how to make STUBBY MIRRORS

[Pistol Pete]

Fair play for having a go. I look forward to seeing the finished result. And +1 on getting a mod to move this once you get a few updates. Handy guide IMO.

[gaznovalet]

cheers for all the replies lads and will hopefully get a few updates tomorow.

[gaznovalet]

Aha Ive got a spare set here... think Im going to follow your guide and make some myself! You want this thread moving to "Articles" section as a how to mate. Im sure mods can and will help when they read this.

hiya Nick do you recognise the mirrors mate ? they are the ones you sent me, im sure you will have evrything at work to enable you to make a set up and a man of your skills shud sail thruw it :D
just done a bit more to them and then looked at the time so heading to my trench!, will add pics in morning of wot i have just got done to them.

[gaznovalet]

now the mirror should look something like this

notice on the end piece of outer mirror its now cut back a little and grinded up ready to allow me to fit a piece of plastic in to make the shape back up, for this i just use a sheet of 2ml plastic and cut to shape- use a cardboard template 1st as makes life easier and also with being only 2ml plastic its more than strong enuf but can be cut with scissors and also a bonus is that it can be twisted or bent into shape to follow the new mirror

wen happy with shape and it fits and meets up near abouts all the edges the new peice can be plastic weldid in or for quikness and because it was nearly 1am in morning wen i did this part i used q-bond plastic liquid glue wich is strong enuf for these bits as get fibreglassed over aswell shortly

so with new peice sorted and fitted mirror shud now be starting to take shape and look like this

then take sum fibreglass and go around all the joins fill in any gaps and holes left and try not get it on your fingers - also fibreglass the black outer frame aswell as this is now ready to be built up a bit to then allow for bodge and filler at next stages, dont worry about fibreglass looking unpretty as its not a very user freindly product and bodge will hide it next

[vaughanmc]

Where did you get the plastic from Gaz ? I think this is the easiest way to make them the way you do it

Keep the pics coming mate! Cheers

[gaznovalet]

Where did you get the plastic from Gaz ? I think this is the easiest way to make them the way you do it

Keep the pics coming mate! Cheers

hello mate i just got the plastic from where me da works just wot was lay around, you cud probably get away with using a dvd box if you get decent cover the plastic will be sound enuf as its just a supporting piece really here is a few more pics wot just got done, dressed the fibreglass back with the grinder and keyed or ruffed up the remaining areas to wich the bodge will be getting applied to make sure it bites in and sticks

then apply a nice amount of bodge doesent have to be neat as is just to get the basic shape built up then next coat of filler will require a nice aplication for the final shaping and getting edges right, heres a good helping of bodge

also add bodge to the black outer frame of mirrors as you can see at bottom do this to areas of the mirror where it has been welded, glued or fibreglassed.

[gaznovalet]

use 40 grit paper to rub this down save time for yourself time

now ready for a nice skim of filler- i use dolfinglaze as so easy to apply with being self leveling and simple to rub out, start off with 80 grit paper then down to 180 and even 240 dependant upon how much primer you are wanting to use at further stages

now rubbed down shud be looking like this

form the front

and finally a stubby mirror!!!

just the other one to make now wen get time, made this as a guide due to the amount of pms ive had regarding making them for people, i have a lot on my plate rite now so my guide ends here, the rest regarding priming and paint prep can be found in NickJs wip, for the glass Nick done it the proper way an alternative way is use plastic mirror replacement glass and just cut to shape with scissors and bond them in, only this way theyre fixed and nicks way they can be adjusted to suit view. hope thats helped and is as clear as i cud make it. and good luck if you choose to decide to try and make a set of stubby mirrors up!

[Southie]

These look pretty damn good Gaz. :D I feel like having a go now and I don't really like them usually.

[Benn]

Very cool, like your tattoo too.

[L14MNP]

Nice guide mate and cheers for the PM.

More pics of Escort please!