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  • Who makes custom-sized giant teleprompter mirrors?

    Posted by Mark Suszko on November 14, 2014 at 4:58 pm

    If you needed a 40-inch-diagonal, front-surface-coated, 50% transparent glass teleprompter mirror, where would you go?

    Right now, I use tempered window glass with a mylar overlay, but my crew has asked for a better mirror. I don’t know that this is easy to find or afford, any ideas?

    Thomas Leong replied 11 years, 1 month ago 2 Members · 9 Replies
  • 9 Replies
  • Thomas Leong

    November 15, 2014 at 12:55 am

    Inquire with Edmund Optics. They may do custom orders –

    https://www.edmundoptics.com/optics/beamsplitters/

    I have no experience with them, but they were in my ‘collection of websites’ for future reference.

    Good luck!
    Thomas Leong

  • Mark Suszko

    November 15, 2014 at 2:56 am

    They do, but not that large, and their minimum order is 25 pieces.

  • Thomas Leong

    November 15, 2014 at 12:58 pm

    Alternative is DIY/modify a normal mirror with paint strippers!! Examples –
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaEaaeajCSI

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RSBBjzttfzo

    At 40″, any piece you get would probably have to be thicker than the usual 2-3mm, else it sags/bends when angled and may break if too thin and brittle.
    Additionally, at that size (like a 10ft x 8ft piece I had years ago for a Pepper’s Ghost install), it would also have to be ??laminated?? (can’t recall the proper word) so when and if it breaks, it does not shatter completely and into small flying fragments causing a danger to anyone nearby.

    Thomas

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  • Mark Suszko

    November 15, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    Interesting technique. I wonder about the unprotected metal surface degrading: wouldn’t it need a clear coat to protect it? And would such a mirror be 50% transparent, as a teleprompter needs for the beam splitter?

  • Thomas Leong

    November 15, 2014 at 4:39 pm

    My thoughts on this is that a normal mirror is merely a piece of plate glass coated on one side with silver and the opposite side with something opaque (eg. paint). The technique says that removal of the paint would suffice. The original coating on the reflective mirror side would be untouched.

    Could try it out on a smaller piece first. Can check for ghosting with the tip of a pencil or finger tip on the surface. The ghost image comes from the back surface if the front surface is not good enough (That’s the way I check my prompter glass before mounting on the stand).

  • Thomas Leong

    November 15, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    Apparently such sizes are available from England!! My ole buddy there just replied me, saying:

    “Front surface glass mirrors that big are available but Mylar mirrors (foil stretched on aluminium frame) are more practical and cheaper., and more popular. I can get a quote for you on Monday.”

    If interested, I’ve already informed him that you will contact him. Please email me or private message me here for his contact email.

    Thomas

  • Mark Suszko

    November 15, 2014 at 5:13 pm

    Friendship link message sent, will look for your contact info.

  • Thomas Leong

    December 4, 2014 at 8:01 am

    Hi Mark,

    Not sure if you have had any success from my friend in London, but I just came across this other possible source –

    https://www.wayfair.com/Vutec-Mirror-For-Rear-Projection-VU1165.html?

    Might be worth a question to them re the mirror only.

    Thomas

  • Thomas Leong

    April 17, 2015 at 9:59 pm

    Mark,

    Just found this –
    https://glasslessmirror.com/scrim-glassless-mirrors.html

    Custom sizes available too, and maybe the amount of reflection. Being glassless, makes transport and handling easier.

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