Positioning Mirrors/Glass

Shayla

WOW Framer
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Just received a mass e-mail from a supplier encouraging mirror framing. Something to remember when displaying mirrors is to avoid hanging them where sunlight can reflect and burn other objects. A local docent at a local library turned art gallery was once surprised to smell smoke and followed her nose. In a small room, a mirror had been reflecting for who knows how long onto a wooden room panel. The spot where it had been hitting was charred black and smoking. They were surprised and thankful to have found it before a fire. Another time, my previous employer sat several art glass paperweights on fine synthetic netting on our windowsill. After a few days, I thought to check for damage, and reflected sunlight through one globe had melted a hole in the mesh.

The one other funky time we had with mirrors was when a customer asked the shop to hang her newly framed mirrors across from one another in the bathroom. My employer did as she asked, and later got a call complaining about their infinity effect. She had known it would happen, but thought the customer wanted that effect. Turned out, not so much.

Feel free to add any other mirror/glass thoughts.
 
I can understand the paperweights, but a flat mirror? I would have thought it would have to be concave and I've
never seen a concave mirror (telescopes apart). Maybe it's a chance rediscovery of Archimedes Death Ray. :eek:

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...never seen a concave mirror (telescopes apart). Maybe it's a chance rediscovery of Archimedes Death Ray. :eek:...

Uh, Peter, The biggest one of all...

walkie[1].jpg
 
I can understand the paperweights, but a flat mirror? I would have thought it would have to be concave and I've
never seen a concave mirror (telescopes apart). Maybe it's a chance rediscovery of Archimedes Death Ray. :eek:

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I've watched one minute and forty seconds of the clip, but have to get back to work. I'll watch more at snack time. I don't know anything about concave mirrors, but I do know that sunlight reflecting from a flat one can cause damage. Around 1970, my mom smelled smoke in the car and looked up. She'd had her compact makeup mirror on her lap, and sunlight bouncing off had melted a hole in the roof fabric. I could have watched more of your clip instead of writing these sentences, but am saving it for later.
 
...but I do know that sunlight reflecting from a flat one can cause damage. Around 1970, my mom smelled smoke in the car and looked up. She'd had her compact makeup mirror on her lap, and sunlight bouncing off had melted a hole in the roof fabric...

I'd bet that the mirror was a slightly concave magnifying mirror. The Sun's reflection from a flat mirror is no different that direct sunlight.
 
Back in the 90s we purchased a brass and glass covfefe table. It was placed in the living room on an expensive wool rug. One day I spotted what looked like a cigarette burn in the rug. I don't smoke but with a teenage son and friends who knows who the culprit was. We all yelled at each other :) A week later a second burn, another yelling session, rug was now a goner and a mystery. Days later I noticed that when the sun was in the right position it hit the thick beveled glass top and focused on the floor, just like a magnifying glass. Mystery solved, table was moved and I'm lucky the house didn't burn down.
 
Back in the 90s we purchased a brass and glass covfefe table. It was placed in the living room on an expensive wool rug. One day I spotted what looked like a cigarette burn in the rug. I don't smoke but with a teenage son and friends who knows who the culprit was. We all yelled at each other :) A week later a second burn, another yelling session, rug was now a goner and a mystery. Days later I noticed that when the sun was in the right position it hit the thick beveled glass top and focused on the floor, just like a magnifying glass. Mystery solved, table was moved and I'm lucky the house didn't burn down.

So glad you were all safe. This thread has been interesting, as I never knew it was difficult for a flat mirror to start a fire. Helpful to know though, that, as with your beveled table, bevels and curvature change the dynamic.

I just asked Hubby if he thought a flat mirror could start a fire. He said, 'I highly doubt that a flat mirror would start a fire. Unless it were a woman glaring at her husband, but in that case, you don't need the mirror'.

This 'mirror/fire' thought has come to mind before, when I've pondered including one in in a shadowbox. Good idea to make sure it's safe.
 
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