if the adapter power is too strong?
If the light is bright at first and then dims, then most likely you have ruined the lamp.
If the light is first emitted, and then the lamp goes out, then it has burst. In this case, the LED may become hot, turn black, or its shell may be broken.
If the light remains bright, then everything is fine, but if the LED lamp heats up, then you are overloading it. The heat emitted by such light elements should be negligible or imperceptible.
If you build an electrical circuit with a soft dimming element, then the brightness level of the lamps can drop by 20-30%. This must be taken into account.
Below is a photo of what it should look like. Pay attention to how the connection from one mirror to another is arranged.
So, after everything is soldered and glued, we move on to the next step.
Makeup and mirrors with built-in LED backlights are becoming more popular due to several reasons: futuristic design, ease of care, lack of visible (external) lights. If it was not possible to find a ready-made illuminated mirror on sale, having the right dimensions, shape or other required parameters, then it can be made independently, while saving a significant amount of money.
To make a mirror with built-in LED lighting with your own hands, we need:
1. Custom-made mirror in a glass workshop with partially removed amalgam by sandblasting and, if necessary, holes for fixing the mirror to the wall.
2. Light-emitting diode (LED) tape of the required length, power and degree of moisture protection.
3. Power supply for LED strips of suitable output characteristics and external dimensions.
4. Connecting wires with a cross section of about 0.5 sq. mm for connecting the tapes to the power supply, and a ready-made plug with a wire for connecting the power supply to a 220-volt outlet.
5. Aluminum U-profiles for assembling light boxes, as well as strips of white plastic or aluminum for reflective screens.
6. Contact adhesive of the "Moment" type or a special one that does not destroy the amalgam.
The finished sandblasted mirror is usually sealed at the back with a PVC film (self-adhesive). If the film does not adhere well, it must be removed and a non-amalgam-destroying adhesive applied.
We cut a roll of LED strip into segments of the desired lengths. You can cut the tape only in the places indicated by the corresponding icon on it. We prepare wires for connecting pieces of tape to the power supply.
We choose an LED strip with a power of 7 W / m - this is more than enough in this case.
We connect in parallel, as shown in the diagram below. All connections are recommended to be made by soldering. Before gluing, we check the circuit for operability by turning on the power supply to the 220 volt network. The power of the power supply, measured in watts, must be greater than the total power of all sections of the tapes (the power of the tapes is usually indicated per meter of its length). The power supply must have an output voltage equal to the applied tape. The most common LED strips are twelve volts. If the mirror is to be used in humid areas, such as a bathroom, then the power supply, LED strips and their connections (soldering) must be protected from moisture.
We assemble the light box. With the help of contact glue, we glue pieces of an aluminum profile on the back surface of the mirror covered with self-adhesive, and glue the LED strip on the side surface of these profiles opposite arcs to each other. There should be some distance from the LED strip to the transparent amalgam-free sections of the mirror so that the lighting is more uniform and individual burning LEDs are not noticeable. We close the boxes with plastic overlays (a corner from a hardware store, cut along), screwing them to the profiles with small self-tapping screws. All wiring and power supply can be fixed to the mirror with hot glue.
An illuminated dressing room mirror is the dream of most women. It not only contributes to the creation perfect makeup, but also helps to feel like a movie star. The only drawback of such mirrors is the rather high price, but the features allow you to make it yourself at home.
Features and types
A make-up mirror with lights around the perimeter, sometimes called a Hollywood or makeup mirror, helps to create a high-quality make-up and appreciate the whole image. Other features include:
- unusual and attractive appearance;
- versatility. Initially, such mirrors were supposed only in the dressing room of artists, but now they are often used in apartments. At the same time, this item can be chosen for any interior;
- mobility. Today, such mirrors can be used separately from the dressing table and transferred from one place to another;
- The variety of colors and types will allow the mirror to find its mistress.
The main types are rectangular, square, round mirror, and a special place is occupied by a mirror to the floor. Classic option It is customary to consider a rectangular or square makeup mirror measuring 50x50 cm. If the dimensions of the room allow, then you can pick up a larger mirror.
It is important not to overdo it with the choice of size. Otherwise, from a harmonious and compact object, it can turn into a ridiculous room accessory.
Despite the classically accepted form, more and more often oval or round shape. They will create comfort and look more aesthetically pleasing. Such models will harmoniously look in any interior.
