buffing acrylic
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: DIY
Forum Description: Do it Yourself
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=36922
Printed Date: July 20 2026 at 12:30pm
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Topic: buffing acrylic
Posted By: Luckedout
Subject: buffing acrylic
Date Posted: December 03 2009 at 1:21pm
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A buddy of mine has an acrylic tank he's trying to get me to buy. It's got a bunch of scratches though. How easy/hard is it to buff acrylic? What do you need? How long would it take? Etc.
------------- -Ben 90g Mixed reef www.body-balancechiropractic.com |
Replies:
Posted By: downhill_biker
Date Posted: December 03 2009 at 1:30pm
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I would call regional supply and see what they recommend. They have better ways to fix acrylic, rather than buffing.
------------- Make sure you post your best pictures every month in our POTM forum. |
Posted By: Aquarium Creations
Date Posted: December 03 2009 at 2:21pm
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The only way to fix is either replace or buff, If the scratches are to deep they might not come out or distort the plastic,
------------- Aquarium Maintenance,Consulting,Custom Built Glass Aquariums Rimless/Euro,24Hr Emergency Service 8015485201 Www.UtahAquariumDoctors.com [email protected] |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: December 03 2009 at 9:33pm
| For small areas of the tank you can buy stuff from Marinedepot or the pet store up in Heber have it. It does 10 cubic feet of the tank. It can be used for wet or dry use as well. I have used it and it has removed them before. It is around 50 dollars. I bet Eric might even have it as well. If it is doesn't have anything in it then I woud buff for sure though. |
Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: December 03 2009 at 10:48pm
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Do they make any kind of buffing product that is safe to use with your fish and corals still in the tank?
I have some milder scratches on my 225 that I would love to get rid of - but don't want to have to remove all the livestock and then drain the tank to do it
------------- - My Current Tank: 50g Starfire Cube Reef * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: sanddune600
Date Posted: December 03 2009 at 10:52pm
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I think the stuff snailson is talking about is reef safe
------------- Andy Jorgensen My number is four three 5 7 six four 8 0 three four |
Posted By: Aquarium Creations
Date Posted: December 03 2009 at 11:24pm
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Yes, the only problem is to truly make it look new it needs to be sanded and high speed polished , I would be more then happy to look at it and tell you how much it would cost, We have done plenty of these.
------------- Aquarium Maintenance,Consulting,Custom Built Glass Aquariums Rimless/Euro,24Hr Emergency Service 8015485201 Www.UtahAquariumDoctors.com [email protected] |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: December 03 2009 at 11:37pm
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Here is the link of what I used. I think I bought a few of them just incase. It looks good after you do everything. However it doesn't look as good as being polished like Eric says. http://www.marinedepot.com/Rainbow_Lifegard_Acrylic_Scratch_Removal_Kit_72000_Tank_Cleaning_Kits_for_Saltwater_Aquariums-Lifegard_Aquatics-RB1551-FIMTCK-vi.html - http://www.marinedepot.com/Rainbow_Lifegard_Acrylic_Scratch_Removal_Kit_72000_Tank_Cleaning_Kits_for_Saltwater_Aquariums-Lifegard_Aquatics-RB1551-FIMTCK-vi.html |
Posted By: Summertop
Date Posted: December 04 2009 at 10:11am
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A few years ago... I was Stupid! I was using magnets to do quick algae cleaning on my acrylic tank (150g). So, naturally, the one on the inside picked up a piece of crushed coral. With the "streaking" on the outside, it was hard to see the scratching going on, on the inside...I did a right fine job of messing up my tank...As a side note, it is much harder to clean algae and stuff out of scratched acrylic, then nice smooth acrylic. Finally, I got a small acrylic sanding/polishing kit. I didn't use the polish on the inside, but I DID sand it down...with all my fish still in it. It was work, but it turned out great. Keep in mind, It was a FOWLER tank, not a reef tank. I had no problem with any of my livestock. Well, other than having to chase them away from my hand, as they were AGGRESSIVE fish. Eels, groupers, puffers, damsels, etc. ------------- =========== Shawn Winterbottom |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: December 04 2009 at 3:16pm
| I used a Korilia 4 to move the sanded acrylic into the overflow and into the sump so it didn't get all over the sand and coral. Mine turned out great, I did the same thing Summertop did, I wanted to clean my aquarium quick on night and what happens, I put a nice streak in it about 5 feet long. Can't tell now though. |
Posted By: downhill_biker
Date Posted: December 04 2009 at 3:31pm
ya, mr. clean magic erasers will remove minor scratches and it is reef safe. under water with coral and fish, no problem. ------------- Make sure you post your best pictures every month in our POTM forum. |
BobC63 wrote:Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: December 04 2009 at 4:26pm
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I use the Magic Erasers all the time for removing algae buildup and love them
But, I guess my scratches are a little too deep for the Magic Erasers to remove
So I think I'll give that scratch removal kit a try ------------- - My Current Tank: 50g Starfire Cube Reef * Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 * |
Posted By: rdbrown
Date Posted: December 04 2009 at 5:34pm
From experience the fastest way to do it especially when the tank isn't set up and you want to do more then a couple little scratches is to sand the entire tank surface with an electric sander using 400 grit sandpaper, then 600 grit. This will remove the scratches unless they are really deep in which case you would use 200 grit then 400 grit, then 600 grit. I usually stop at 400 grit. Then I use a high speed buffer about $40 from harbor freight, a good foam buffing pad from Superior Auto Paint, and a bottle of 3M Perfect-It Machine Glaze purchased at an auto body shop. This buffs it like new in literally minutes.
        ------------- Kauai, Hawaii |
Posted By: jpndave
Date Posted: December 04 2009 at 9:59pm
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There is a series of "sanding" discs that 3M makes called Trizact. They come in progressive grits and are a wonderful product for removing scratches. I have the set and used them on my tank with good success. They remove material faster, cleaner and longer than sandpaper does. Not cheap and I had to buy full rolls of each grit but the do work very well. They are designed specifically for glass, acrylic and solid surface. I used one disc of each grit on my tank and they were still good when finished. They can be used on a random orbital or a backing pad.
http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/manufacturing_industry/abrasives/node_GSR3P0BJWGbe/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_J1299GV0RKge/gvel_902CRQH4MHgl/theme_us_superabrasivescatalog_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_html - http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/manufacturing_industry/abrasives/node_GSR3P0BJWGbe/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_J1299GV0RKge/gvel_902CRQH4MHgl/theme_us_superabrasivescatalog_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_html
For glass defect repair, corian and acrylic solid surface finishing. Precisely shaped pyramids wear away continually exposing fresh abrasive. Few processing steps, higher gloss level, effective surface leveling. Requires little water, easy touchup.
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Posted By: jpndave
Date Posted: December 04 2009 at 10:00pm
| If you look at the label on the polish rdbrown posted, it is from the same 3M Trizact line. |
Posted By: sanddune600
Date Posted: December 04 2009 at 11:24pm
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I wish you would have told me you had this when I was buffing my tank I used a buffer on mine but I dont think I had the right pads
------------- Andy Jorgensen My number is four three 5 7 six four 8 0 three four |