ATM Diagonal Mirror (was: Silvering materials)

[BOB PRABOWO <BOB@bahana.co.id>]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the responds on Silvering materials.
I'll try to find out the purity percentages of both the lab grade and
the industrial grade, then with the information and all your advices I
can decide which one to get.

As for the chamois, thanks to everyone who offers me their chamois. I
appreciate it. But first (as some of you suggested) I'll try the chamois
used to wash the car. The brand commonly available here is Kanebo Plas
Chamois, gee I didn't know that this is the chamois meant by Tex. I
know, this Kanebo might be a synthetic chamois but at least I know what
chamois is :-)

Another question:
Is there anyone from the list who made their own diagonal mirror?

I'm going to make my own diagonal (it's one of the reasons why I decided
to learn the silvering process and silver my mirror, so that I can also
make my own diagonal and coat it myself). Tex' book gives a detail
instruction on how to do it, and I'm in the impression that cutting the
plate glass into the shape is doable for a beginner like me, but testing
the flatness of the mirror is a different story. 

One of the test (the interference test) uses a plano-convex lens.  The
example he gives uses a 4" diameter lens. Can I do the test with smaller
lens? How small can I go?
The second test method uses a sphere mirror. Does the mirror have to be
perfectly sphere?

Oh yes, one more thing. I read about protective films in JB Sidgwick's
book. Has anyone ever apply this protective films on a silvered mirror? 

Thanks,

Bob P. Sumitro
Jakarta, Indonesia

Seeing me before him 
the enemy raises his sword
to strike,
but by that time 
I already stand behind him

>-Morihei Ueshiba-