Having some problems constructing a hand held mirror box
Question:
I'm working on constructing a hand held mirror box, not the mandarin
kind, but one with two mirrors in a 90 degree angle, reflecting the
sides so it looks like the back, sort of like this:
+----------+
|\ /|
| \ / |
| \ / |
| \ / | (i know it's not 90 degrees,
| \/ | but you get the point)
| |
+- -+
+--------+
|AUDIENCE|
+--------+
That's not really the problem anyone can build a box like that. But
what I'd like is for the mirrors to be movable, like doors opening all
the way to the side of the box, revealing what was behind them. (you
should only move the mirrors when the lid is closed)
Problem one:
How could I build a (hidden) mechanism to move the mirrors? It can
easily be build into the bottom, 'cause I'm gonna make it hollow, with
lots of room for strings, wires or gear wheels. It should be operated
from the bottom of the box in the left hand side, so you can close the
lid with your right hand, trigger the mechanism with your left and
then (almost) instantly open the box again.
Problem two:
For the mirrors to give the illusion of the empty box, they should not
be as long as the sides. This means that when they open, they stop in
the middle of the side, like this
+-----------+
|| ||
|| ||
|| ||
|| ||
| |
| |
+- -+
+--------+
|AUDIENCE|
+--------+
Which means that the edges of the mirrors are potentially visible. Any
ideas to how to make them less visible, or is it all in the inside
pattern of the box?
Could anybody please help me with this? Does anybody have, or are
anybody willing to work out some schematics for the mirror mechanism?
When I complete the box, I'll try to make some building instructions
available. It's gonna be a killer tric
Answer:
_Use spring hinges (or mouse trap springs) on the mirror so they will
automaticly spring to the walls of the box. The release could be as simple
as a wand sticking out of the top of the box which acts as not only a 'pin"
to hold the mirrors in posistion, but hides the seam where they come
together. So you open the box to show it is empty except for the wand
inside, close the outter doors and remove the wand to wave it over the box.
The inside walls of the box should be lined with vertical stripes where
one of the stripes is the edge of the mirrors when they are sprung against
the walls.
_Question about Mirror Box:
MY Advise would be to use Black Cloth Duct Tape and create a hinge out of that.
If you have an older version of a TEMPLE SCREEN Production Prop you will
understand what I mean. The Doors Open and lay flush against the sides. If you
open the back Door...
You could also have a Mirror that drops from the top at a 90 degree and
reflects the Top of the box as the back. This would make for a very versatile
Mirror Box. My mind is already zooming with new Ideas.
_1. You can use the point of the hinge at the back. Depending on how heavy
the mirrors are and how they move you can run a wire along the top edge,
which would stick up out of the box (or under it) at the point of the hinge
and you can turn the mirrors inward or out. 2. If you make the face of the box with a ridge on the inside dimension the
mirrors will open flush to the wall and the ends will be hidden. 1/4 inch
would be all you need and it is not noticeable from the front.3. A few years ago I built one of these out of balsa wood and small plastic
mirrors the size of your thumb. Stick it on your thumb and show it inside,
close the fron tdoor and stick nails in it, open the door and the thumb has
disappeared. It was a prototype and I was going to do more but never did.
You could have it and study it as it does most of what you described. Write
me.
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