What are inspection mirrors made from?
What are inspection mirrors made from? |
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Mirror |
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Most inspection mirrors use regular silver glass mirrors. These are usually made from float glass coated in silver, copper film and two layers of waterproof paint. | |||
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Convex mirrors can be made out of both polycarbonate and acrylic and both types are used for under-vehicle inspection mirrors. Both materials are very strong, however polycarbonate is the stronger material and almost shatterproof. | |||
Shaft |
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The shaft or pole of an inspection mirror, no matter what size, is often made from stainless steel or aluminium. This is because both materials are hard wearing and corrosion resistant as inspection mirrors are often used in outdoor conditions.
Some inspection mirrors can be made from brass with a chrome plating or steel with a nickel plating which provides a slightly greater corrosion resistance than stainless steel but these are less common and often more expensive. |
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Stainless steel is the stronger material therefore it has a better quality and durability than aluminium. As a result, the stainless steel inspection mirror is often preferred for use in industrial circumstances.
Aluminium however, is more lightweight so may be preferable if using for a prolonged period of time or for odd jobs that involve holding the mirror above head height or at an angle. |
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Handle |
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The handles of smaller inspection mirrors are generally made from plastic and can sometimes have a cushioned rubber handle which stops the tool slipping if the user hands are wet or oily.
The handles of under-vehicle inspection mirrors are also often cushioned with a rubber handle to aid grip. |
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