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Mirror Restoration
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:44 am
by 500bernie
Hi Guys,
I got lucky and picked up a pair of red mirrors off flebay, they looked a lot worse they they actually were, due to umpteen layers of paint, wax and crud.
I started loosening off all the old wax and paint using thiners and my trusty thumb nail (didn't want to damage the plastic underneath), this went quite well..
The one on the right is a NOS one.
I have been gently rubbing the plastic with fine wire wool soaked in solvent (UPVC window frame cleaner from screwfix).
Still not completely satisfied with the finish, which should be slightly rough and matt, but working on it.....anybody got any ideas?
Cheers,
Bernie
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:37 am
by SP_BOTT
Would like to see you succeed with this, as most mirrors are in a bad way, (at least on most of my bikes) I have heard a heat gun will restore the colour back to normal, (be careful obvously) seen a vid on youtube doing an old manky car bumper, and that looked ok, (also suggested on a polishing/car forum) are you going to spray them eventually.
Got myself a white set, or two, to do as well.
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:43 am
by Luders
SP_BOTT wrote:are you going to spray them eventually.
I think not
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:12 am
by 500bernie
Ben is right .........no paint
I want to get the plastic back to the condition the came out of the factory, luckily I have a new one to compare it to
At the moment it is not far off...but not quite right
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 12:50 pm
by Luders
looks like you're doing a good job with that Bernie.
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:14 pm
by 500bernie
Hi Ben,
Working blind as usual, not sure it I am going to fix it or destroy it, but what the hell at least anyone else won't have to make the same mistakes as me
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 2:33 pm
by 500bernie
Hi Ben,
Just sent you a PM
Cheers,
Bernie
Good job
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 5:56 pm
by zx12arrgh
Looks like your doing a brilliant job there mate, you could have not been so selfish though and done a white one, there a mare!
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:39 pm
by 500bernie
I have a white pair and a black pair awaiting the same attention
Plenty of jobs to do but not enough time
I think the white will be easier than the red as they had an odd mat textured finish that was a bugger to replicate.
Solvent upvc cleaner wire wool and patience.
Cheers
Bernie
Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 7:58 pm
by fred
ive accidentally achieved a matt surface on plastic when ive been shotblasting rusty parts that are fixed in the plastic (which i aint been worried about ) with old media thats more like smokers tooth paist you can achieve a even finnish ,just like etching glass
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 12:45 am
by 500bernie
It looks like I now have a spare (used) pair
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 5:45 pm
by Binetta Steve
Bernie , if it gets to the stage where you want to move your old red mirrors on could you drop me a PM as mine has black mirrors on at present
Best regards
Steve
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 5:50 pm
by 500bernie
Hi Steve,
Will do.
Cheers,
Bernie