Mirror grinding table

[tjquoll]

This is inspired by a photo I saw on Cloudy Nights (http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/attachments/1516796-EM-Portable%20Mirror%20Polishing%20Tab le%20006.jpg (http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/1516796)). I wanted something that could be easily dismantled and packed away if not required. It is a tad unstable at the moment so I'm going to add three extendable feet under the base that foldout when it is being used.

[Garyh]

Interesting...but if you could have a spot that you could bolt it down on a concrete slab it would be very suitable. I just used a old tile coffee table, very heavy and solid but not the best on ones back..lol

[tjquoll]

An excellent idea. I've a small concrete floored room accumulating old boxes and rubbish. If cleaned out it would be a great little mirror workshop.



Being light weight and portable was a pretty major requirement - my back hates me :lol:

[bloodhound31]

So how does it work? Can you briefly explain how a mirror is made?

Baz.:D

[tjquoll]

Hi Baz, I'm making the assumption that you're asking for the basics so I apologise in advance if you already know this stuff.

This is basically a waist high bench with some fittings to hold a "tile tool". With the help of abrasive powders and water, you rub a glass disk over the tool to grind a concave surface into the glass. When the surface is ground to the desired curve it is polished and "figured" to a paraboloid, then coated with a reflective material such as silver or aluminum.

The stellafane website has some good info on this. see http://www.stellafane.com/atm/atm_myths.htm and http://www.stellafane.com/atm/atm_mirror/atm_mirror_overview.htm for info.

My table is a lightweight alternative to the traditional "44 gallon drum full of sand or water" that is often suggested in the mirror making literature.

Of course if you're handy at building things you could alway build a mirror grinding machine like http://www.mirror-o-matic.com/ though there are other designs.

Personally I want to try making a couple by hand to get a feel for the process. Then if I haven't lost enthusiasm, I'll look at building a machine.