How to Repair a Crack on a Gilt Mirror Frame

Gilded mirror frames are ornate and made from wood, metal or stone. With a long history, dating back to 2300 BCE, gilding is created using pure gold, gold blends or gold paint coatings. If your gilded mirror is an antique, be careful when repairing cracks. Use traditional hide glue, or rabbit glue, for the best results. Hide glue works on top of any previous glue used in the gilding process, frame construction or previous repairs, so no need to scrape off old glue. Hide glue was used on all frames constructed before the 1940s and is preferred for restoration projects. It's easily found in craft, woodworking and hardware stores as well as online.

Things You'll Need

• Hide glue
• Canning jar
• Pot
• Thermometer
• Syringe with needle
• Painter's tape (optional)

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Soak 3 tablespoons of hide glue in 2 tablespoons of water, using a canning jar for a vessel. Leave the glue for several hours or overnight.

   • 2

     Set the jar in a pot of water and heat the water until it reaches 140 degrees F. Check the temperature with a thermometer regularly to ensure it doesn't go over 140 degrees F. Heat for three minutes until the glue is stringy when you handle it with a brush or fork.

   • 3

     Draw the glue into a syringe by placing the syringe nozzle into the glue and pulling the plunger up. Attach a needle to the syringe.

   • 4

     Inject the glue into the wood crack carefully. The glue will fill the crack, dry quickly and be invisible, and will be fully cured after 24 hours.