Looking for supplier recommendations for 1/8" half-silvered acrylic.

[Daniel Reetz]

I've got an optics project that requires half-silvered mirrors - so light can pass both ways. In optics lingo this kind or mirror is commonly called "beamsplitter".

Can anyone recommend a supplier for this material? It could be 1/8 or 1/4, but I'd prefer 1/8". I won't be buying huge quantities right away, but a minimum purchase is probably not a problem. A California-based supplier would be a bonus.

[Doug Fennell]

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23537

http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/Ple...Sheet_Mirrored

http://k-mac-plastics.net/polycarbon...lic-mirror.htm

http://www.americanacrylics.com/mirror.htm

http://www.professionalplastics.com/...eillanceMirror

[Frank Corker]

Beamsplitters are often used for projects such as head up displays and prompters, I needed to get hold of something like this myself and ended up making a cheap alternative of my own. If you go to a car dealer, caravan or motor factors you can get a film that attaches to glass after being soaked in water, you eventually slide it onto the glass piece and use a squeegee to remove any bubbles. At first I had real doubts that it was going to work, but they were not for long, worked like a treat. Looking directly at it, appeared to be a mirror but from the other side you could see right the way through. I'm not saying that this will be your ultimate result, but if you are currently still in the experimental stage then this could be the thing for you. It's a little fiddly to do the first time but once it's on it stays attached.

[Martin Boekers]

I would check out some local glass shops, I have found some interesting things at local shops.

May get some additional business too.

[Doug Griffith]

Not the end source but acrylic beam splitters are out there. It will just take some hunting.
http://www.visevideo.com/en/tele-pro...reflectors.php

[Steve Clarkson]

Sloan's sells two-way acrylic mirrors......would that work?

[Joe Pelonio]

Tap Plastics has the one-way film, it's used on south facing windows.

[Daniel Reetz]

Thanks, everyone. Two-way acrylic mirrors might just do it, and I am going to try some things from Doug Fennel's links. I'll report back here in a month or two with any results. I've found this stuff in optics catalogs, but it's hugely expensive and small-area.

[Larry Bratton]

I've got an optics project that requires half-silvered mirrors - so light can pass both ways. In optics lingo this kind or mirror is commonly called "beamsplitter".

Can anyone recommend a supplier for this material? It could be 1/8 or 1/4, but I'd prefer 1/8". I won't be buying huge quantities right away, but a minimum purchase is probably not a problem. A California-based supplier would be a bonus.

If your going to buy large qtys, why don't you go directly to a manufacturer. I would suggest Acrylite. They actually have an online store, but I bet if you talk to them, they could at least hook you up with a good deal.

[Daniel Reetz]

Following Frank Corker's lead, I found that there are mirror film screen protectors on eBay for 99 cents - not bad. I've bought some.

Still trying to find a local supplier for the final product - unless I want to buy 10 sheets right away, places like TAP won't order it. I may follow Larry's advice and buy it directly and sell the excess directly to people like me.