A mirror on the floor helps to carefully examine the entire image from head to toe. The backlight will reveal imperfections in the image that cannot be seen under normal lighting. This model will find its place in the apartment high-tech style, loft, minimalism. Especially if the frame is in black, white or steel.
Such models can be found in a retail or online store, but often their prices are high. Then you can create a make-up mirror with your own hands.
Stages of creation
To make a Hollywood mirror, you will not need many tools that can be easily found both at home and in the store:
- directly the mirror of the desired size;
- wooden bars to create a frame;
- drill, pliers, screwdriver, bolts;
- light bulbs and cartridges for them;
- dye;
- sandpaper, measuring tape and industrial double-sided tape;
- copper wire and a wire plug.
In the manufacture of a reflective masterpiece, safety rules must be observed, in particular, the selected shoes and clothing. It is better to choose clothes without unnecessary details, locks, zippers, and shoes with rubber soles, as you will have to work with electricity.
After necessary materials collected and taken into account wishes for safe clothing, you can start the process:
- Make-up mirror frame. You will need two bars of wood (you can choose a different material, but wood is more reliable and easy to assemble and dismantle), which are cut to the size of the mirror. It is necessary to saw the bars in such a way that their ends are 45 degrees. The resulting parts should be carefully processed with sandpaper so that their surface becomes smooth. For reliability, the mirror can be fixed in the frame with industrial tape.
- Making holes for light bulbs. In the frame made, we make marks for future light bulbs at the same distance. A measuring tape and a drill will help in this matter.
- Frame painting. After the surface has gained perfect smoothness and the necessary holes, you can begin the creative process. Traditionally, it is customary to paint the frame in plain colors. classic tones: white, black, grey. Depending on the preferences of the owner and the interior of the room, the frame can be painted in various shades. After the paint has dried, it is necessary to cover the frame with varnish to fix the effect.
- Creating lighting. You will need to divide the wiring into equal sections - about 15 cm, and separate the white wire from the blue one. Bring them into the holes, so that in the end you get 2 blue and white wires in one hole. Next, you should take the cartridges for the bulbs and connect them to the wiring, observing the color and the required side of the cartridge screw. After that, you can fix the cartridges on the frame with bolts.
- Connecting the wire plug. In this case, it is important to observe the color matching of the wires. You will need to connect one end of the wire to the holder of the first lamp, and connect the other end to the plug.
After that, the mirror is considered ready, and it should be used in action.
Before you start working on a mirror surface, you should consider some rules and tips, to make the product perfect:
- in the lighting manufacturing process, it is better to use several fuses. This will significantly extend the life of lighting fixtures;
- give preference to LED lamps, as conventional lamps begin to heat up during long operation. Professional makeup artists and make-up artists work with just such lamps to create high-quality makeup;
- not the best option is the use of fluorescent lamps. Since their light distorts the makeup, making it flawless. Under normal lighting, all the flaws and shortcomings of makeup made in the light of such lamps will be revealed;
- Before buying lamps, you should carefully consider their color. Cold lighting lamps brightly highlight all the bumps and imperfections of the skin, which is necessary for their best masking. Warm lighting, on the contrary, muffles irregularities, and is more pleasant and comfortable for the eyes;
- the choice of the number of bulbs is individual, but it is worth remembering that two lamps should be located at face level. This will allow you to better examine your image;
- when positioning the mirror, create a comfortable distance between it and the person.
A dressing room mirror with lighting is not necessary to buy, it can be created at home. This will result in an individual and unique product, created according to your own design and presentation.
For a good example of how to make a make-up mirror with your own hands, see the following video.
It is impossible to do without a mirror in a modern apartment. You can find hundreds of models of this desired item in stores. There are even instances various types illumination. The backlight itself is most often a purely decorative attribute, especially in the bathroom. But sometimes it also performs practical functions. Decorative lighting is built into the mirror. Functional - illuminates the person in front of him. Factory-made mirrors are quite expensive and do not always meet the aesthetic preferences of consumers. In this case, a backlit mirror can be made by hand.
Backlight Options
There are several lighting options:
- Installation of outdoor spotlights. A spotlight is a spotlight that can be rotated from side to side on a specially designed bracket. It can be single adjustable lamps, light sconces of small size. They are able to illuminate the person at the mirror, some part of the bathroom.
