DIY Mercury Glass with Vinegar and Water

DIY mercury glass is easy to make and you only need a Looking Glass spray paint and a water and vinegar mixture. That’s it. It’s very easy to make your own mercury glass type glassware. I have an antique mercury glass mirror that I got for $40 years and years ago and I simply love that look of an old mercury glass piece of goodness! Mercury glass is also referred to as “silver”.

Today I’ll be demonstrating how are you can create your own DIY style of mercury glass as they did back in the day but for a fraction of the cost. Please read on and watch the video.

I will be showing you how with just vinegar, water, and a can of Looking Glass how you can make your own mercury style looking glass. It literally takes less than five minutes per project. While you are at it, make a few, so when you need that quick gift, you will have them already made.

DISCLAIMER: Throughout this post and video, when mercury glass is mentioned, it is in reference to a faux mercury glass technique. It is not the original way that mercury glass was made a long time ago. 

What is real mercury glass?

Do you want to see more, read what WIKI has to say about Mercury Glass HERE And, don’t forget Martha who introduced me to mercury glass. You can find Martha’s link HERE.

Materials needed to make mercury glass

• Krylon Looking glass silver spray
• Spray bottle
• Filtered water
• Vinegar
• Cotton paper towels
• Covered workspace

Always start out with a washed and dried clean jar. Do not use anything that leaves a residue. If the jar has a sticker or a marker, use isopropyl alcohol to remove the residue and or the marker.

In a spray glass jar, preferably not plastic put 50% water and try to use filtered water so it doesn’t leave any extra spots or residue and 50% white vinegar. Only use white distilled vinegar, do not use cider vinegar. As cider vinegar, many times will have sediment in it and it will clog your spray nozzle.

Steps to make mercury glass

• Glass items washed and dried
• Spray bottle filled with 50% water and 50% white distilled vinegar
• Give this a good shake to mix the solution
• If you want the bottom of your project sprayed with mercury glass it is best to do that first
• If you do not want any mercury glass to be inside of the glass, ensure you tape with painters’ tape and for extra precaution add a plastic top
• Let the process dry thoroughly approximately 3 to 5 minutes before continuing to the next step

Pre-thought to mercury glass

• Decide which way you would like the runs to run
• Do you want the runs to run from the top to the bottom or do you want to flip the glass over and run from the bottom to the top?
• I normally always will spray so that the runs run to the bottom of the glass
• If it is super-hot out and you were in the sun, you’ll have to work very fast I highly suggest not working in the bright sun
• It is best to work in the early morning in the summer or late evening in the summer
• You will also have to decide if you were going to be placing water in the vessel then you will not be spraying the inside
• If you are spraying a vase as I did in the video, you will need to spray the outside only of the glass
• If you were going to be spraying a glass door for a cabinet then you will want to spray the inside glass so you can still wash the outside of the cabinet glass if it gets soiled
• I am not sure if you can wash the mercury glass. I have wiped the sprayed glass with a damp paper towel and the color has never come off
• Do not spray the mercury glass mixture in a vessel that you will be drinking out of on the inside or near the top of the finish where your lips will touch

Steps to begin the mercury glass process

• Spray the glass with a 50-50 mixture of filtered water and white distilled vinegar
• Do not saturate, as if you were going to wash it
• It is always best to start out with less, you can always increase more water/vinegar solution
• While the glass is wet, dripping and running, apply a coat of Looking Glass
• Ensure to shake the can very well each time you spray
• A lighter coat is very translucent and gives a little bit coverage
• A heavier coat will give you a mirror-like finish as a true mercury glass that is my personal preference

Dabbing off the Looking Glass spray

• With a very soft and crinkled up lip free paper towel, very gingerly dab off some of the water bubbles that have the Looking Spray paint on it
• If you take off too much you can always go back and re-spray with the 50-50 mixture and reapply more Looking Glass spray
• Do not ever wipe it; only blot gingerly
• It is best to do several pieces at once this way by the time you get done with the last one you can circle back and reapply more mixture and Looking Glass spray
• I have never achieved the perfect looking glass on the first spray, it takes at least two minimums, up to three and four applications before the perfect look is achieved

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WbaNoLB230[/embedyt]

Inspecting mercury glass color

• The color will look different outside in the bright sunlight versus inside a less bright area
• Always bring the sprayed glass in the house under normal lighting and you will see that it does look darker inside than outside before deciding to keep spraying
• I suggest starting out with pieces of glass from a thrift store, Dollar store, or something around your home that you would not care if it did not come out to your liking
• Once you do one or two you will always know how to do it! It is very easy and very forgiving
• It is recommended having two cans on hand because when you pull out a table full of glass that you want to start applying a mercury glass to there’s nothing worse than running out and I find that I will always use an extra cantering the year so it doesn’t go to waste and it’s very inexpensive
• A whole door was given a mercury glass finish in my blogging room, it will not be outside in the elements, so that is safe to do
• I have items from over 10 years ago that have never lost their color and they look as good as the day I made them
• If you apply too heavy of a coat it could actually peel as spray paint would

Safety precautions working with spray paints

For safety reasons always do this project outside down win in a well-ventilated area. Do not have your pets near and ensure it doesn’t downwind spray on your vehicle if you’re doing it in the driveway like I was doing.

Follow the safety precaution when storing the looking glass spray as it is highly flammable as is all spray paints. Make sure you use the proper PPE ‘s such as nitrile gloves and safety glasses.

What can be made into mercury glass?

• Vases
• Jars
• Spice jars
• Glass doors
• Cabinet doors
• Ornaments
• Lanterns
• Chandeliers
• Bath jars
• Mason jars
• Any type of glass jars with clear glass

Gifts to make and give with mercury glass projects

If you are always looking for a quick gift this is a procedure to do. I always have at least a dozen jars are given a mercury glass look. Through the years I save special baskets that I got on sale or at the thrift store that I will use for those “last-minute gifts”. It literally will take me less than five minutes to throw a gift together

More ideas to use with mercury glass

I have a blog post and a video on making your own beard oil. If you would be interested in making gifts for the man in your life, Mercury glass is for everyone. My son loves the look of mercury glass. If you’d like to know “How to make your own beard oil and save” check them out!

I love to dehydrate fruits and veggies. I will take dehydrated food such as pumpkins and carrots and use them in mercury glass jars that I made as gifts. Dehydrate foods naturally using a dehydrator is full of information that I have composed over the last few decades, stop by and check it out.

Even though at the time of this writing, Christmas was last month but it is never too late to start making mercury glass Christmas ornaments. They are beautiful and so easy to make. Many craft stores carry them in stock all year long!

If you would like a stocking pattern after around the holidays, I have a PDF printable for Farmhouse and Primitive Christmas Stocking Patterns that you can download right at the blog, no password needed!

As I do reveal room by room you will see how many more times, I have made mercury glass projects. I think you’ll be surprised! I am so excited and I cannot wait to show you in the next coming months!

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