Beveled 1/4" Mirror Parallax

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echavez123

echavez123

MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Joined
Jan 24, 2008
Posts
838
Loc
Las Vegas, NV
Beautiful mirror is 55" x 36" with 1" bevels. Installed at customer's home and customer noted the lines of the walls and objects reflected behind the viewer tend to parallax (bend) inward or outward as the viewer moves from left to right. This is apparent when viewing the mirror at a distance of ~20ft. If you get right up to the mirror, the parallaxing of lines is not apparent. For example, the reflection of the edge of the refrigerator looks like it is leaning to one side.

I contacted the glass supply co and had them make another replacement. Hung, tested and resulted in the same problem. First time, I thought perhaps I made the mirror too snug. Second time, I relaxed the fit. Same issue. I think it must be the mirror! The glass supplier says "he aint ever seen this ...".

Has anyone on the grumble had this problem?

I sold them a beautiful frame with a burl finish - look great, except the reflection itself. I have no choice but to demand reimbursement and find another vendor.

Help.
 
Another mirror vendor, I'm guessing?

A couple years ago, we had a lady come in and order to mirrors for her big bathroom, same frame, same size.
They went to hang them and she wanted them on opposite sides of the room. Then called to complain that she
could see the infinity effect in them. I don't know what she expected, but that's what mirrors do when they're
opposite one another. Not trying to connect this to your story, it just comes to mind.
 
I have done many mirrors, many even larger than that over the last few years.
These were for very high end clients where we would supply framed His and Her mirrors for the bathroom, mirrors for the guest baths, dining room mirror and dressing mirrors, the whole house basically.
We usually use 1 1/2" bevels and sometimes even a 2" bevel on the REALLY large ones. I don't think the bevel is the problem.
We get our mirrors from a local company that does the beveling to order and these are all 1/4" plate mirrors.
I have not seen the problem you are describing so I would have to believe there is something wrong with the mirror stock they are using.
Maybe it's not a perfectly flat surface on the glass to begin with, creating the distortion like a fun house mirror.
(wish I had a dollar for every time I've had a problem over the years where someone says "I've never seen THAT before").
 
shayla said:
Another mirror vendor, I'm guessing?

A couple years ago, we had a lady come in and order to mirrors for her big bathroom, same frame, same size.
They went to hang them and she wanted them on opposite sides of the room. Then called to complain that she
could see the infinity effect in them. I don't know what she expected, but that's what mirrors do when they're
opposite one another. Not trying to connect this to your story, it just comes to mind.
Click to expand...

That sounds like something from the Twilight Zone.
 
I think there is some distortion, either due to the way it is silvered, or perhaps the glass is not really flat. I have been studying other mirrors, and have noted, most of them have some irregularities, but acceptable.

When you charge a customer $750 for a mirror, they need to be perfectly happy with the results. I would expect the same.
 
How is it hung. If you used Z-Bar and the wall it is hung on is not flat the Z-Bar may be bending the mirror and frame ever so slightly. That would explain why it happened to both mirrors. If the wall has a bend and you used bar you may need to shim behind it with some washers to get it flat.
 
Are we talking 1/4" mirror??? sounds like 1/8" mirror. Never seen any distortion in 1/4"mirror including a 96X48 mirror I have in my own dining room
 
I had a wierd problem like this a while ago.

The mirror was around 80mm x 400mm, 4mm glass with a 25mm (1") bevel and a timber frame roughly 35mm wide by 20mm high. Same complaint - It was reflecting a ceiling beam and making it look curved. Inspecting it I found that vertical surfaces reflected true and horizontal ones were distorted.

First thought was the glass so I dismantled the frame, checked the glass and it seemed o.k. Next I looked closely at the frame and found that the top rail was slightly bowed - think about 3mm over its 800mm length.

New glass, new frame (all rails carefully checked for true) and one happy customer.
 
It is quite possible that a slight warp in one or more rails of the frame could create the distortion.

Also, did you try changing the vertical angle of the frame on the wall - that is, the depth of the bumpers?
 
