Disassemble 1st gen mirrors for repaint?

Has anyone tried to disassemble the mirrors to repaint them? I don't want to paint the rubber around the mirror itself and at the joint where the mirror moves. Don't know how successful I would be to tape it off, seems like it would be tough to get it perfect and I cannot stand paint on rubber trim.

I have a blast cabinet so that's another reason I would like to get them apart, don't want the rubber to get blasted.

It looks like maybe the rubber around the mirror is glued into place. I haven't tried but maybe the flex joint will just unscrew.

The mirrors have rust bleeding through the paint and they feel crusty. Look ok from 10 feet, but get close and no good.

 

Yes you can get the mirror out by prying the rubber out of the backing. Warning! you have to work it very easy and all around the bigger end side. Otherwise you'll break the glass. Those mirrors are not painted they are "black chrome" application. Unless you can rough the surface I don't think paint will stick for any amount of time on the chrome.

 

Oh, didn't realize they are chrome....that changes the plan then. I'll just hit them with baking soda in the blast cabinet. I've had very good luck with soda on chrome as it will remove the rust but leaves the chrome untouched. Of course it leaves the pitting, its not magic, but it looks 100X better than with crusty rust bleeding through all over it.

If that doesn't work then I move to glass beads, and hit it with only 30-40 PSI. That's a little bit tougher on the chrome and more likely to remove loose flakes but it will get the rust off. I did that on the rust covered chrome fairing bolts and they look WAY better.

 

They cleaned up nicely in the blast cabinet. Tried baking soda first but the rust was too tough, moved to glass beads at very low PSI, 30-35 and it worked. Took some polish to them and there ya go.

Of course not perfect, the pitting is permanent. Its really too bad the PO let them get this bad, but oh well. If anyone has any ideas as to what may darken the 'stars' so they don't stand out quite as bad I'll try it. Maybe even just rub some paint on and wipe it back off after a minute or so. It shouldn't stick to the good chrome but might to the pitted areas.

The only other thing, they don't look as black as they did, more of a dark grey now. You can see in the pic the "before" one looks darker. Maybe just because they are now shiny, the black chrome does look deep. They must have been really good looking when new.

Thanks for letting me know they are chrome GreyVF750F! I was going to stick them in the cabinet with garnet and that would have ruined the chrome for good. This way I don't even have to paint!