Safety gear: signal mirrors

Channel Ribs · 11 January 2010, 19:50

I have long sworn by those little plastic unbreakable mirrors that safety kits often include, they are sold as a signal device but they actually come in jolly handy for seeing the back of things. Particularly fiddly bits of engines and particularly when afloat and unable to get at it from the right angle, so much so that I carry one in my tool kit.

Anyway, a nice chap came in the shop the other day and saw said plastic mirrors:

"Crap" says he, "they break as soon as you take them out the packet."

"Unbreakable" says I, knowing what it says on the packet.

"How many have you used" says wizened ancient mariner.

"Dozens" says I.

"Because you keep breaking them?" suggests the bearded gent.

"It is a fair point" concedes I.

And so the conversation went on, we got around the old fashioned stainless steel polished jobs that the Army used to issue - back when they had funding. But where to get them???

So, what price a decent stainless steel ultra-polished mirror? And where to get one??

chewy · 11 January 2010, 20:02

Cheap.... like the budgie.

http://www.traveloutdoorsleeds.co.uk...rvival-mirror/

Doesn't have a hole in the centre though.

Channel Ribs · 11 January 2010, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

Cheap.... like the budgie.

http://www.traveloutdoorsleeds.co.uk...rvival-mirror/

Doesn't have a hole in the centre though.

Oooo! Nice one.

willk · 11 January 2010, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by malthouse

So, what price a decent stainless steel ultra-polished mirror? And where to get one??

I have one that was in a Outdoorsey Huntin' Shootin' Fishin' kinda shop. So far I have not used it to do anything...

The Garfish · 11 January 2010, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

So far I have not used it to do anything...

yew cud yewse itt forr skweezin yor adolesent zitts

iz eny nobbur intrestid inn a bullk buiy?

i av gott 400 cds ov lea marrvin singin i woz bawn unnder a wandrin starr forr sail

wan kwid eech

gaRf

Hightower · 11 January 2010, 22:49

Just a thought.....aren't hard disk drive, disks highly polished with a hole in the middle?

willk · 11 January 2010, 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Garfish

i av gott 400 cds ov lea marrvin singin i woz bawn unnder a wandrin starr forr sail....wan kwid eech

That's crackin stuff, put me down for one. I want mine on Cassette with the fold-out artwork. Preferably the German release. Does the kwid include VAT and Shipping?

willk · 11 January 2010, 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Just a thought.....aren't hard disk drive, disks highly polished with a hole in the middle?

Yes, but I suspect that they will diffuse light...

TonyC · 11 January 2010, 23:43

http://www.bcbin.com/index.php?productID=1398

?

biffer · 12 January 2010, 06:23

the mukti spoke steering wheels on most ribs have a lovely stainless cap in the middle

Erin · 12 January 2010, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Yes, but I suspect that they will diffuse light...

Coincidentally, I dismantled an old drive the other day and threw the three platters in the 'box of useful bits to keep' in the garage. They are extemely shiny, but I'm not sure how resitant they'd be to the marine atmosphere. Maybe I'll leave one outside for a bit and see what happens. I've no idea what they're made of or coated with.

jyasaki · 12 January 2010, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Just a thought.....aren't hard disk drive, disks highly polished with a hole in the middle?

Scratch pretty easy, though.

Make sure you don't get the glass platters, too.

jky

Channel Ribs · 12 January 2010, 15:42

I imagine the Gelert ones are the way forward at three quid, so long as they are a decent quality steel.

We also got a quote in from a stainless steel mirror specialist, which would obviously be the bees knees.

They are handy things to have on board though.

Downhilldai · 12 January 2010, 15:43

Also look like they'd make decent nav light brackets for an A-frame.

Nasher · 12 January 2010, 15:56

Over the last few years I have gradually developed my own signal mirror which is handily placed right on top of my head.

Nasher

JSP · 12 January 2010, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nasher

Over the last few years I have gradually developed my own signal mirror which is handily placed right on top of my head.

Nasher

I'm slowly starting to develop one of them mate. But I call it the solar panel for the love machine...

m chappelow · 12 January 2010, 16:58

i keep a flexi mirror in the first aid kit ,, if single handed on my fishing boat ,,just incase i get a face injury ,at least you can see then how many teeth you have lost or how deep the gash is,

Hightower · 12 January 2010, 17:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyasaki

Scratch pretty easy, though.

Make sure you don't get the glass platters, too.

jky

I use some as coasters to protect the table from cups. After about 3 years of use they look pretty good, yes some scratches, but as an emergancy bit of kit it would be stored away anyway.

Downhilldai · 12 January 2010, 17:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by m chappelow

,at least you can see then ....how deep the gash is,

Do you need a mirror for that?

Nasher · 12 January 2010, 19:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Do you need a mirror for that?

Oh yes, it lives with the miners helmet and the plank for tying across your arse.

Nasher.