Building a Back Lit Mirror
2009/04/23 | Ramsin Khachi
1. Order your piece of mirror with the appropriate areas etched or sand blasted so the mirror silvering is removed
2. Prepare a piece of 3/4” MDF by cutting to size to fit in between the etched areas. Place in position and mark the outline with a pencil
3. Using RTV silicone (or other adhesive approved by mirror manufacturer) apply a liberal bead of adhesive over the entire surface to be covered by the piece of MDF
4. Let this piece cure in place over night. Now you have a backing that the hanging system and lights can be mounted to
5. Take another piece of 3/4” MDF and cut it into two pieces. This cut should be made at a bevel angle of approximately 30 degrees. Use one piece to secure to the back of the mirror using three screws. Make sure the screws do not penetrate too far and damage the mirror. Use a countersink or a larger drill bit to slightly set the screws into the surface of the MDF. Use the second piece to secure to the wall where the mirror is to hang. The piece on the mirror will hook into the piece on the wall.
6. Take another small scrap piece of 3/4” MDF and secure it to the bottom of the mirror back as a spacer.
7. Now you can secure strips of under-cabinet lights onto either side of the MDF backing so that the light shines through the etched areas and around the outside of the mirror. Make sure to use cable ties and small screws to secure the wiring into place. If you would like more light projecting out of the etched windows, size the back panel so that the lights get positioned exactly behind the etched windows.
8. To power the lights, you will have to have a Clock Receptacle installed in behind the mirror so that the lights can get directly plugged in. Make sure the receptacle circuit is on a switch so that it can be turned on and off without removing the mirror.
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