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Acrylic Tank Scratch Removal Help

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Nemesis, Aug 30, 2012.

  1. Nemesis

    Nemesis Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Ok , I got a used 125 rr acrylic tank and it has scratches that I need to polish out. I need to know from People who have done this before the best way to do it . Any body know what products are best to do this ? Any help you can give is great. I have looked up on youtube and found some videas but at the end they use the mothers plastic polish and I was wondering if thats safe in a reef tank. This tank is not up by the way, its a work in progress . thanks again everyone.
     
  2. MJB Tanks Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    All going to depend on how deep and how easy it is to get to. I've attacked some starting with 600 grit wet sanding and progressing up to 4000 grit, 6000 if you want a true display quality finish. Then polish with a buffer, I personally use Meguire's polish...but Mothers make some great stuff. I always give everything a good wipedown with denatured alchohol when I'm done to get rid of any remaining residue.

    If it's a lot of light scuffs and marks from "daily use" you could probably start with 1000 or even 2000 grit. May just have to play with it a bit to get a feel.
     
  3. Nemesis

    Nemesis Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    That really does help a lot . I wondered if I had to remove the polish some how. It appears to be a lot of fine scratches so I hope i can get them out with not much fuss. yes I want a true display quality tank so I guess I will go the 4000-6000 grit option to. Thanks for the help
     
  4. MJB Tanks Well-Known ReefKeeper

    309
    Pleasant Hill, IA
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    Good...do some testing with the higher grit stuff and maybe you'll get off easy and not have to "cut" so much. Good luck!
     
  5. Nemesis

    Nemesis Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    I can do this to the front as well to right? I would suppose so .
     
  6. MJB Tanks Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Yes, with enough time and patience you should be able to make every square inch look good as new. Extra care on the front to complete each step before moving to the next...and if its a spot repair feather out just a little every time you move the grit up to blend and ensure you are overlapping the last sanding.
     
  7. Nemesis

    Nemesis Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    oh ok thats real good advice . Can i get this stuff at lowes?
     
  8. MJB Tanks Well-Known ReefKeeper

    309
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    I'm not sure where to get the highest grit locally, I buy it online. Most home improvement stores stock everything under 1000 grit, but if you go to O'Reilly's or any store that has auto body supplies you'll find what you need in the higher grit range. Even then I think they may only go up to 3 or 4000?? If you have a few days hit the internet /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif

    If I had some laying around I would send it to you...I need to stock up myself though.
     
  9. Nemesis

    Nemesis Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    no don't worry about that it just helps to know where to look.
     
  10. Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

    West Des Moines, IA
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    I can tell you from experience how to do this. I sanded and polished the tank at Taki Steakhouse in Urbandale, which had "zorro" scratches all over it.

    Start with the highest grade sandpaper you think is needed to get the scratch out. Usually start with 1200 I would say. If that doesn't take the scratch out, then go to 800. Then 600, and if it's really, really deep, 400. But remember that each 'level' of sanding must be taken out before going to the next level. So spend as little time as you need at the rough grit levels and feather out with finer and finer grades.

    Some advice says alternate direction of sanding, but this is really so that you can "see" that you have removed the scratches from the previous pattern IMO. You don't need to do it this way, but if you don't, it you might end up sanding a whole lot more at 1200 to get out a 400 grit pattern than you would if you had removed it with the 800 grit in between.

    It's hard to describe unless you see it in person, but when you sand an area that has a scratch in it, then rinse and wipe that area, sometimes you can see the "ghost" of the scratch. This is easily apparent when you first hit the tank with your first pass of sandpaper. If you stay sanding in one direction over a scratched area, then rinse the area with clean water (I use a sprayer bottle) and wipe it with a microfiber cloth, you will see the pattern you just made, and the scratch you are trying to remove. Keep sanding until you don't see the scratch at all. Then the scratch is removed and the next step is to remove the pattern you just made using the next grade of sandpaper up. Switching directions of sanding 90 degrees helps you to see if you removed the 800 grit pattern with the 1200 grit paper, and so on.

    I use wet/dry from the Woodsmith Store in Clive, they carry 800-2000 in 8.5x11 sheets cheap. This -> http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=16762&filter=preppin%20weapon%20sanding%20block&ne_ppc_id=776&mkwid=8779686&pcrid=5325298800&ne_key_id=saJb6XrfT&gclid=CPuo4OyLkLICFahFMgodBhcABA is the best sanding block I have found. If that link doesn't work, it's the Preppin' Weapon. Get one.

    you can also get this -> http://www.sisweb.com/micromesh/acrylic_plastic_hand_kits.htm goes to 6000 grit

    Although I think I have 2 of these -> http://www.sisweb.com/micromesh/craftsman_kits.htm goes to 18000 grit

    But small sheets and will make your arms like Jello if you need to do a whole tank.

    Rinse, rinse, rinse. Remove particles very often from the acrylic you are sanding and the sandpaper, as these will just re-scratch the area you just sanded. Water is your friend. Spray bottles are your friend.

    Rest often. This can be tedious.

    You will get to the point where it seems that your work is fruitless. For me, this was when I was trying to remove the 1200 grit pattern with 1500 grit paper. That's when I switched to an acrylic polish and a drill with an arbor bit and a 3-stitch wheel. Now that I know better, I go to a buffer and Meguiar's:

    So after sanding out all the scratches with wet/dry down to 1200 grit or finer (1500 or 2000 if you have it)

    Then use this to get those scratches out

    http://www.meguiars.com/en/professional/products/m10532-ultra-cut-compound-32-oz/

    then this after that

    http://www.meguiars.com/en/professional/products/m8232-swirl-free-polish-32oz/

    using this pad

    http://www.meguiars.com/en/professional/products/w7000-softbuff-foam-cutting-pad-8in/

    on this buffer (or one like it)

    http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200442254_200442254

    I use 2 pads so I don't mix the polishes.

    I get it the meg stuff at international refinish products in DSM

    http://www.irpppg.com/index2.html

    The last part I had handy as someone else PMd me with a similar question.
     
  11. Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

    West Des Moines, IA
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    Oh yeah and you should never run the buffer at more than level 3 out of about 6 (mine has 6 level). The point is that you want to polish the acrylic but not heat it up. Heat is the enemy. The first polish takes out 1200 grit scratches. The swirl-free polish takes out the haze left behind from the ultra-cut compound. You can use more than just these 2, but this is what was recommended to me by Conde who was featured in an LA Fishguys video and whom I spoke with personally.
     
  12. danmgray Well-Known ReefKeeper

    307
    Sioux City, IA
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    This is good. Sticky worthy. I know I will be searching for this information later.
     
  13. Nemesis

    Nemesis Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Tis is great info guys and be sure I will be using it. Now here is another question. The tank has as euro top on it . My question is I need to cut pieces out of it . The original builder put the overflows up so high and so narrow that you can not replace the bulkheads on the back after the overflow box was glued in. If I can figure out how to repost pics i will show you.
     
  14. blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

    Cedar Rapids, IA
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    I've never polished a tank, but I do have a nice porter cable DA car buffer you could borrow if it will work for the job.
     

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