shave mirror issues

[mwengerd]

I just picked up this mirror for $11 at a local vintage shop. My issue is that, when extended at all, the mirrir will only stay still when parallell to either wall. If it's at any other angle, it drifts left. This may just be basic physics...I am a jazz bassist afterall. Any help?

[Toxic515]

My bet is that it IS basic physics, and that it's not level / centered... It still looks ridiculously cool, so perhaps you could tighten the hinge? I dunno, my degree also happens to be in Jazz performance. (and I'm in IT, so what the hell do I know!?) :-)

[mwengerd]

Unt?

*It keeps taking away my all caps*

[mwengerd]

Also, I resent this "DE Envious" thing. What kind of dance do I have to do to get a custom title (or skip the DE references)?

[TheGRman]

Also, I resent this "DE Envious" thing. What kind of dance do I have to do to get a custom title (or skip the DE references)?

From my understanding, those little sayings, quotes, snipp-its, etc... that appear after your username, have something to do with the amount of posts one such user has posted. Mine keeps changing from time to time. Ask one of the moderators, and see what can be done.

[dpmtherrien]

From my understanding, those little sayings, quotes, snipp-its, etc... that appear after your username, have something to do with the amount of posts one such user has posted. Mine keeps changing from time to time. Ask one of the moderators, and see what can be done.

Yeah, don't worry, as you post it'll change. So get busy.

[dcobranchi]

What kind of dance do I have to do to get a custom title (or skip the DE references)?

Be careful what you wish for.

BTW, love the old medicine cabinet. Cool hinges. I bet there's some fine wood beneath all the paint.

[cessnabird]

I just picked up this mirror for $11 at a local vintage shop. My issue is that, when extended at all, the mirrir will only stay still when parallell to either wall. If it's at any other angle, it drifts left. This may just be basic physics...I am a jazz bassist afterall. Any help?

I agree, it must not be mounted at a level that it stays in place when extended. I would think that if you don't extend it out too far, it may not move over as much. You could always re-fasten it at an angle where it doesn't move anymore, but then you would have empty holes in that nice looking cabinet. Jazz Bassist huh? Jaco Pastorius fan, especially being from Florida?

[mwengerd]

I might try a remount.

There's some great wood all throughout the house (it's nearly a Century Home), but there's 8-15 layers of paint everywhere. Ugh.

And Jaco was certainly a big influence. I'm more of a Mingus/Ray Brown guy now.

[The Kiwi]

Visit a Home Depot or Lowes, and get a few different thicknesses of washers to put under the mirror's bracket. Chances are good that a thin one above, with a thicker one below, you can make the hardware closer to level. To use a level bubble while swapping washers, just tape a kids' ruler, or similarly shaped scrap wood, atop the extended accordion arms for the level to rest on.

You could use just one washer at one end to do the same thing, but the result will be less aesthetically pleasing in appearance than using a pair. A master carpenter / cabinet maker would cut a wood shim to accomplish the same thing still more attractively.

[turtle]

That is a very nice mirror you found.

As others have suggested, a little tweaking with a level should make it work perfectly.

[Go West Young Man]

Also, try tightening all the screws and nuts, it's possible they've come a bit loose.

[mwengerd]

Thanks, all! I'm really happy with it, especially for the price. Used it today and think I may just let it rest against the right wall, as that also solves some low light issues in that bathroom.

[CGW409]

Is the part that drifts the mirror itself or the accordion or wallmount?
If it's the whole accordion/mount then it could be either the mount is slightly off kilter allowing it to drift or the mount or accordion might have become a bit sloppy over the years.
Ikea sells a round accordion type shave mirror (Frak IIRC) for about 5.00 that looks like you might be able mount your vintage mirror setup to new and tighter accordion/mount.

[chuckman]

very nice mirror.......I would remove the bottom screw, extend the mirror to where you will use it the most, adjust the mounting bracket to where it stays in place, replace the bottom screw (may have to drill a different hole)..........good luck!

[rajagra]

I think this design depends heavily on friction. Thinking about it, if every joint moved smoothly, it would never stay in the retracted position. So while fitting it properly is important (as is having truly vertical walls!) it's probably equally important not to lubricate everything overenthusiastically.

One thing that might help is loosening the top screw slightly. Or adding a card shim/spacer behind the bottom of the fitting. (These may help compensate for an off-vertical wall.)

And I agree, that looks much better than the usual round extending mirrors.

[NickyBobby]

Visit a Home Depot or Lowes, and get a few different thicknesses of washers to put under the mirror's bracket. Chances are good that a thin one above, with a thicker one below, you can make the hardware closer to level. To use a level bubble while swapping washers, just tape a kids' ruler, or similarly shaped scrap wood, atop the extended accordion arms for the level to rest on.

You could use just one washer at one end to do the same thing, but the result will be less aesthetically pleasing in appearance than using a pair. A master carpenter / cabinet maker would cut a wood shim to accomplish the same thing still more attractively.

+1

And, cool medicine cabinet behind it. :-)