How to Make a Front Surface Mirror (Quick & Easy Techniques)
First surface mirror DIY
What is a Front Surface Mirror?
A “front” surface mirror is the exact same as a “first” surface mirror. The two terms are used interchangeably. It is a mirror with the optical coating on the front surface rather than the back surface of the glass. The coating on a standard mirror creates a double reflection. A front surface mirror has the coating on the front side, but also has a standard mirror on the opposite side.
The non-mirror coated side is like a standard mirror. On this side you can see a slight ghost of the reflection. The other side is the mirror coated side — the whole reason you want the front surface mirror to begin with! The mirror coating on the front eliminates the double reflection effect. Thus, creating an accurate reflection which is common in engineering and scientific applications.
How do you make a Front Surface Mirror?
There are multiple ways to make a front surface mirror. The most common DIY way is to modify a standard mirror!
Modifying a standard mirror is easier than it sounds! Here is what you would need:
- Paint Thinner
- Rubber Gloves
- Container or bin
- Standard Mirror
Standard mirrors have a backing on the mirror that can be removed to reveal the the mirror coating. It is removed using paint thinner!
Advantage:
This method is highly inexpensive and a great DIY project. It is also a quick process, so speed is a high advantage if you need a front surface mirror fast!
Disadvantage:
The end result is not optical grade. When you remove the backing from the standard mirror, the coating will oxidize. Thus, it is not ideal for long term projects or installations. If you need high quality front surface mirrors: firstsurfacemirrors.com has them. Or, glass manufactures that sell the front/first surface mirror.
Why would you want a Front Surface Mirror?
Front surface mirrors have a coating on the mirror that provides a true reflection! Without a double image! It is an optical mirror that provides superior accuracy of engineering. It also further enhances reflection of visible light! This is great for photography, and projection.
Front surface mirrors are being manufactured with quality control. This ensures defect-free, undistorted reflections.
Front Surface Mirror Applications:
There are many uses for a front surface mirror! Having an accurate reflection is essential for scientific applications, product, photography, and more!
For example: Kaleidoscopes, barcode scanners, art installations, binocular mirror mounts, speech teleprompters, and more!
Another advantage is that it is more reflective than a standard, ordinary mirror.
An ordinary mirror is 85% reflective. Whereas a front surface mirror is around 94% reflective, or above.
These mirrors are the exact type that are seen in DSLR cameras, copy machines, scanners, and other similar equipment.
It’s actually fun when you go to the grocery store and watching the barcode scanner scan. Keep your eyes peeled for a first surface mirror!
- Flight simulators, periscopes
- Broadcasting, photography, projection.
- Optics, astronomy, physics, lasers
- Barcode scanners
- Hollywood special effects
- High speed photography
- Kaleidoscopes
- Ophthalmology eye tests, dental mirrors
- Metrology
- Rear projection video
- Military training simulators, periscopes
- Product Photography
- Camera Lucida
How to Make a Front Surface Mirror:
- Place the standard mirror with the back side up in a glass bowl.
2. Then, pour the pain thinner on top of it until the mirror is completely covered.
3. Wait an hour and fifteen minutes.
4. Then, remove the backing with a squeegee tool.
Polish the glass with ammonia free glass cleaner, and you will have a DIY Front Surface Mirror! Also known as a First Surface Mirror!
