Re-glassing a mirror

[Pete.]

I broke a mirror on my BMW and they are bloody expensive, so I had a go at making a new glass. I'd previously tried this with limited success but now being older, wiser and having better toys to play with I gave it a shot and it did turn out well.

So take one convex mirror. Cheapest I could find was this on special down the local parts place.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8hcyqvoow0lz84p/mirror1.jpg?raw=1

Drew around the broken glass as best I could.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/iwuvd0hcqrtfkz1/mirror2.jpg?raw=1

I don't have a glass cutter so I scored it with a diamond dresser and broke bits off with a small spanner. I took care not to span across the curve too much or it would be liable to crack in an unexpected direction.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/d9wj2ap4zn6rzck/mirror3.jpg?raw=1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/psu36r8n1b5dl81/mirror4.jpg?raw=1

Ground the edges on a diamond grinder I made for a different purpose. You can use a sanding block for this but it would take longer.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hzge910j0m9gkdg/mirror5.jpg?raw=1

Finished glass alongside the original

https://www.dropbox.com/s/m5pv8xg6r6l4p1y/mirror6.jpg?raw=1

Here's the secret to re-fitting the glass. Boil the plastic housing in a saucepan. It doesn't harm the plastic but it does burn your fingers if you're not careful. I used tig welding gloves so I could handle it easily.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/te4d6a4whbvqc29/mirror7.jpg?raw=1

Once the housing is that hot it expands a HUGE amount, but it does shrink fast as it cools. Just drop the glass in and let it cool. Glass is now a nice fit and it doesn't move or rattle.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x26w8u605n5px63/mirror8.jpg?raw=1
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

Nice work! But I did find this bit amusing,

[Pete.]

If you don't have a small spanner you could take your convex mirror to a glazing shop and pay them a few quid to cut it to shape
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[dydey90]

I'd have thought you could buy replacement glass? Both wing mirrors have separately dropped off my Astra and found cheap glass on Amazon for around a fiver.
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This post is probably not serious and shouldn't be taken literally.
Past: CBR125,ER6f NINJA 650, ZZR600 Current: VFR750

[MCN]

So.. On reflection, would you try this task any other way?
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Howling Terror]

I can't see myself doing this.
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[c_dug]

Cracking job

I actually have a box of glass cutters, remind me next time we cross paths and I'll dig one out for you, surprisingly useful things to have about the place.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[kramdra]

Good job but Id avoid grinding glass, dont want to breath in sillica dust too much...

Mirrors are cheap, couple quid on ebay for a cbr6. None that fit?

Thanks for the boiling trick I want to get the glass off mine and add a heater to the back.

[Hahadumball]

i just selotaped a shaving mirror to my old divvy... that eventually fell off when it got wet so i cut the stalk off another mirror and cable tied that mirror to the mirror... worked goodly
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Fin: no matter how much I look at It I can't understand what was going through my head, all I remember is going about 80 and redlining it to stop it seizing.
360 Deg... Five 1/4 turns. :- Teflon-Mike 18 Jan 2015

[P.]

you seem to have a way of fixing or making anything Top job.

[Pete.]