How can I reuse or recycle broken mirror fragments?
We’ve already covered whole mirror tiles but Claire has asked:
Can a broken mirror go in the glass recycling bin?
I suspect not – most glass banks I’ve seen stipulate they can only take standard bottles and jars, not sheet glass or pyrex or the like.
While there is obviously a safety concern (wear tough gloves, be careful), you could reuse the pieces in crafts and around the home. Like the whole mirror tiles, big pieces made safe could be used to reflect more light around the greenhouse or garden, hand-size pieces could be used for pocket mirrors (I’ve seen pictures of people who’ve used foam or soft modelling clay around the back/edges to make them safer and more durable) and little pieces can be used for mosaics.
Any other suggestions?
The bigger pieces could be edged like Louise suggested, then put in your chicken pen to entertain the chickens, or if you keep guinea fowl put it in a place they will find.
Can you say “mosaic time”? =D
I accidentally stepped on a framed 8″x10″ mirror and would not throw it out (bad luck). So I used the lines of the cracks in the mirror to create a picture. My creation turned out to be a beautiful flower with a butterfly in the center.
Learn how to cut those small pieces into uniform sizes and shapes and use them for really cool arts and crafts projects! You’ll need that really cheap tool they use for cutting mirror tiles, as well as an edge file (I use a plain old rock). Obviously, you also need a good strong pair of gloves, and I cannot stress this enough; USE SERIOUS EYE PROTECTION GEAR
AND TAKE EQUAL PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID BREATHING IN GLASS DUST!!!!
The coolest thing I ever made using pieces of broken mirror tiles was this; an old fashioned kaleidescope. If you commit yourself to making just one of these the old fashioned way (Think: STURDY and QUALITY, as opposed to cheap imported junk from Asia) you’ll have a really neat gift for some lucky kid come Christmas, or a birthday perhaps. Have fun.
I get excited when a mirror breaks because I am a nutty one- I buy up all of the solar light kits for walkways when the summer season ends, last year I found 40 for $55.00 and then I save all of my sauce jars. I use the parts of the light post things for watering pots, building marble runs for the kids and take the top solar grid and LED and fit it to a mason jar. When a mirror breaks or I get tired of those crystal teardrops on my mother-in-laws last gift (1970’s brass 200lb. light thing) I take then and put them in the jars toss in a couple of odd things that I have saved because of the color (broken jewelry, pennies, obsidian) and it makes brighter lights that refract like a kaleidoscope. I charge them in my window seals and last year during a long winter power out, I loaned one to all of my neighbors and it looked like we all had porch lights. Just a word- LED lights do not get hot, if you use regular bulb or just not too “bright” charge placement, you could burn a hole through something.
Hi
I really enjoy the creative idea you have for makeing a kelidascope/solar light from a mason jar.
Where do you get the solar panels and can you send me a picture so I have a better idea of what I am doing.
Thank you so much,
Heather
ferwerda_07@yahoo.com