Sounds like the mirror is being twisted slightly by the frame. It doesn't take very much. You don't notice it on anything that doesn't have straight lines. (Like a person). But any door frames, etc will lean.
 
What about refitting the mirror with Volara tape in the rabbet to provide some cushion and then fitting it with little to no pressure on the glass. This might mitigate the slight warp that the frame might be introducing.
:kaffeetrinker_2: Rick
 
Jeff Rodier said:
How is it hung. If you used Z-Bar and the wall it is hung on is not flat the Z-Bar may be bending the mirror and frame ever so slightly. That would explain why it happened to both mirrors. If the wall has a bend and you used bar you may need to shim behind it with some washers to get it flat.
Click to expand...

Good idea. Checked this by removing from wall and holding it while the customer viewed it. So, not the Z-bar.
 
wcox said:
Are we talking 1/4" mirror??? sounds like 1/8" mirror. Never seen any distortion in 1/4"mirror including a 96X48 mirror I have in my own dining room
Click to expand...

Yup - 1/4" mirror with 1" bevels.
 
I am looking into the structure of the frame itself, and considering trying volara tape. The second time around I did a relaxed fit on the backing. I suspect the rails may not be straight. But the best test would be to take the mirror out of the frame and test it naked! :smiley:
 
echavez123 said:
I am looking into the structure of the frame itself, and considering trying volara tape. The second time around I did a relaxed fit on the backing. I suspect the rails may not be straight. But the best test would be to take the mirror out of the frame and test it naked! :smiley:
Click to expand...


I prefer to be fully clothed when I hang customer's art...but to each his own.
 
A mirror 55 inches wide can distort if it's weight isn't supported evenly by the bottom rail of the frame. If it's only contacting at the corners, the weight in the middle can cause a sag - bowing out or in across the middle. If it's weight is carried by a hump in the middle again you can get bowing of the glass. It doesn't take much.

I had trouble with one where a warped stud caused a wallboard hump enough that it distorted on wall buddies - the wall buddies had to spaced out from the frame 1/4 inch.

Yes, the joys of hanging mirrors:

-evening light through a skylight and the bevel made a rainbow on the ladies face when seated for dinner.
-big mirror in a small bathroom with walls not 90 degrees to each other - everything seemed crooked as you walk in
-big mirror in 5 inch ornate gold frame and when the lady sat in her usual chair she was looking at the kitchen sink, dirty dishes and all
-no, I don't want to move the light, can't you cut a hole in the mirror?
-I don't want screw holes in the wall - I wonder if construction adhesive will make less mess when the mirror comes down.
 
echavez123 said:
But the best test would be to take the mirror out of the frame and test it naked! :smiley:
Click to expand...
I think professional etiquette would dictate that you at least wear a loincloth. :icon11:

Bandsaw said:
...a warped stud caused a wallboard hump...
Click to expand...
:icon19::icon19::icon19: (mind in gutter?)

-big mirror in 5 inch ornate gold frame and when the lady sat in her usual chair she was looking at the kitchen sink, dirty dishes and all
Click to expand...
If framers are now going to be responsible for the images people see when they look in their mirrors, then we are in real trouble. :faintthud:

:cool: Rick
 
Rick Granick said:
If framers are now going to be responsible for the images people see when they look in their mirrors, then we are in real trouble. :faintthud:

:cool: Rick
Click to expand...

Just frame a picture of a beautiful young woman and tell her it is a mirror. Should be good for a very nice tip.:thumbsup:
 
"If framers are now going to be responsible for the images people see when they look in their mirrors, then we are in real trouble."

So few people can actually envision a mirror on the wall, the view in the mirror after hanging is often a problem and an issue a framer needs to anticipate as a framer with a long term customer relationship ultimately is responsible and may have to find a solution.

Hmmm, the mirror would look really good hung over here on this wall.

The frame looks fantastic, how about a nice canvas instead of a mirror?

When a customer orders a big mirror as a decorating piece I send them home with a framed mirror to hold up and tell them to check the view in the mirror.

In the bathroom I suggest keeping the lid down.
 
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