Mirror Restoration

Plastic bits and Paint
Post Reply
User avatar
500bernie
Avgas Sniffer
Posts: 3396
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:22 am
Location: Teesside

Mirror Restoration

Post 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.

Image

Image

Image

Image

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..

Image
The one on the right is a NOS one.

Image
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 :D
Firecracker Red and Grey C3 300
SP_BOTT
Oil Injector
Posts: 706
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:59 pm

Post 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. :)
Luders
Avgas Sniffer
Posts: 3926
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:29 am
Location: Oxfordshire

Post by Luders »

SP_BOTT wrote:are you going to spray them eventually.
I think not
User avatar
500bernie
Avgas Sniffer
Posts: 3396
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:22 am
Location: Teesside

Post 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 \:D/

At the moment it is not far off...but not quite right ](*,)
Firecracker Red and Grey C3 300
Luders
Avgas Sniffer
Posts: 3926
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:29 am
Location: Oxfordshire

Post by Luders »

looks like you're doing a good job with that Bernie.
User avatar
500bernie
Avgas Sniffer
Posts: 3396
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:22 am
Location: Teesside

Post 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 :lol:
Firecracker Red and Grey C3 300
User avatar
500bernie
Avgas Sniffer
Posts: 3396
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:22 am
Location: Teesside

Post by 500bernie »

Hi Ben,
Just sent you a PM
Cheers,
Bernie
Firecracker Red and Grey C3 300
User avatar
zx12arrgh
Smoker
Posts: 63
Joined: Thu Mar 01, 2007 6:50 pm

Good job

Post 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! :P
User avatar
500bernie
Avgas Sniffer
Posts: 3396
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:22 am
Location: Teesside

Post by 500bernie »

I have a white pair and a black pair awaiting the same attention :shock:
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 :D
Firecracker Red and Grey C3 300
fred
Oil Injector
Posts: 926
Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 5:42 pm
Location: retford n,nott`s working in cotswolds
Contact:

Post 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
User avatar
500bernie
Avgas Sniffer
Posts: 3396
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:22 am
Location: Teesside

Post by 500bernie »

It looks like I now have a spare (used) pair \:D/

Image
Firecracker Red and Grey C3 300
User avatar
Binetta Steve
Oil Injector
Posts: 949
Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 6:13 pm
Location: North Wales

Post 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
User avatar
500bernie
Avgas Sniffer
Posts: 3396
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 10:22 am
Location: Teesside

Post by 500bernie »

Hi Steve,

Will do.

Cheers,
Bernie
Firecracker Red and Grey C3 300
Post Reply