Free 'Portal 2' Inspired Mirror

by ATTILAtheHUNgry

10K165

Intro: Free 'Portal 2' Inspired Mirror

I recently played Portal 2 for the first time, and I have to say it is an amazing game. I wanted to make something portal related for my room that was relatively quick and easy, and using only stuff I had lying around.

Thus I made my Portal 2 inspired mirror.

STEP 1: Materials

The materials are pretty simple. I used:
  • A cheap old mirror
  • A very old rope light
  • A dimmer switch from who-knows-when
  • And some paper, tape, scissors, paperclips, and nails

STEP 2: Masking the Mirror

Obviously it would be best to use an Oval mirror for this project. But I looked online and buying one cost more than I was willing to spend on this little project.

So, I had to turn my old rectangular mirror into an approximation of an oval. I did this by cutting some corner masks out of printer paper, taping them to the mirror, and folding the edges back. It's not the perfect Portal shape, but its as close as 'free mirror' would get me.

STEP 3: Affixing the Light

Next I taped the rope light to the mirror, trying to get as little tape on the mirror itself as I could get away with. The rope light was too long by about three feet, so I doubled it up, and you can hardly tell actually.

STEP 4: Hang It on the Wall

Find a good place for it and stick it on your wall. I used little inch-long nails, hammered at an angle, to hold my mirror in place.

Now turn it on. Doesn't it almost look like a portal effect? Sort of? A bit? (maybe?)

OK it's a long shot. I admit. But for $0.00 it feels pretty good.  (^_^)

STEP 5: Final Turret-y Touch

The dimmer switch had a bit of a Turret-look about it, with it's white body and red eye, so I taped on three paperclip legs and fed the cord through the back one. It actually doesn't look half bad! (A bit boxy, perhaps.)

There you have it. My stab at a free Portal inspired mirror. Hope you enjoyed it. I'd love to see what someone could do with a larger budget!

5 Comments

SuicidalBarrelRoll 11 years ago

Bringing my first instructable out soon on this, thanks for a design that I tweaked and hoped to have improved upon (with a heftier budget)

Penolopy Bulnick 11 years ago

Very fun :) It would be sweet if another person in the house had a mirror and you put the orange lights around that one! You should enter this into the Holiday Gifts Contest!

bcavaciuti 11 years ago

or have them opposite eachother in the hall way or even better...you know those holes in the wall from kitchen to dining room well have one side orange an one side blue :D yayay real portal ...another idea you know those doors that have oval windows take the glass out or paint with mirror stuff (u can get it) then proceed and tadaar portal door

mikeasaurus 11 years ago

Ha, the turret switch is a nice touch.