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CaLiBus
Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2011
Posts: 1097
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 Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 5:05 pm Post subject: Mirror replacement help! |
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Ok so here we go..
Managed to get this far and now can't seem to find the ad that sells the replacement mirrors.
Can someone here direct me to the ad???
I'll report back on my results. Promise!  |
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easy e
Samba Member
Joined: May 28, 2008
Posts: 3931
Location: 1 hr north of Santa Barbara
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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Pretty sure it's 2mm thick... and not common to your local glass shop.
Sometimes hobby/craft stores will have smaller mirrors. Maybe consider a trip with your calipers. If you find something, your local glass shop can make it round.
From what I remember... the edge is bead rolled. You might have to un-roll the edge to get the mirror in. For an idea of what that might look like... check out this Vespa legshield trim roller:
http://www.scooterwest.com/item_details/Vintage-Tool-Leg-Shield-Trim-Roller/1302
e
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Last edited by easy e on Fri Oct 03, 2014 12:10 am; edited 6 times in total |
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CaLiBus
Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2011
Posts: 1097
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2014 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Easy.
Shame how I can't seem to locate the ad. Seller claimed to have the correct thickness and diameter dialed in.
Managed to pry open most of the aluminum lip using a soft piece of wood. Once I get my hands on that new glass mirror I'm sure I can repeat the home made wood tool method. |
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scruzdelux
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2004
Posts: 44
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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| As an interim option I bought a cheap plastic hand mirror at a local dime store. I broke the mirror out of its handle and traced a pattern of my mirror on it. Then I scored along the pattern line with a Dremel cut-off disc until I was through the glass. It may not be the perfect thickness but it is cheap and gets you by until you can source a correct one. |
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Stocknazi
Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2004
Posts: 5150
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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Did you ever find the guy selling the replacment glass?
_________________
WANTED:
58 Westfalia cabinet knobs (3 needed), roof rack, and (7) privy tent poles (silver painted).
"When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty."
"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."
Thomas Jefferson |
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CaLiBus
Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2011
Posts: 1097
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| Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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No.. But did get a PM for a free bus mirror! 
The mirror was only good for parts so managed to do the swap and it turned out great !
Thank you William! |
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williamM
Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2008
Posts: 4333
Location: southwest Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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Glad you liked it- OH-  "lowenbach"-- just in case you doubters of carma are out there- today dropped the ratty 40 out of the 66 bus and it had a vw bosch 90mm 12 vt gen on it-- 
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Stocknazi
Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2004
Posts: 5150
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| Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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If the og glass is indeed 2mm thick, I have some mirror glass that I plan to have cut if there is interest.
_________________
WANTED:
58 Westfalia cabinet knobs (3 needed), roof rack, and (7) privy tent poles (silver painted).
"When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty."
"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."
Thomas Jefferson |
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velvetgreen
Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2004
Posts: 2745
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2014 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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| old motorcycle mirrors are a very close match- another thought. My local mirror place claimed I needed automotive grade mirror and refused to sell me their generic "mirror" glass |
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Stocknazi
Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2004
Posts: 5150
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 6:25 am Post subject: |
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| velvetgreen wrote: |
| old motorcycle mirrors are a very close match- another thought. My local mirror place claimed I needed automotive grade mirror and refused to sell me their generic "mirror" glass |
Is there such a thing as "automotive grade" mirror glass?
Maybee it's a tempered glass?
_________________
WANTED:
58 Westfalia cabinet knobs (3 needed), roof rack, and (7) privy tent poles (silver painted).
"When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty."
"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."
Thomas Jefferson |
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velvetgreen
Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2004
Posts: 2745
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 7:09 am Post subject: |
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| they seemed to think there was automotive grade- call me crazy but i was threw caution to the wind and went with a piece of generic mirror that I had at the house. Cut it myself with a glass cutter and 4 years later still working fine and has not cracked etc Blobbed in some caulking behind it to hold it in place and has been rock solid |
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cru62
Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2002
Posts: 4117
Location: Margaritaville.....24/7
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| Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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| StockNazi wrote: |
| velvetgreen wrote: |
| old motorcycle mirrors are a very close match- another thought. My local mirror place claimed I needed automotive grade mirror and refused to sell me their generic "mirror" glass |
Is there such a thing as "automotive grade" mirror glass?
Maybee it's a tempered glass? |
I think the the mirroring is more weather resistant. Regular mirror glass is not usually subjected to temperature and humidity extremes. You could always grab a mirror from a wrecking yard and have a glass place cut a circle.