- A backlight that illuminates the person standing in front of him, his face. Here, modern LEDs often perform the function of lighting devices. Their light is softened by the frosted glass built into the mirror. Most often, such lighting is installed in mirrors, made in the form of a small cabinet.
- Placement of illuminators behind the rear wall of the mirror. They perform a decorative function. LEDs illuminate the mirrored glass, giving it an unusual appearance. At the same time, illuminated mirrors of this type serve as decoration for the bathroom interior.
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DIY backlighting
Making a backlight for a finished mirror with your own hands is a fairly simple task. For work you will need:
- electric jigsaw;
- screwdriver;
- screws;
- ruler;
- screwdriver;
- metal corners;
- glue;
- electric wires;
- light bulbs;
- bulb holders;
- mirror glass;
- thick plywood or processed board.
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Work order:
- By the size of the mirror, you need to assemble a frame from boards about 90 mm wide and 20-25 mm thick with glue and screws to accommodate all the details. The ends of the boards are cut with a miter box at an angle of 45 °. Connections are further strengthened metal corners. The mirror should fit freely into the frame, leaving room for light bulbs along the edges.
- Holes are drilled in the sides of the frame according to the size of the cartridges, which are glued with glue.
- A frame is glued from thin rails according to the dimensions of the main frame. It should cover the wires with front side products and fix the mirror glass in the main frame.
- Furniture corners are attached to the main frame with small screws. A mirror will be placed on them.
- All parts are assembled into a single design and painted in the desired color along with the cartridges. The mirror in the frame is additionally fixed with thin blocks.
- Cartridges are connected to each other in parallel electrical wires. The power cord is connected to the wires and brought out through a specially drilled hole.
- It remains to screw the bulbs and check the operation of the product. At the back, the entire structure can be closed with a piece of plywood, which is fastened with small nails or screws. It turns out something like the one in image No. 3. The illuminated mirror is ready.
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Other backlighting methods
Image 3. Behind the mirror is closed with plywood, fastened with screws.
You can make an illuminated mirror in many other ways. Many homeowners simply mount several lamps on the wall, which can have a different shape and design. They are installed above the mirror, along its edges. LED strips are often used as lighting elements. It looks very impressive, brings novelty to the interior due to several color options.
Such illumination is performed simply. To do this, you need to purchase a special aluminum profile, insert an LED strip into it and put the profile with the tape on the mirror from the right side. Next, the tape is connected to electrical network through a dedicated power supply. The mirror itself can be glued to the wall with liquid nails or other mirror adhesive.
To achieve a functional effect, you can purchase and install spots. With their help, directional lighting is achieved in the right places in the room.
In similar ways, you can decorate cosmetic mirrors standing on dressing table. They are sure to please ladies who take care of themselves.
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Making mirror glass with your own hands
Mirror glass of any size and shape can be made by yourself. The process consists of the following steps:
- You need to pick up a smooth glass and give it the necessary shape. Then wash it thoroughly and degrease it with a 15% solution of caustic potassium.
- Lower the prepared glass into a container with warm distilled water.
- Prepare a solution consisting of 30 g of distilled water and 1.6 g of nitrogen silver. A 25% ammonia solution is added dropwise to it. After the precipitate disappears, stop adding ammonia and add distilled water to the solution in an amount of 100 ml. Next, you need to take 5 ml of 40% formalin and mix it with the previous solution.
- The glass is removed from distilled water and transferred to a clean cuvette, which is filled with the previously obtained chemical solution. A reaction will start and end in about 2 minutes. After its completion, the mirror is washed with clean distilled water. After washing, it is placed vertically and dried. The drying temperature is 100-150°C. Dried mirror glass is varnished. Now you can start making a homemade backlit mirror.
A mirror, and even with a backlight, can visually make a room wider and taller, improve its overall lighting, and give it a completely new look. Such a mirror is appropriate in any room, but more often it is installed in the bathroom. This very important and necessary household item can be supplemented with shelves made of glass and other materials. The placement of various cosmetic products on them creates additional convenience for using these products.
Knowing the basic principles of manufacturing such structures, you can turn on your imagination and create completely unique items using modern lighting fixtures.
The size of a backlit mirror can vary from the most modest to occupying the entire wall. Sometimes they are even placed on the ceiling. Unusual view able to give neon and LED lights, unusual frames and other accessories. LED strips different color capable of long and reliable operation with significant energy savings.
