Where can I buy acrylic mirrors?

Currently I'm working on a DIY spirograph project. What I don't have I can easily find here in town, and the only thing I can't find anywhere is a good acrylic front surface mirror. I've been looking almost everywhere here in Sweden, but I just can't find any. If anyone here knows about a webshop that sells them relatively cheap and ship to Sweden, knows about a store here in Sweden that sells them (this means you, FireMyLaser ) or micht consider selling me a bit of his own I'd be very thankful. The closest thing I've come to real mirrors is a replacement mirror for cars. I dont know anything about that, and in fact I'm just on my way to take a look at it. Will update after I get back.

I get mine from ebay, my 8" square will last me ages. I know this one is Uk only but there must be sellers who post to Sweden.....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3MM-MIRROR-AC...ryZ26258QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Regards rog8811

I get my mirrors from hard drives. I'll take out the disks and cut them to the size I want with a dremel.

You now, I can't find any mirrors either. Just have to use the second best. :

*I do not take any credit for this, as it's not my idea in the fist place.

Well, the repair thingy was a failure. It probably was "the real deal", but just way too thin. It was easily bendable, and the sheets were already bent. Wouldn't want those in my spirograph ;D

@rog8811: Yeah, you'd think it is, but I have yet to find one that ships here :-/

@FireMyLaser: That's a pretty good idea! The only downside is that I don't have a Dremel :-/ And also, what is the thickness of a hard drive disk?

Snytbaggen said:

@FireMyLaser: That's a pretty good idea! The only downside is that I don't have a Dremel :-/ And also, what is the thickness of a hard drive disk?

Click to expand...

About the dremel, or "hobby machine" or whatever it's called can be found at lots of places. I got mine at Jula for 200kr (sweet deal) a year back and it's great. Any DIY:er should have one.

Thickness? IDK, maybe 1,5mm or so.

Another way is get the mirros from a scanner. They are front and back surface mirros and the quality is the best as possible. Doubt ?

FireMyLaser said:

[quote author=Snytbaggen link=1210001832/0#3 date=1210003627]
@FireMyLaser: That's a pretty good idea! The only downside is that I don't have a Dremel :-/ And also, what is the thickness of a hard drive disk?

Click to expand...

About the dremel, or "hobby machine" or whatever it's called can be found at lots of places. I got mine at Jula for 200kr (sweet deal) a year back and it's great. Any DIY:er should have one.  

Thickness? IDK, maybe 1,5mm or so. [/quote]
IIRC, my grandpa has one I can borrow  

Since we have a few disks just lying around at home this just might be the ideal thing for me.

Another way is get the mirros from a scanner. They are  front and back surface mirros and the quality is the best as possible. Doubt ?  

Click to expand...

I'm not doubting you, and it sounds like a really good method. It's just that my supply of unused scanners is a bit low for the moment  :-/

DVD players and burners have dichro mirrors for the red an IR wavelength. If your scanner has only a red laser then you can use these. (see my other post)

Yeah, but I don't think that would be so good for this project. Still a neat thing, though

@FireMyLaser: Exactly how did you use the dremel for cutting out round parts? I'm kinda new to this dremel thing, so I have almost no idea... ^_^'

Sorry for my late reply, I was on a road trip to Göteborg yesterday.

Here's some things that I want to point out before doing anything:

Use safety glasses!
The cutting disk that you wanna use is very thin (preferably .4mm) and is very fragile. If the cutter shatters, things can go very wrong!
When you make a cut, hold the machine with you're right hand (if you're right handed) and the piece that you're gonna cut with your left hand.
Start the cut at the side of the piece closest to you and work you're way outwards to the other side of the piece in a straight line.
The cutter disk should (or must) be on top of the piece that you're cutting.
When you cut, apply pressure but not too much. If the machine stops when you apply the pressure, it's not powerful enough to do the job properly.
The metal that you're cutting will get hot, so don't rush it.

The hard drive disks get scathed very easily, have that in mind.

And last of all, be patient and careful all the time.



Ok, the mirrors doesn't need to be round, a square(ish) works also. Just not ideal.
But I'm gonna show how I do:

Use a thin cutting disk.


Cut the hard drive disk in halve so it gets easier to work with.


Take a piece of masking tape and draw out the size that you want. I made two mirrors at ones.


Cut the the piece out by following the tape.


Then make some further more cuts.


At this stage you're gonna change from cutter to a sanding disk. I use that pink stone thing for support as the sanding disk is made out off paper.
Work you're way by holding it like this:


When you're done it will look something like this:


Yay, done!



Any questions?

I see. I hope you had a nice time in Göteborg

I don't really have any questions, it was a really nice "tutorial" you made there [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

If the result turns out good, I'll upload some pictures and movies

Göteborg was awesome! I was at a exhibition hall packed full with different kind of CNC machines and robots. Some of them used 4k watt lasers for welding and such. Really cool.

And went to Liseberg and to ride Balder 11 frickin' times! LOL ;D

yea lol you should put your tutorial in your own thread even.
nicely done!

FireMyLaser said:

And went to Liseberg and to ride Balder 11 frickin' times! LOL  ;D

Click to expand...

Okay, you made me jelaous

How many times did you ride Kanonen then? I remember standing in line for over an hour for just a short 30s ride, but it was totally worth it. I also have a photo of me riding it looking completely terrified ;D

I would do all the rides, but it was only Balder that was running.

Why?
Because they opened the park just because of the exhibition hall-thing and it was like only ~60 people in there. No lines!!!

I didn't even need to off my a$$ when the ride was over at sometimes! LOL, yeah, LOL!


BTW, Kanonen is a kick a$$ ride too. Love it!

I just realised that this is way OFF TOPIC and I apologise. Sorry. :-[

And @ pwnstar: thanks!