Precision inspection mirror? Is that a thing?

[Jbmotorsports]

As a mechanic and user of crappy inspection mirrors for forever, I've often wondered if a high quality mirror exists. My reasoning: when trying to view details in a traditional mirror you get a double view of sorts where you see the reflection off of the glass as well as off of the mirrored portion and with my poor eyesight its hard to see properly through one. So, is there something that exists? Maybe a dentist mirror or take a piece of aluminum and polish the ever living hell out of it

 

[rlitman]

You're asking for a "first surface mirror" Good first surface mirrors are used in telescopes, etc, but are VERY sensitive to damage. I couldn't imagine one lasting more than a single use as an inspection mirror. Polished stainless inspection mirrors do exist, but the image is unlikely to be better than you get from a glass second surface mirror.

I'd suggest you look into better lighting. Shining your light onto the mirror accentuates the issue of the glass surface, and the ghost images can be minimized by the right lighting conditions.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

Yes thats certainly true about the lighting and I've been through damn near every option of light, lumen and CRI known to man LOL.

My first thought as well would be damage being an issue but maybe some "nano polymer space age coating" would help for my use case. What about some kind of anti reflective/polarized coating on the glass part? Just spit balling here. I generally try to illuminate the surface and not the mirror but often times that isn't feasible. I suppose it's likely one of those things ya just deal with. Figured it wouldn't

 

[rlitman]

I can't say that I've seen anti-reflective coatings on glass mirror surfaces, but that could be a good idea.

In doing more searching, it seems that there are first surface dental mirrors now:

Amazon.com: Osung D-MFCS-04H Front Surface Dental Mirror with Handle #4, Cone Socket : Industrial & Scientific

Amazon.com: Osung D-MFCS-04H Front Surface Dental Mirror with Handle #4, Cone Socket : Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

I had no idea it was a thing, or that first surface coatings have progressed to the point of becoming cleanable, but I guess it is, so I need to retract my previous comment.

It looks like they're using rhodium coatings.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

Oh man that's awesome! Hey, we both learned something today. I ordered one so we'll see if it's any decent, worth a shot for 10 bucks.

 

[Sumboodie]

Use a borescope?

 

[Milton Shaw]

I used dentist mirrors for years as a appliance tech. I got them from a dental supply house, a couple of handles and a dozen heads. Seems like it was $20 or so but that was nearly 30 years ago. Company supplied a plastic mirror that broke the first time I tried to use it. Head broke completely off. My dentist (a close friend) would reach in my shirt pocket and try to use it on me.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

In my experience a borescope is not a good general inspection device. Too hard to get oriented and takes too much time to navigate around. For the specific purpose, say probing into an oil galley or in to look at a piston or valve it's the tool to use.

 

[rlitman]

Oh man that's awesome! Hey, we both learned something today. I ordered one so we'll see if it's any decent, worth a shot for 10 bucks.

Lemmie know, I may buy one too. Just remember it's still going to be easier to scratch than glass, so treat it like a camera lens.

In my experience a borescope is not a good general inspection device. Too hard to get oriented and takes too much time to navigate around. For the specific purpose, say probing into an oil galley or in to look at a piston or valve it's the tool to use.

Agreed. I have a few sizes of inspection mirrors, and feel that in any scenario that can be seen directly with a mirror, you're better off with the mirror. Of course the mirror has limits that a flexible camera scope doesn't.

My problem with the link above is that it's a dental mirror, and I'm not a dentist. My inspection mirrors have pivoting ball joints. Sometimes they really help, though sometimes they make things worse too. I could probably cut transfer the head onto something adjustable.

