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by **mcha9797** on Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:10 pm

Sky Chief wrote:
vaughn wrote:I'm wondering how or what you'd soak the glass reflector in in order to remove what's there now. Is it silver? How do you get the silver off the back side of the reflector so you can start with a clear glass reflector.

Here is a great thread about reflector re-silvering that includes removing the old mirroring: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=9955&p=129352#p129352

Great thread, thanks for re-posting it!!

I only have 1 or 2 reflector's that need attention. I'm going to at least try the paint to see how it turns out, it can't hurt.

by **LarryC39** on Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:22 am

If someone's willing to take a turn in the barrel to test it out I'm all for it.

I expect it'll be a generic silver paint. Just like all the "chrome" paints. I'd almost expect it needs to be topcoated with a color paint (black, grey, etc.) to make it opaque and not translucent when lit.

by **mcha9797** on Sat Jan 26, 2013 12:08 am

LarryC39 wrote:If someone's willing to take a turn in the barrel to test it out I'm all for it.

I expect it'll be a generic silver paint. Just like all the "chrome" paints. I'd almost expect it needs to be topcoated with a color paint (black, grey, etc.) to make it opaque and not translucent when lit.

Just picked up a can at the local Wal-Mart :grin:

for $8.50 not the $14.99 online price!!

Stay tuned, I'll post some pic's of the results sometime this weekend!!

by **2070** on Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:30 am

mcha9797 wrote:Just picked up a can at the local Wal-Mart for $8.50 not the $14.99 online price!!

You brought in the back door and bring out the front door... :rotfl:

I too, would like to see how it works!! :good:

by **mcha9797** on Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:57 pm

Well.....here it is, I am mildly pleased with the results with this product. If you have a squeeky clean reflector glass that you would like to restore, this product might work for you. The attempt I made to patch a bad spot did not match the original finish. The directions say to apply 4 very thin coats, yea right, it took 10-15 coats to achieve the results seen in the pictures. Seemed like the more that you apply, the better it looked. This stuff looks almost clear the first coat or two, and it only takes about a minute for the paint to dry between coat's. The finish is extremely delicate, a top coat of "real" paint is a must!!!

If you are looking for a perfect reflector restore, this product is not the right stuff for you!!!!

Here's some pic's, you be the judge... :shock:

After the protective top coat.

It definitely looks better than it looked before, but it is far from perfect.

by **Troy** on Sat Jan 26, 2013 11:52 pm

Actually, that's not half bad. A lot better than I imagined. Had you stripped the entire reflector and not had the difference between the old and new, no one would be the wiser. It looks pretty darn good and should reflect the light well.

Nice work! :thumbsup:

by **EdT.** on Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:16 am

I think it looks pretty darn good! Like Troy said, if the original mirroring were entirely removed leaving nothing to compare the new stuff to, it would look original.

If nothing else, this looks very promising to repair damaged sign cateyes...

by **mcha9797** on Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:59 am

I put it back in the frame and set it on the floor next to the other good ones, I'll have to admit that at first glance, it looks pretty ok!! It is much better than it was before, but not perfect. I would say for the price, it was a success for the application intended.

Thanks all!!!

by **LarryC39** on Sun Jan 27, 2013 12:33 pm

Did you try lighting it with a bulb? Does the light shine through the back of the reflector?

by **mcha9797** on Sun Jan 27, 2013 1:02 pm

LarryC39 wrote:Did you try lighting it with a bulb? Does the light shine through the back of the reflector?

I held it up to a light and couldn't see through it. Like I said before, the newly painted area was very delicate and easily scratched, so I painted the whole back of the reflector with some silver paint to protect the new surface.

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