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Peter Jaquith · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject: Small Chippendale Mirror #0032

I recently completed Bartley's Small Chippendale Looking Glass #0032 in curly maple. This is a handsome reproduction piece with beveled glass. I followed Bartley's instructions for application of Aniline dye, and was very pleased with the results.

The following construction notes apply:
>>> I had a small defect in the miror, which was quickly replaced by Bartley without a question (excellent customer service)
>>> I chose to water treat and sand all pieces prior to assembly
>>> I finished the upper and lower fretwork before attachment to the frame (as recommended)
>>> My finishing steps included wiping with fresh water to raise the grain, machine followed by hand sanding, application of aniline dye, light sanding with foam sanding pads, five coats of Bartley gel wiping varnish, rubbing down with ultra fine steel wool and Howard's-Feed-and-Wax, and polishing with Liberon furniture wax.
>>> After initial assembly, I found the glass was loose as the rebate was deeper that the glass thickness. I corrected this by glueing strips of 1/8" x 1/2" popular to the inside of the back panel before final assembly.

This is a great looking piece, and a good 1st kit for someone with limited experience.

Regards,
Pete Jaquith
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Shipbuilder
Hancock, NH & San Diego, CA

Smessinger · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Delmar, NY

I just completed Bartley's Large Chippendale Mirror in cherry and also found that upon installing the back panel, the mirror was loose. I tried using a peice of cardboard as a spacer between the back of the mirror and the back panel, but it took up too much space and didn't allow enough frame to be exposed to allow installation of the glaze points. I ended up just installing the back panel as the instruction indicated. The mirror is just very slightly loose.
This project is going to be a 40th Wedding Anniversary gift.
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S. Messinger

Peter Jaquith · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:36 pm Post subject: Large Chippendale Mirror

S. Messinger,

You might try fitting one/two sheets of matt board (1/16" thick) behind your mirror glass. On the Small Chippendale Mirror, I needed approximately 1/8" behind the glass and 1/16" spacers on each of the four sides in order to prevent the mirror glass from shifting.

Regards,
Pete Jaquith
_________________
Shipbuilder
Hancock, NH & San Diego, CA