I've just refinished a 1911 oval mirror frame made of maple. I've got a heavy cardboard behind the mirror, but I can't push in the window glazing points and I'm having difficulty getting 1 1/2" finishing nails to hold the mirror in. How do I hold it in the Maple frame?
Answer:
The proper way to do something like that is to find a glazer's driver and insert the points with that. It looks more like a twisted heavy duty stapler. If you can't find that, use a wood clamp and force the finishing nails in with that. Make sure you have good padding on the edge of the frame so the clamp doesn't damage the finish. I've also done this with a large pair of adjustable pliers; a much used member of my plumbing tools.
