Acrylic Scratches

sparty059

sparty059

Active Member
Hey all,
Does anyone know how much a company would charge you to fix deep scratches in an acrylic tank? I have some notice scratches and some that you can even feel when brushing your hand along the surface. This is the ******** of the tank and it's been down for approx 10 months now I'm getting ready to prep everything again as we will be moving into our new house before the end of the year. I just want to gather up all the costs for setting this one up for a second time around, and I already have the set up costs figured out, just need to figure out the maintenance costs now
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acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
You might want to call around and check with your plastics dealers in the area.....Someone might jump on it.....Not sure where your located though.....Removing scratches aren't that bad since the tank is down......There's tons of threads and videos as to how to go about the procedure as well.....
 
sparty059

sparty059

Active Member
Hey meowzer! Not gone but just focusing on work. We are building our new house so everything is going to get in motion soon. Funds will be short for another year or so, so we won't be setting it up yet but I just want it to look brand new when I set it back up. Hope everything is going well with you and your tank. Miss talking with you all :)
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Since you have time on your hands till the tanks back up, go to Amazon or even Ebay and you can pick up Novus 3, Novus 2, and the finishing spray and get yourself a buffer and the pads and do a bit at a time.......
 
S

saxman

Guest
If it's heavy scratching, you'd probably do best using various grits of "crystal bond"/micromesh polishing cloth. Start with 1500 grit, then go to 3000, 4000, 6000, 9000, THEN start with a slurry like Novus.
Be sure to polish perpendicular to the scratches to be removed, then go 90* to the previous grit. This way, you can be sure all of the previous scratches are removed prior to moving on. Use a circular motion or buffer with the slurries. Also, use lots of water to minimize "loading" your polishing cloth, and do a small section at a time.
 
sparty059

sparty059

Active Member
Ok, so I'm putting together my shopping list. Right now I have:
-8oz of each Novus 1,2,3
-DeWalt 3-Amp Orbital Power Sander
With the orbital power sander do I have to buy special sandpaper that is compatible with the tool, or do I just attach it onto the tool?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
A bit of advice sand by hand.... Unless your really experienced sanding acrylic, I'd advise against. To easy to get carried away and put a wave in the panel. Might invest in a variable speed buffer though. How bad are the scratches??? Don't use sand paper search and buy micro mesh
 
red tiger

red tiger

Member
Advice from automotive painter
Sanding wet by hand, even if its 1500 the scratches will be more aggressive then using per say a DA (dual action sander) and will be hard to remove.
I have always used automotive grade when buffing acrylic such ad 3M. I use 1500 Hook-it then use 3000 Trizact and polish it using a wool pad and Extra-Cut compound by 3M and fixed scratches on acrylic
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Agree wet sanding, but advise micro mesh which can be used wet..., check out my build thread you'll see the results with micro mesh
 
sparty059

sparty059

Active Member
Ok. I won't use a tool for it then and I'll do it by hand. The scratches are pretty deep though. Deep enough to see them, and if you run your hand across the inside of the tank you can feel it. You think it'll be possible to still get that scratch out?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Yep they will come out!!!! Doing it by hand is tedious and you'll get the urge to say "H$LL NO".... Trust us by hand is best and keep it wet!!!
 
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