Hi all, well this week I'm going to reveal a secret nd that secret is to learn how to make your own Front Side Mirror from scratch, now bare in mind I have not done nor tested this myself so I can not validate this instructions. so here we go:
Mirrors - Silvering and Re-Silvering
Solution No. 1:
Nitrate of Silver (pure) . . . . . . . . 40 grains
Nitrate of Silver (pure) . . . . . . . . 32 grains
Distilled Water . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 pint
Ammonia, 26% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To be used as directed.
Take one pint of distilled water, pour 4 ounces of this into a glass, and into this put 40 grains of Nitrate of Silver. Dissolve the Nitrate of Silver thoroughly by stirring the water with glass strip (no spoon, or stick, or metal should be used). When it is all thoroughly dissolved, take your medicine dropper and drop 26% Ammonia Water into it one drop at a time; at first it will turn dark; keep dropping the ammonia until it becomes clear again, which will generally take about thirty drops; stopping the addition as soon as it clears.
Very often after dropping 30 drops of Ammonia, it does not clear. In that case stir the solution slowly with your left hand and continue dropping the ammonia with the right hand, one drop at a time until it does clear, which it will generally do after dropping a few more times. If after dropping seven drops more it does not clear (which takes 37 drops in all) do not drop any more Ammonia, as you are apt to spoil the solution.
To be continue.........................
Mirrors - Silvering and Re-Silvering
Solution No. 1:
Nitrate of Silver (pure) . . . . . . . . 40 grains
Nitrate of Silver (pure) . . . . . . . . 32 grains
Distilled Water . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 pint
Ammonia, 26% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To be used as directed.
Take one pint of distilled water, pour 4 ounces of this into a glass, and into this put 40 grains of Nitrate of Silver. Dissolve the Nitrate of Silver thoroughly by stirring the water with glass strip (no spoon, or stick, or metal should be used). When it is all thoroughly dissolved, take your medicine dropper and drop 26% Ammonia Water into it one drop at a time; at first it will turn dark; keep dropping the ammonia until it becomes clear again, which will generally take about thirty drops; stopping the addition as soon as it clears.
Very often after dropping 30 drops of Ammonia, it does not clear. In that case stir the solution slowly with your left hand and continue dropping the ammonia with the right hand, one drop at a time until it does clear, which it will generally do after dropping a few more times. If after dropping seven drops more it does not clear (which takes 37 drops in all) do not drop any more Ammonia, as you are apt to spoil the solution.
To be continue.........................
SAFETY WARNING!!
Playing with chemicals is dangerous! Do not attempt this experiment unless you know what you're doing or serious injuries may result!
Trev
Playing with chemicals is dangerous! Do not attempt this experiment unless you know what you're doing or serious injuries may result!
Trev
These chemicals are hazardous and should be treated with respect. Use goggles and gloves. Work in a well-ventilated area. Dispose of chemicals safely- they are toxic. Ammonium nitrate is potentially explosive, so treat it with great care. Don't try to make your own fireworks or your friends might end up nicknaming you "Stumpy."
Making mirrors is dangerous, and should be attempted without good knowledge of what you are doing.
Silvering a piece of glass to turn it to a front side mirror is mostly used in telescopes.
Making on is not overly difficult, but you have to bear in mind, some of the components can be used to make explosifs (Ammonium nitrate derivates), in some countries it is even forbidden to buy and possess such chemicals.
And if you still want to go on, well you can make virtually any size of mirror (depending on the container you place the nitrate).
If people want i can post a detailed instructions how to make one.
Silvering a piece of glass to turn it to a front side mirror is mostly used in telescopes.
Making on is not overly difficult, but you have to bear in mind, some of the components can be used to make explosifs (Ammonium nitrate derivates), in some countries it is even forbidden to buy and possess such chemicals.
And if you still want to go on, well you can make virtually any size of mirror (depending on the container you place the nitrate).
If people want i can post a detailed instructions how to make one.
I am not even sure I could get the chemicals. I am mostly curious about the possibilities it may open up to make high quality custom reflectors for light a source. I would think using metal and putting a nickle/chrome plating on it would give similar results.
Another thought was to actually mirror only the back side of the actual glass of a bulb to act as it's own reflector. (depending on the bulb type may get a bit too hot).
But it could open allot of possibility's. Has anyone seen what they would consider actual of tried methods on the web.
A lot more safety issues can be addressed with a link to a site instead of posting a paragraph of info?😀
Another thought was to actually mirror only the back side of the actual glass of a bulb to act as it's own reflector. (depending on the bulb type may get a bit too hot).
But it could open allot of possibility's. Has anyone seen what they would consider actual of tried methods on the web.
A lot more safety issues can be addressed with a link to a site instead of posting a paragraph of info?😀
Sure here are 2 links to how to do it.
http://lerch.no-ip.com/atm/Silver.htm
http://dgmlnx2.sun.ac.za/personal/astro/telemake/silver.htm
I have only done mirroring in an controlled environment, when experimenting these at university chemistry lab. Knowing what we were doing.
The first site there gives some information about how to proceed, and things to be cautious of.
I haven't written any of those above guides, nor tested their formulas, so if something does not add up or goes wrong it is up to you.
That said science is fun, and the best to learn is to do it yourself.
http://lerch.no-ip.com/atm/Silver.htm
http://dgmlnx2.sun.ac.za/personal/astro/telemake/silver.htm
I have only done mirroring in an controlled environment, when experimenting these at university chemistry lab. Knowing what we were doing.
The first site there gives some information about how to proceed, and things to be cautious of.
I haven't written any of those above guides, nor tested their formulas, so if something does not add up or goes wrong it is up to you.
That said science is fun, and the best to learn is to do it yourself.
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