The grand finale: a metal-framed mirror and the R$ 10,000 champion

The challenge

In 60 minutes, make a mirror of any shape and size with a metal frame (square tube and flat bar) that stands up on its own. Two minutes to sketch and plan the metal cuts; then 10 minutes of help from a metalworker (Rui or Peterson).

The finale pushed both out of their comfort zone: MIG welding for the first time. Janael planned everything around the metalworker's help with the welding; Rômulo cut his mirror too tight, the weld pulled the frame and he had to trim the mirror by about 2 cm and weld again. The judges took over 10 minutes to decide. Final score: Janael 29.37 vs Rômulo 27.12. Janael is the season 1 champion and takes the R$ 10,000; Rômulo gets a R$ 2,000 supply kit from LED Glass.

Moments

• The score before the finale: Janael 21, Rômulo 19.5.
• Rômulo had never MIG-welded and does well; Janael calls the metalworker with the project ready for him to execute.
• Judge Peterson suggests starting with the thin flat bar and only then the square tube.
• "I messed up: I know welding pulls, and I cut the mirror right to size."
• The announcement: the winner of the R$ 10,000 is Janael.

Lessons from the bench

• Welded metal frame: leave a few millimeters of clearance around the mirror, because the weld pulls and the frame closes in.
• Flat bar bends easily but is floppy: build the heavy structure first and the flat bar after, or add a brace behind.
• To trim a thin strip off a mirror, taking off half a centimeter leaves fewer jagged teeth than nibbling with pliers.