Buffing out scratches in Acrylic

[mkengr45]

Does anyone have experience with doing this? Can you reccomend a kit, or a person that is good for this. I have heard of a kit you can buy that works well. What about flame polishing? let me know folks....

Randy

[mkengr45]

??? I thought we had some people on here that had some knowledge about acrylic tanks and their scratch removal. Come on guys and gals, I have a hard time believing that NOBODY has experience with removing scratches from acrylic tanks. I know of several compounds from Novus, and I know of the buffing pads that you can use with the fish still in the tank. I have looked at all the products that Tenecor has available, but I am interested in YOUR EXPERIENCES......

Randy

[ratboy]

Ive used novus products in the [ast and it works great for small scratches, usually with the tank empty. Ive also done some work for the company below (brother in law's) and the micromesh abrasives are wayyy better. You can hand polish, polish with a electric sander (dry) or with a pneumatic sander (wet, with fish). Ive seen 1/8 " deep scratches taken out to the point you cant see them.. Start with heay grit and work your way to the finest. Its not bad work but make sure you have some tunes...

http://etr-inc.com/index.php

[ReefOne]

go to etr-inc. They are much cheaper than "micro-mesh". It's the same thing but a different company. Customer Service is awesome and the price is excellent!!HTH

Ram

[mkengr45]

Ratboy, which kit do you recommend? My scratches are not super deep, but they are noticable. The tank is empty now. Are the liquid abrasives toxic? If I use the liquid abrasive, do I need to rinse the tank out very well? How good do the abrasive pads work, and are these the same ones that can be used while the fish are still in the tank? Let me know what to buy and I will do it man......Thanks for the help

Randy

[ratboy]

The liquid novus abrasives arent toxic and I just rinse until you get all the visible residue out. Again I still prefer the micromesh pads you can get from ETR. If you just need to get out some small areas of scratches then Id probably get this kit..
http://etr-inc.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=2


If you are planning on refinishing the whole tank then I would go for one of the powered kits like this:
http://etr-inc.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=9
Refinishing the tank consists of sandinf

How big is your tank? Who built it? (diff companies use material of different hardnesses - it can affect how many pads you will go through). If its a big tank and area you want to do you may want 2 of the basic kits so you have extra pads. The key to poishing is consistant motion over a measured area for the same amount of time. You also need to work patiently through all the grits or else you will end up with an orange peel effect in the acrylic and have to nearly start over!

BTW if there are any certified divers that would be interested in diving/polishing Moody Gardens and/or the Houston Zoo tanks send me a PM and I'll pass the info to my brother in law and get details for you (pay - not sure,but I know room/food paid for). I know he has several big jobs coming up in October. Some wet (diving), some dry (outside tank) polishing.

--Erik

[matt]

I use micromesh, but the etr stuff looks interesting. You can get a micromesh kit at Woodcraft in San Antonio for about $40; includes a couple of small sheets of each grit. It works very well; you can easily use it on the wet side of the aquarium without draining the tank.

Erik; I am a certified diver with good diving skills and I have lots of experience polishing acrylic, so have your bother in law contact me if he wants.

[ratboy]

ETR products = micromesh. ETR distributes micromesh kits designed for aqauriums (specific backings on abrasives, sheet sizes, cuts for sanders, accesories, etc..) I didnt know woodcraft sold micromesh? Its interesting because my wife worked at the one in Ft Worth back in the day... Matt -- I'll let my bro know you are interested and get back to you.

--Erik

[mkengr45]

I ordered the kit! We'll see how it goes and I will let everyone know.... Thanks for the help folks

Randy