Anyone know how to mount valentine1 v1 in mirror?

**colin** · 04-29-2009, 12:45 AM

You aren't going to be cutting through it. You will be removing the metallic stuff on the backside of the glass that causes a reflection... its a simple etching process.

**MAZDABOY** · 04-29-2009, 12:51 AM

OOOO. So just etch an outline and "scratch" etch the middle then. How do they get it so clean. I would expect to see scratchs you know.

**lunapark** · 04-29-2009, 08:18 AM

There was a company in NY which was doing this and they wanted $500.00 for the install. After some investigation, coming from the Car Audio World, the best way to do this is to use the remote display which you can get from Valentine, you have the glass cut from your local glass shop, there is a paint you can get for the mirror finish, cut out your template from the face on stick paper, put them on the mirror, paint the mirror, remove your stickers, and ta da.

**Creative0Mind** · 04-30-2009, 07:37 PM

I still think that once you open up your mirror and you get the template from V1 after positioning it where you want it, tape it down and with a new clean brush carefully apply the etching solution which would give you sharp clean lines for an awesome finished product.

If I get a V1 template i'll give it a go. My BIGGEST question is, how to open the rear view mirror itself!!!??!!!

**MAZDABOY** · 04-30-2009, 11:21 PM

That sould be the easy part. Pry it apart with a flathead, should pop open.

**colin** · 05-01-2009, 04:28 PM

For the etching, you etch the whole rectangles. No scratching the middles, etch the middles too.

If you want the one that sticks out of the mirror (the older version on the site you posted), then you would get your glass cut.

Its nicer (IMO) and cheaper to simply etch out a few rectangles from the back of the mirror glass.

**swiat34** · 05-01-2009, 05:03 PM

To etch mirror backing, I've used an exacto knife to cut the outline...using a metal ruler to make the edges straight. Then mask off around the area you're gonna remove. Then use the chisel blade for the exacto knife to scrape the gray covering off. It'll scrape down to the silver. Then use "The Works" toilet bowl cleaner in the round bottle with the blue cap (active ingredient is LYE) with a small model paint brush and cover the silver area with the solution. Let it sit for just a minute and then use the exacto blade to gently scrape the silver off the glass. Wipe it with a paper towel. Any remaining silver, just apply the cleaner again and repeat. If you're trying to just scribe letters or dots, you'll need to have a masking template so you know where to scratch the grey off. A Dremel with that little round tip (not the course wood cutting bit, the one that looks like a knife sharpening stone) will work quickest. Just be sure to keep LIGHT pressure so as not to scratch the glass.

Swat

Source: 9th grade art class.

**Creative0Mind** · 05-01-2009, 08:04 PM

I emailed him to to see if he would assist with how best to go about etching the glass and mounting the display since he's done it before.....and hopefully if he replies and is helpful enough i'll go ahead and support him and buy 2 mirrors from him!

**D4V3** · 05-03-2009, 03:15 AM

'Mirrors are manufactured by applying a reflective coating to a suitable substrate. The most common such substrate is glass, due to its ease of fabrication, its rigidity, and its ability to take a smooth finish. The reflective coating ("silver") is typically applied to the back surface of the glass, so that it is protected from corrosion and accidental damage.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror

All you have to do is to remove the reflective coating without damaging the glass.
Don't etch, as acid will damage the surface and get a 'frosted glass' result!

There are bluetooth rearview mirrors with a LCD display,
i.e. http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/...D_display.html

**swiat34** · 05-03-2009, 06:54 PM

Right, etching is bad, but the lye won't harm the glass. Ever put aluminum in a lye-water mixture? It eats the metal and will have similar results with the silver on the mirror. The toilet bowl cleaner I suggested (and lye for that matter) will NOT harm the glass nor effect it transparency.

Swat