Where to find reflecting mirror material?

[nick0123]

In the past I've often picked up watches that where the battery has corroded through to the reflector which makes it look kind of ugly, and often has the unwitting owner saying the LCD is bad.

Usually I can find one about the right size from another junked watch, but would prefer to be cutting custom reflectors when these have to be replaced.

Does anyone know of a source/model# etc for reflectors that are the right material for LCD watches? I've bought two (reasonably expensive) films from American Polarizers that *should* have worked but really didn't, so were maybe designed for newer, maybe backlit, LCD technology instead.

[Kasper]

Good question...i tried several options..none of them works good. These days the reflector is all ready taped on the backside of the polarizer. but still i haven't found a source that sell these.

[Seiko Kid]

usually i use reflectors from larger screen watches and cut them down. newer lcds have the same reflector only thinner and have worked for me in the past. what size do you need?

[nick0123]

The Nelsonic Space Attacker size (which seems to be common across that, the Armitron/Waltham/Nelsonic Dixie watches, and Sexum & variants). Just a bit bigger than most other watches of the same vintage.

The smaller ones are reasonably easy to find, but this particular shape/size is not (well, not for me anyway) - much of the ones I turn up that look like they might work end up being glued to the back of the polariser/LCD, as Kasper mentioned.

Someone has to be making them still - a reflector mirror sheet about A4 size would last me pretty much forever, but trying to find one leads to a lot of nope.

This stuff doesn't really look the right colour for a G&W so suspect it wouldn't give a great end result on watches either — http://www.ebay.com/itm/NINTENDO-GAME-W ... 1848303434

[Diginut]

Its possible to make a 'reflector' but it rather depends on the existing construction of the watch you're repairing. Some have numerous layers of reflector, diffuser, LCD, polariser on top, all of different thicknesses, some of which might be stuck together.

I have restored a couple of my Seiko LCD's using a piece of cleanly cut thin aluminium foil. This needs to be cut from a sheet that is still wrinkle-free, using a decent pair of scissors.

Might take a couple of attempts to get precisely the right size, but hey ... bacofoil is cheap !

[charger105]

As Adam suggests, old dead LCDs are a good source. G757 Seikos have a large display and there's plenty of dead one out there.
I've cut G757 reflectors before with excellent results.

If that doesn't suit, perhaps something like this:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Chrome-Detai ... 1950689826

I used reflective tape on a Sicura Instalite............in fact it's what was originally used.
Rgds.

[Adam]

Im not Seiko Kid :) Id like to be Adam but cant find a way to change my screenname so for now I am DWL. Kasper can you change it for me?

Adam

[Adam]

Yeah Im Adam, Thanks Kasper, sorry back to the thread.

Mirror material. I also use dead watches to cut new material when I need it especiall some of the early 80s Seikos where they thought it would be a good idea to put the battery over the reflector panel with no protection.


Adam

[charger105]

Sorry Adam, I've done it again
I meant to reference Rob (Seiko Kid) !

Rgds.

[Kasper]

Your wish is my command Adam.

funny that nobody seems to have a good alternative.