Take a piece of marble or some other substance very smooth, true,
and level, lay on this the glass you wish to silver, then make a
ridge of putty on the marble against the edge of the glass all round
it, so that you can pour quicksilver on the glass until it is all
covered over, and will be prevented from running off by the ridge
of putty; an inch or two, or three outside this ridge make another
of putty; then cover the quicksilver on the glass all over with
tin-foil, and press it firmly but cautiously against the glass until
you have squeezed out all the quicksilver you can. While you press
this, you may remove part of the first ridge of putty to give the
quicksilver a chance of escape. When it is well pressed against
the glass there will be an amalgam formed of the tin-foil and the
quicksilver that is left, which will firmly adhere to the glass. By
this means you have a very beautiful and cheap looking-glass; the
quicksilver that escapes, being saved by the second ridge of putty,
may be used again.


26. SILVERING LOOKING-GLASSES WITH PURE SILVER

Prepare a mixture of 3 grains of ammonia, 60 grains of nitrate of
silver, 90 minims of spirits of wine, 90 minims of water; when the
nitrate of silver is dissolved, filter the liquid and add a small
quantity of sugar (15 grains) dissolved in 1-1/2 oz. of water, and 1
1/2 oz. of spirits of wine. Put the glass into this mixture, having
one side covered with varnish, gum, or some substance to prevent the
silver being attached to it. Let it remain for a few days and you
have a most elegant looking-glass, yet it is far more costly than
the quicksilver.