Any experience re-silvering the mirror inside a reflex viewer

[Daniel.E]

I was cleaning the mirror surface of my reflex viewer (Shen-Hao) and then all the sudden the finish came off! to my surprise the finish is not on the back of the glass and it seems to be held in place by a white double sided thick tape but almost impossible to remove without breaking it.

Anybody has any experience re-silvering a mirror that is not on the back? I've been using google for a couple of hours but can't seem to find what I'm looking for.
I appreciate any input!

[ic-racer]

Many or even all mirrors can be made to be 'front surface.' Just remove the backing.

[Daniel.E]

Ok, but there's not backing, the white you see in the middle is the tape, you can see already through. The front surface is the only coat on the glass. Thank you for the term, that helps me a lot!

[J. Patric Dahlen]

Check out http://www.clausing.com/ and send them an email. Silver is the most reflective coating, aluminium a tiny bit less but more durable. Ask if they put a SiO2 protective coating over the silver that will protect it from oxidation.

I had a similar company resilver a Rolleicord and Rolleiflex 4x4 mirror 15 or so years ago.

[aluncrockford]

In London the place to go would be

http://www.vacuumcoatings.co.uk/

Though searching for vacuum coatings in your area should bring results

[photog_ed]

I would google "telescope mirror coating" and look for a place that caters to ATMs (amateur telescope makers) as they will be more affordable.

Or you could just buy a new one, e.g.

http://firstsurfacemirror.com/trapez...urface-mirror/

[EdSawyer]

Edmund Optics sells a variety of first-surface (front coated) mirrors. You would need to match the size/shape/thickness. But why not contact the manufacturer? Chances are they can supply the correct part most easily. And be careful in the future cleaning first-surface mirrors. ;-)

[Daniel.E]

Wonderful! thank you everybody!

But why not contact the manufacturer? Chances are they can supply the correct part most easily. And be careful in the future cleaning first-surface mirrors. ;-)

I did and I'm waiting to hear back from them. Yes, now I know better to be careful with those first-surface mirrors.

[Doremus Scudder]

Rule of Thumb:

Don't clean front-surfaced mirrors. Just blow dust off of them, carefully, with a blower. They scratch easily (even brushing can scratch them) and, as you have found out, the coating can come off easily. Better not to get them dirty in the first place.

Best,

Doremus

[Drew Bedo]

You might check with Land Sea and Sky, a business here in Houston that deals primarily with non-photographic fine optics and precision instruments; telescopes Sextents and Microscopes. I have known them to re-silver camera penta-prisms.

http://www.landseaskyco.com/