I googled it and found quite a few who resilver, Just thought I would ask if anyone has ever had anything resilvered and what your experience was. I was thinking of restoring some map light mirrors that I have. All of the glass is bad on them.

I never had it done due to the cost. It is very expensive. I was pricing a large antique hall mirror, might not be so bad on smaller items.

35 bucks for 1 mirror. I've seen nice restored ones bring up to $250 on ebay....

Rob -

I resilvered my map light mirror. Cost was $18.00. Good as new.

Rob -

I resilvered my map light mirror. Cost was $18.00. Good as new.

Rob, who did it?
I have a nice GM visor mirror that has the reminder Tune Up/Oil Change/ Battery/Spark Plug/Lubrication mileage fields on it. Its nice and just needs the silver re-done.

I'd like to find someone to do it.
Thanks,
Tom

I had 2 map light mirrors done. You have to remove the glass before you send them. I sent them to this lady Jan and she did a perfect job.

Mirror Resilver
A Moment in Time Att: Jan Spevak
107 West Lincoln
# 301 wellington, Ks
67152
(316) 529-2790

About 7 yrs ago I had the map light mirror on my previous 69 convert done at a place just south of Chicago. Cost was about $20, and it was good as new. As Brad mentioned, you have to remove the glass from the mirror housing, which was a little unnerving (they're glued in pretty well) but it worked out well.

How do you get the mirror out? I have a map light mirror that needs done.

Rob, who did it?
I have a nice GM visor mirror that has the reminder Tune Up/Oil Change/ Battery/Spark Plug/Lubrication mileage fields on it. Its nice and just needs the silver re-done.

I'd like to find someone to do it.
Thanks,
Tom
that was rich,I would like to know too.

How do you get the mirror out? I have a map light mirror that needs done.You might want to soak it in some warm water to soften up the plastic and use a plastic puddy knife and being very careful and start working it between the glass and the plastic their is some glue that holds the glass in place. The first one I did I broke it and the second one I did came out easy. If I were doing it for a first time I would go to a junk yard and find a donor mirror to remove before doing yours JMO.
Even better if you find one that is the same and just send both mirrors out to be redone you can always sell the one you dont need.

I found it much easier to just remove the entire plastic from the stainless frame and re-glue it back on.:yes:

Here is some pictures of my mirror when I peeled it apart. Might help you know what your getting into before hand.

http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Map%20Light%20Mirror/th_P1010050.jpg (http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Map%20Light%20Mirror/?action=view&current=P1010050.jpg) http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Map%20Light%20Mirror/th_P1010049.jpg (http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Map%20Light%20Mirror/?action=view&current=P1010049.jpg) http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Map%20Light%20Mirror/th_P1010048.jpg (http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Map%20Light%20Mirror/?action=view&current=P1010048.jpg) http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Map%20Light%20Mirror/th_P1010047.jpg (http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Map%20Light%20Mirror/?action=view&current=P1010047.jpg)

[quote=Nor Cal Chevelle;1844960]How do you get the mirror out? I have a map light mirror that needs done.[/quote

The rubber that holds the mirror is held to the stainless steel by some type of adhesive. I used a wire hook (Sorta like a dentist would use) to separate the rubber from the stainless. To get the glass out I used a hair dryer to soften the rubber then I was able to carefully remove the glass by just using my hands. To reattach the rubber to the stainless you can use super glue. This is how I did it but maybe someone knows a better way.

I was wondering if anyone has ever had any luck cleaning the rubber that is faded on about every one of these that I've seen.
Also is the glass and rubber the same on repos as the originals? :confused:

that was rich,I would like to know too.



