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Re silvering Lights
- Thread starter john_j
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JamesWilson
Yoda
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Is there a local mirror shop that re-silvers old mirrors. Just an idea that they might be able to do that sort of thing....
But I'd have thought replacement would be both easier and cheaper....
But I'd have thought replacement would be both easier and cheaper....
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[ QUOTE ]
...I'd have thought replacement would be both easier and cheaper....
[/ QUOTE ]Well, maybe in some cases. But if you've got a nice old Lucas P-100 headlamp...or a good original Lucas Le Mans or P-700 lamp unit or the like that is otherwise good but with a dulled reflector, I'd want to go with resilvering of an original. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
...I'd have thought replacement would be both easier and cheaper....
[/ QUOTE ]Well, maybe in some cases. But if you've got a nice old Lucas P-100 headlamp...or a good original Lucas Le Mans or P-700 lamp unit or the like that is otherwise good but with a dulled reflector, I'd want to go with resilvering of an original. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
JamesWilson
Yoda
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Fair enough... I though it might be a case of rarity or difficult replacement.
The other idea might be to try talking to some of the antique car restoration people (Pre-WW1 cars- is there a branch of the Ford Model T club around), they seem to have these sorts of problems normally, and they be more likely to know what works and what doesn't....
Good luck with it....
The other idea might be to try talking to some of the antique car restoration people (Pre-WW1 cars- is there a branch of the Ford Model T club around), they seem to have these sorts of problems normally, and they be more likely to know what works and what doesn't....
Good luck with it....
CraigFL
Jedi Trainee
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Well... you could be adventurous and try it yourself...
https://www.wisegeek.com/how-are-mirrors-made.htm
https://www.wisegeek.com/how-are-mirrors-made.htm
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[ QUOTE ]
...try talking to some of the antique car restoration people (Pre-WW1 cars- is there a branch of the Ford Model T club around), they seem to have these sorts of problems normally, and they be more likely to know what works and what doesn't....
[/ QUOTE ]In the US, one doesn't quite have to go all the way back to the "brass" era. The sealed beam headlamp was introduced (forced upon us, perhaps? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif) here around 1940, so pretty much everything before that was a bulb-and-reflector setup of some sort.
...try talking to some of the antique car restoration people (Pre-WW1 cars- is there a branch of the Ford Model T club around), they seem to have these sorts of problems normally, and they be more likely to know what works and what doesn't....
[/ QUOTE ]In the US, one doesn't quite have to go all the way back to the "brass" era. The sealed beam headlamp was introduced (forced upon us, perhaps? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif) here around 1940, so pretty much everything before that was a bulb-and-reflector setup of some sort.
beaulieu
Jedi Warrior
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its doable but not cheap,
the bigges problem is that your old reflector has to be super nice so they can plate it ,
most are not that nice since they had water inside the headlights and the reflector rotted
we have done a few foglights thru the years and getting good enough reflectors is always a problem
Beaulieu
the bigges problem is that your old reflector has to be super nice so they can plate it ,
most are not that nice since they had water inside the headlights and the reflector rotted
we have done a few foglights thru the years and getting good enough reflectors is always a problem
Beaulieu
Greetings.. The only place I've found is https://www.stevesautorestorations.com/headlight.php Not cheap. I think I can get new repro PL700s for less than having my originals (fomr the 60's) redone.
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From all I've heard, most of the repro PL700s are horrible compared to originals...unless they've gotten much better in the last year or so (doubt it).
OP
john_j
Jedi Trainee
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Thanks everyone. After some more searching I found a place (UK) that will resilver them for £18 each, which isn’t bad.
I also found that they are available from Abingdon Supplies , but at $90 + shipping from the US that’s a bit dear, as I want 4.
I also found details of how to do it yourself, but I’m not too keen on playing with silver nitrate in the kitchen…
Advice from another board was that you can buy Chrome spray, but contrary to the finish suggsested by the can lid, it comes out looking like dull aluminium, not chrome so isn’t really good enough. There is also adhesive backed silver tape, but I’m not convinced that this would work for very long.
I also found that they are available from Abingdon Supplies , but at $90 + shipping from the US that’s a bit dear, as I want 4.
I also found details of how to do it yourself, but I’m not too keen on playing with silver nitrate in the kitchen…
Advice from another board was that you can buy Chrome spray, but contrary to the finish suggsested by the can lid, it comes out looking like dull aluminium, not chrome so isn’t really good enough. There is also adhesive backed silver tape, but I’m not convinced that this would work for very long.
kennypinkerton
Yoda
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Is it silvered on the inside or outside of the glass?
I was going to suggest Alaclad Chrome paint. I've used it on Lexan R?C car bodies and it is the most chrome looking of all the chrome paints I've used.
I was going to suggest Alaclad Chrome paint. I've used it on Lexan R?C car bodies and it is the most chrome looking of all the chrome paints I've used.
An other place to look (talk to folks) is in the astronomy area. I recall back in highschool kids use to make their own telescopes by 'grinding' a blank of glass into a parabolic reflector. Once 'ground' this had to be silvered and I know they were all able to do it (some had it done). So I would check with a local telescope shoppe (a big one). I think the kits the kids used here in Canada was made by Edmond Scientific.
OP
john_j
Jedi Trainee
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After some searching around I found someone (Keith Ardley in Ely, Cambs, which is no help for those of you on the left hand side of the pond) who does them for ÂŁ18 each, which isn't too bad - I was expecting it to be ÂŁ50 each!
I've sent them off, and waiting to see what they look like when they come back.
I've sent them off, and waiting to see what they look like when they come back.
Daimlerdb18
Senior Member
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Speaking of P-100 head lamps....does anyone know where to obtain the 255 mm lenses? There's a restorer in Sheffield that has the larger size (284mm) that fits the downwards opening lamps, but not the upwards opening kind.
Thanks!
Thanks!
