1st attempt at deep scratch removal on acrylic tank

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blkg35

Candiru
MFK Member
Aug 21, 2008
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homeless.......
I just picked up a 75gal acrylic tank that used to be a saltwater tank. It had some nasty scratches on the left side of the tank. The scratches were pretty deep cause I could feel them with my fingertip. Off to HomeDepot I went to get a rotary buffer. I already have an acrylic scratch removal kit and Novus 1, 2, & 3. The whole process took me about 2 hours to do. In the before pics, those white spots next to the long scratches are also scratches too. The previous owner had layed a bunch of rocks against this side of the tank. Here are some before and after pics. Let me know what you think and how I could have done it better. Always open for suggestions.
This is the before pics:
75gal.jpg

75gal1.jpg

75gal2.jpg


As you can see in the above photos, the scratches were pretty bad so I started with a 600 grit sand paper. After the sand paper I buffed it with Novus 2 to see how it turned out. This is what it looked like:
75gal3.jpg

75gal4.jpg

75gal5.jpg

75gal6.jpg


It still had some minor scratches so I used 1800 and then 2400 grit sand paper. After that I buffed it with Novus 2 again. I think it looks 80% better than before so I called it quits. The minor scratches shouldn't be too noticeable when filled with water. I'm definitely open to any comments or suggestions, this is the first time I buffed an acrylic tank using sand paper. Here is the final results:
75gal7.jpg

75gal8.jpg

75gal9.jpg

75gal10.jpg
 
look'in real good! you are ready for water! :goldfish: Amazing how Novous and some elbow grease works on acrylic uh?
 
Personally i wouldn't have seen those if you hadnt told me they were there lol
 
nice job...

i did the same with a 100 gallon i picked up off some guy that we both know... it was you :D

ive got a 60 gallon that im for unknown reasons stocking with guppies, crays and bettas (wtf)... im pretty sure it was previously used as a work bench.. i worked it real good with the novus 1,2,3 and about 2 minutes worth of 1600... it now looks like the one you did before you started... which is amazing considering what i started with
 
Thanks for all the kind words guys. I was a little nervous before starting because I thought I would screw up the whole tank. But if I don't try I'll never know....:grinno:
Chester, how did the 100gal you picked up from me turn out? BTW, I have a 38gal tank with guppies and tetras too....:D
 
Ok, I took the tank outside to rinse it and noticed some hazy spots where I sanded down the scratches. Its only noticeable when it hits the sunlight. This is bugging me. I used the Novus 2 to help get rid of the fine scratches left by the sanding but it doesn't seem to help with the hazing the sand paper left. How do I get rid of these hazy spots????? Help.....
 
blkg35;3215703; said:
Ok, I took the tank outside to rinse it and noticed some hazy spots where I sanded down the scratches. Its only noticeable when it hits the sunlight. This is bugging me. I used the Novus 2 to help get rid of the fine scratches left by the sanding but it doesn't seem to help with the hazing the sand paper left. How do I get rid of these hazy spots????? Help.....

Use that buffer you just bought and a lambs wool pad and buff that baby, it will come out. Be careful not to burn the acrylic, don't press hard just let the weight of the buffer do the work and keep it moving!
 
more step 2 and step 1.. just buff the crap out of it again and again.. step 2 does a great job.. but dor some reason when you clean it up with the step 1 it shows the haze... which is good because if you dont hit it with the 1.. once you fill it you will be able to see it more

the 100 came out pretty darn good.. cant see anything looking straight on... but from above or below you can see that i got sick of sanding and said "good enough"...
i still dont understand how it is that people scrach up tanks so bad..
 
Thanks for advice guys. The buffer did come with a fine pad for buffing. I'm gonna buff it again with Novus 1 & 2. Hopefully these hazy spots disappear. Its so freakin' annoying.....:irked:
 
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