I'm told that places that do resilvering are a dieing breed due to the hazardous chemicals that are used. There are only two companies left in the Chicago area that still do it. (You might try looking locally just to keep the cost of postage down.) If I recall, one was priced considerably higher than the other (the one I used). They both had a minimum charge. The place that I used was:

Silver Service, Inc.
16120 Vandustrial Lane
South Holland, Illinois 60473
708-331-5501
The fellow that I dealt with was named Mark but I doubt if that was important. I had it done a year ago and the cost at that time was $18.00 plus $4.00 S&H. Turn around time was about a week or so, if I recall.

I used a heat gun to get the gray rubber around the perimeter pliable. It was not necessary to remove/separate the rubber from the mirror frame. It worked great and I had no issues getting the glass out or reinstalling the resilvered piece.

About 7 yrs ago I had the map light mirror on my previous 69 convert done at a place just south of Chicago. Cost was about $20, and it was good as new. As Brad mentioned, you have to remove the glass from the mirror housing, which was a little unnerving (they're glued in pretty well) but it worked out well.

See my post above.

Here is another alternative which I have done many times. If you have a wrecking yard in your area look for a 1973-1977 GM vehicle that has the 12" day/night mirror-usually about $6-$8. The mirror glass is the same size as the earlier models. I usually cut the vinyl with a razor knife since its going to be thrown away anyway then soak the mirror in hot water for 30 minutes.

Insert a plastic bondo squeege or plastic putty knife between the mirror base and the backside of the mirror glass and it usually releases and comes right out.

The hardest part is installing the new mirror. Again soak in hot water or use a heat gun or hairdryer if you don't have a heat gun to soften the vinyl retaining lip.Some liquid dishwashing soap helps as a lubricant.

Good Luck

Instead of resilvering a mirror, why not have a local glass company cut one? Is there something special about the car mirror or is it just a regular mirror?

The day/night mirrors are not the same as a regular mirror. There is a process that gives the auto rear view mirror the ability to have a day/night function. I think it may be some sort of mechanical etching process, I just can't remember the details from physics class. Anyway, you can use a regular cut mirror, but you will lose the day/night function.

Woj.

Instead of resilvering a mirror, why not have a local glass company cut one? Is there something special about the car mirror or is it just a regular mirror?Wont work, Like Phil said.

Instead of resilvering a mirror, why not have a local glass company cut one? Is there something special about the car mirror or is it just a regular mirror?

The glass piece itself is not flat. Rather, it is tapered from top to bottom. Using a flat piece of regular mirror glass would not give you the day/night operation - it would simply shift the position of the image.

[quote=Big White;1845154]I'm told that places that do resilvering are a dieing breed due to the hazardous chemicals that are used. There are only two companies left in the Chicago area that still do it. (You might try looking locally just to keep the cost of postage down.) If I recall, one was priced considerably higher than the other (the one I used). They both had a minimum charge. The place that I used was:

Silver Service, Inc.
16120 Vandustrial Lane
South Holland, Illinois 60473
708-331-5501
The fellow that I dealt with was named Mark but I doubt if that was important. I had it done a year ago and the cost at that time was $18.00 plus $4.00 S&H. Turn around time was about a week or so, if I recall."

I called them and they said $15....imagine that.....the price going down on something.:thumbsup:

Here is another alternative which I have done many times. If you have a wrecking yard in your area look for a 1973-1977 GM vehicle that has the 12" day/night mirror-usually about $6-$8. The mirror glass is the same size as the earlier models. I usually cut the vinyl with a razor knife since its going to be thrown away anyway then soak the mirror in hot water for 30 minutes.

Insert a plastic bondo squeege or plastic putty knife between the mirror base and the backside of the mirror glass and it usually releases and comes right out.

The hardest part is installing the new mirror. Again soak in hot water or use a heat gun or hairdryer if you don't have a heat gun to soften the vinyl retaining lip.Some liquid dishwashing soap helps as a lubricant.

Good Luck

I got my rear view mirror glass out of a mid 70's Cadillac. Its a perfect fit.

I got my rear view mirror glass out of a mid 70's Cadillac. Its a perfect fit.
I just snagged one a few days ago from the same car..:D