 

[larry_g]

Back in the day I worked electronics mfg. We used broken wafers for first surface mirrors. They were free and easy to come by. To tell if you have a first surface mirror put a pick on the surface and if you have one image then a first surface. If you have a second image then the reflective surface is under the covering (glass).

lg
no neat sig line

 

[KnurledNut]

After recently breaking my glass mirror, i bought a Klenk flame inspection mirror. Its polished stainless steel. Initial impressions are good. It should take rough handling better and also be more heat resistant than glass.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

I thought this thread would be nothing but crickets. Nice discussion! So using the term stainless or flame mirror I found a bunch and in a review was stated my biggest issue with a glass mirror and that's using it when welding. I had to get good at no line of sight welding cause I got tired of destroying mirrors

 

[RPH]

Dental mirrors can have a magnifying lens on them. I had a few and they were hard to get the focus just right. Inside your mouth next to the tooth the mirror gives a view. Dentist is 6” away while examining. Working with induction heating equipment we used plastic mirrors that we would cut from a large piece. Plastic is non conductive when trying to locate an arc on the high frequency output. It was cheap and disposable if needed.

 

[rlitman]

...So using the term stainless or flame mirror I found a bunch ...

Stainless will polish to a mirror, but once you use a rag to wipe off a few dirty fingerprints, you'll realize it's never the same. It's also only about 70% as reflective as the aluminum used on glass mirrors, so it's going to be a darker view. People like it because it cannot shatter, but that's about it.

Rhodium is very close in reflectivity to aluminum and is almost as wear resistant as a metal gets (not as good as glass, but close), which is why I was excited to see that it is on the market.

As for spark resistance, I think sparks will erode them all, but glass for some reason really gets chewed up by welding and grinding sparks.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

Oh this is awesome. I just put "front surface mirror" in amazon, there's large sheets, all kinds of stuff. Do you know if this cuts like glass? There's a cheap 6"×8" sheet i would love to make a few different sizes out of

I know this is super dorky but I'm really excited about this. I've been complaining (in my head) for 15 years about this. Asked tool guys etc and finally decided to actually look. It was one of those things that works just well enough you don't put too much effort in to change because the juice ain't worth the squeeze some times

 

[KnurledNut]

once you use a rag to wipe off a few dirty fingerprints, you'll realize it's never the same.

I wipe with Brakleen...

 

[Solpainter]

You're asking for a "first surface mirror" Good first surface mirrors are used in telescopes, etc, but are VERY sensitive to damage. I couldn't imagine one lasting more than a single use as an inspection mirror. Polished stainless inspection mirrors do exist, but the image is unlikely to be better than you get from a glass second surface mirror.

I'd suggest you look into better lighting. Shining your light onto the mirror accentuates the issue of the glass surface, and the ghost images can be minimized by the right lighting conditions.

 

[LXCam]

Just jumping in line to see what comes of this as I’ve got the same complaint.

 

[Tools4Me]

If anyone happens to have an old projection tv laying around, the couple tv's I have taken apart over the years all used large first/front surface mirrors to reflect the projected image horizontally onto the back of the tv screen. I carefully cut up one of those mirrors a couple years ago (using glass cutters to make the cuts and my foredom tool to smooth up the sharp edges a bit). I made 5-6 slide in replacement mirrors for my Proto J2373 inspection mirror, so the mirrored glass can be easily replaced after it gets scratched up.

Proto Rect Telescopng Mirror (J2373) | Zoro

Order Proto Rectangular Telescoping Mirror, J2373 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

www.zoro.com

That Proto is probably too large of a mirror for the OP, but with a little patience one could probably make small round mirrors as well, to glue into place for smaller dental style mirrors.

I have also seen small (often long and narrow but they are still good quality) first surface mirrors inside computer printer/scanners. If you happen to have an old one laying around, it might be worth taking it apart to see if yours has a useful mirror in it.

 

[Fedwrench]

how about a digital inspection mirror?

E-DM-1 - Digital Inspection Mirror

Digital Inspection Mirror allows you to show inspection images and videos to your customers! Connect to your phone through Ullman DM App - available in Android and iOS app stores.

ullmandevices.com