Mirrors

[Dockhead]

I have a number of large mirrors in my boat -- in both heads, and in the aft cabin. The one in the cabin is in perfect condition, the one in the forward heads is fine except losing some silvering around the edges, but the one in the aft heads is deteriorating badly, with the silvering corroding and coming out of the glass -- it's basically falling apart.

I have no idea why these mirrors would behave in such different ways.

In any case, I need to replace the one in the aft heads, and I want to be sure that I do it right this time so that it doesn't fall apart all over again.

So I need some tips about the right kind of material to use, and technique to install it.

That mirror is glued to cabinetry in two parts -- one an opening part of a kind of medicine cabinet, the other to a fixed part of that cabinet.

I'm afraid it will be a terrible mess to get the old mirror off, and possibly destroying the cabinetry underneath. Is it very awful to glue down the new mirror over the old? Or is there some technique for un-gluing the old mirror?

And does anyone have any recommendation for mirror material which can live in the marine environment without falling to pieces?

Thanks in advance for all advice.

[Stu Jackson]

DH,

Is the old mirror plastic or glass?

[a64pilot]

It's glass and the silver is oxidizing.
I don't think plastic mirrors use silver, I think it's mylar?
If gluing one on the other doesn't look bad, that is what I would do, I have never gotten one off intact and you end up with several spots of glue and a piece of mirror stuck to it, but I got them all off, been years though, but I don't remember anything difficult after I got over the seven years bad luck thing

I just found this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOIbMRPk64o

[Lizzy Belle]

Dockhead, you're pretty even if you can't what you're doing while combing your hair

I only have one mirror, also glued and slowly falling apart. No clue as to how to go about replacing it, so keeping an eye on this thread.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

DH,

Is the old mirror plastic or glass?

I have no idea. Ill have a closer look. Seems like glass, but then, how could the silvering be coming out, if its glass?

[zeehag]

i have one original 40 yr old mirror in my pulmann berth and one desilvering one in head. as i donot use em for anything other than killing skeeters and reflection of more light, it doesnt break.

water makes the silvering come of fth e glass. never fails. i learned this young, as i destroyed my momma's favorite mirror by pouring water on it. oops. i was a kid.. high humidity ill also desilver a mirror but not as fast as pouring water on it. that is most effective. and i think it is a mercury silver, not real silver..

[a64pilot]

The silver is on the backside of course and it oxidizes from the edges. It's much worse in high humidity areas, like bathrooms, shower areas. You would think they edges would be sealed and I asked as I had like 100 sq ft of mirrors replaced in the last house, mirror walls on three sides of the bathtub, but glass place said they couldn't.

[DumnMad]

Moisture in the head isn't good for the mirror backing. I bet some mirrors have a sealant over back and edges and survive longer.

[SailRedemption]

I've never removed a mirror and all of mine are secured with mirror clips, but I have an idea for you.

Get some cheap window tint if you have it somewhere, or use a roll of clear package tape, cover the entire glued mirror. Once done any glass that cracks loose won't go anywhere as the film holds it.

To help get it off I would suggest a heat gun or hair dryer and either a guitar string or multimaster tool with longest blade they make for the application. Once again the film should hold it all together for the most part.

Good luck, if you believe in mirror superstition... Wink

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