Re: ATM AstroFest Mirror Silvering

[epabcc@epa.ericsson.se (Bratislav Curcic)]

Andy Steere wrote :

(silvering and dangers related to it)
> Let me add a question to the group... should we even consider doing this?

I've done silvering many times, and it is completely safe. I even tried 
to deliberately MAKE silver fulminate without any success. I know of no
instances that anyone succeeded with blowing up their mirror (or 
assistants!) while silvering. The only sources are more or less anecdotal
remarks in the mirror making books (and I feel that even authors put it
there just to make people more aware, NOT from the personal experience).
Although dangerous in other ways (nitric acid and potassium/sodium
hydroxide are enough dangerous substances on their own to warrant VERY
careful handling), I feel that fear from the explosion while silvering
is unsubstantiated.

But I must also add that VERY few people succeeds with silvering first
time ! (yours truly included) 
If you want your mirror silvered "on the spot" at Astrofest, do a little 
homework and silver few mirrors at home before. The only REAL danger here
is that you won't be able to silver it properly. Hint - try to do it
when outside temperature is around 24-26 degrees. Too hot or too cold 
ain't good for silvering process. Hint #2 - have some rouge and cotton 
balls handy. If your silver deposit turns out too thick and dark, or you
get milky like appearance from chemical deposits, you can gently polish
the surface. Do it when completely DRY. No water AT ALL, or you'll wipe 
your coating off ! Dip the cotton into the dry rouge powder, and circle
it a while on another piece of glass before going on silver. This will
break larger rouge particles and reduce chance of scratching a bit. 
Of course, you can't completely avoid scratching, but the thrill of 
succes will be enough not to pay any attention to "minor issues"! 

Good luck,

Bratislav