Re: ATM How to attach the mirror to the cell

[atm@misterg.fsnet.co.uk (Andy Gray)]

On Fri, 29 Aug 2003 23:07:36 +0530,  "Aditya Munshi"
<amul49@eth.net> wrote:

>How should I attach the mirror using silicone glue to the cell.

I would drill a ~6mm hole in the cell support at the centre
of each "blob", get everything scrupulously clean (wipe with
meths, etc.) and support the cell over the back of the
mirror so that there is a ~3mm gap between the mirror and
the supports. Squeeze silicone through the hole in each
support until it squishes out against the mirror to the
required diameter. Leave undisturbed for 24- 48 hours
(difficult, I know!)

The holes serve 2 purposes - In my experimentation I found
it a lot easier to get a neat job this way (rather than
applying a blob and betting the mirror onto it; and also
(more importantly) it helps the silicone cure - without
holes, the silicone in the middle of a ~20mm x 3mm blob
hadn't cured a week after applying it (over something like
60% of the diameter). With the hole, it was ~100% cured
after ~48 hours (but continues to stiffen up for weeks
afterwards).

Experiment with some window glass & test your results to
destruction - very informative!

I've only done one, but this is the way I did it (6 point
cell)

Andy

Andy Gray, N. Wales, UK