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BarryL 
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2004
Posts: 14257
Location: Casa de Oro, California
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| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 10:26 am Post subject: |
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| If you find a mirror piece that is thin enough for your use and larger than what you need you can fill a large washtub or bucket with clear water, hold the glass under water, and use a stout pair of scissors to trim it down to size. When you snip it close enough then you can nibble nibble and come closer and closer to the line or blue tape that you marked it with. |
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Ran When Parked
Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2013
Posts: 781
Location: Birmingham, AL
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| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 12:34 pm Post subject: wha?? |
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| BarryL wrote: |
| If you find a mirror piece that is thin enough for your use and larger than what you need you can fill a large washtub or bucket with clear water, hold the glass under water, and use a stout pair of scissors to trim it down to size. When you snip it close enough then you can nibble nibble and come closer and closer to the line or blue tape that you marked it with. |
That technique doesn't sound right, but I would bet you know what is up with that magic. Googling that fix... |
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BarryL
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2004
Posts: 14257
Location: Casa de Oro, California
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| Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2014 6:59 pm Post subject: Re: wha?? |
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| Sh*tBird wrote: |
| That technique doesn't sound right, but... |
I know! I was skeptical till I did it. My dad taught me.
He said in World War II they were issued those right angle double D flashlights with the off-on and push-button. They were constantly breaking the lens and when they couldn't get the readymade glass they'd use a small pane from the English airport barracks. |
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Ran When Parked
Samba Member
Joined: September 26, 2013
Posts: 781
Location: Birmingham, AL
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| Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 8:16 am Post subject: Re: wha?? |
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| BarryL wrote: |
| Sh*tBird wrote: |
| That technique doesn't sound right, but... |
I know! I was skeptical till I did it. My dad taught me.
He said in World War II they were issued those right angle double D flashlights with the off-on and push-button. They were constantly breaking the lens and when they couldn't get the readymade glass they'd use a small pane from the English airport barracks. |
Great story. Thanks. |
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Who.Me?
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2014
Posts: 2206
Location: UK (South)
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| Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 8:24 am Post subject: |
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| CaLiBus wrote: |
No.. But did get a PM for a free bus mirror!
The mirror was only good for parts so managed to do the swap and it turned out great !
Thank you William! |
Have you got any pictures of what the mirror frame looks like after you'd unrolled and re-rolled the edge?
I've a mirror to replace a cracked one on my SC, but have only just noticed that the cracked one is an original VW part.
I'd like to swap the new mirror's glass in to the old frame, but don't want to end up with something that looks like a dog's dinner when it's done.
Interested to see how yours turned out.
Thanks |
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CaLiBus
Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2011
Posts: 1097
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| Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 9:21 am Post subject: |
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| Who.Me? wrote: |
| CaLiBus wrote: |
No.. But did get a PM for a free bus mirror!
The mirror was only good for parts so managed to do the swap and it turned out great !
Thank you William! |
Have you got any pictures of what the mirror frame looks like after you'd unrolled and re-rolled the edge?
I've a mirror to replace a cracked one on my SC, but have only just noticed that the cracked one is an original VW part.
I'd like to swap the new mirror's glass in to the old frame, but don't want to end up with something that looks like a dog's dinner when it's done.
Interested to see how yours turned out.
Thanks |
Sure
Grab a soft twig or branch in shape of a pencil. Carve one end flat. Place the flat end between lip and mirror and go round and round with slow light pressure prying open the aluminum lip. Replace mirror then press back down on the aluminum with the same high tech twig/branch tool (like peeling on a potatoe).
Take note:
Don't rush and take your time. Aluminum is very soft so your results will depend on the amount of pressure applied. I used the fresh twig method being that it is soft and not rigid hard.
I'll post pictures soon.
Hope this helps! |
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Who.Me?
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2014
Posts: 2206
Location: UK (South)
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| Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Great, thanks. And thanks for explaining the fresh twig tip. |
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Stocknazi
Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2004
Posts: 5150
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| Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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The og glass is 2mm thick; it has a rubber gasket shown above that is a little thicker than 1mm; I have not measured one yet, just an estimate; not sure how accurate you could be measuring a 50 year old rubber gasket anyway; unless it was a nos mirror.
I have some 3mm glass; could one not use a little thinner rubber gasket and a little thicker glass? Not sure how much the gasket has to do with the mirror vibrating, but may be worth a try anyway.
_________________
WANTED:
58 Westfalia cabinet knobs (3 needed), roof rack, and (7) privy tent poles (silver painted).
"When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty."
"Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God."
Thomas Jefferson
Last edited by Stocknazi on Thu Jan 01, 2015 7:23 am; edited 1 time in total |
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