metallic / reflective paint or coating fo rear surface mirror?

[opticsman]

Hi All
I would like to make my own rear silvered mirror ( as opposed to a normal front silvered mirror) . The base material is acrylic . As i want to reflect light back through the acrylic I cant use a primer ( if a metallic paint spray). Can anyone suggest a solution to this? I dont care what the reflective spray/coating is as long i can buy it and apply it myself and it gives a highly reflective surface. Many thanks in advance.

 

[IRstuff]

It's not going to happen with paint. Mirrors require mirror finished substrates with evaporated or plated coatings. Painting will not do it.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[gr2vessels]

opticsman,
I always thought that the silver is deposited on the back of the mirror, if the front is where you look at it. So what is the normal front silvered mirror and how do you use it?
cheers,
gr2vessels